Naroden samples the kelulut honey.
KUCHING: There is great potential for the production of honey from stingless bees or kelulut to be commercialised.
The Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Development Unit (Bedu) in the Chief Minister’s Department and Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) are now taking steps to promote the special honey.
A two-day course on stingless bee-rearing technology involving 60 participants was held at Kampung Senah Rayang, upper Padawan, following a similar event in Lundu on May 7-8.
“Here (in Sarawak) the rearing of stingless bees is still very new, but it has the potential to grow in view of the vast forest that we have…so the steps taken by
Bedu and Mardi are commendable as the demand for honey continues to increase,” said Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Bumiputera Entrepreneur Development) Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais yesterday.
Based on Mardi’s research, there are 35 species of stingless bees in Peninsular Malaysia, while more species can be found in Sarawak.
Naroden pointed out that Malaysia spent RM26.7 million on imported honey in 2008 and this increased to RM40.8 million in 2011 and RM50 million last year.
He said based on last year’s statistics, only 730 entrepreneurs nationwide are producing honey.
The Simunjan assemblyman said the stingless bee industry can become an important cottage industry for the people to earn extra income.
With a starting capital of between RM40,000 and RM50,000, Naroden said apiarists or honey farmers can earn between RM5,000 and RM30,000 a month with between 50 and 1,000 bee colonies.
Each colony can produce up to 2kg of honey a month, he said, adding that honey produced from stingless bees can fetch a price of RM120 per kg in Peninsular Malaysia.
He added that Kampung Senah Rayang could become a tourist attraction if it produced honey from stingless bees.
Meanwhile, Mardi state director Mohammad Noor Adros Yahya said the demand for honey from stingless bees is high resulting in strong prices of between RM60 and RM200 for 300 millilitres.
He said the honey is high in antioxidants and also believed to reduce cholesterol.
“Mardi Sarawak is committed to develop the rearing of stingless bees here (in the state),” he said, stressing that honey produced from the species is more nutritious compared to ordinary honey.