Potential for Tuaran to develop bee industry
Published on: Saturday, April 27, 2019
By: Ricardo Unto
Tuaran: The district has the potential to further develop a profitable stingless bee honey-based industry, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau.Tangau, who is also Trade and Industry Minister, urged entrepreneurs, especially rubber smallholders here, to combine their effort to realise this aim.
ADVERTISEMENT
“To establish such industry, it needs the cooperation of all quarters as we are aware that not everyone is able to set up a factory,” he said when closing the Basic Tantadan (Stingless Bee) Industry Course, at the Tamparuli Multipurpose Hall, near here, Friday.
“I would like to see a stingless bee honey processing plant to be set up in Tuaran but the local entrepreneurs should try to raise the capital to build it without being too reliant on government’s assistance.”
The three-day course was organised by Sedcovest Holding with the cooperation of Tuaran United Pasomomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) Entrepreneurship Bureau.
Nearly 100 people took part in the course which focused on stingless bee farming, honey-based product processing, branding and marketing.
ADVERTISEMENT
Tangau said, the course was one of the ways for the government in encouraging the people to diversify their sources of income.
“Currently, most of the commodity prices are trending down globally…that is why smallholders cannot sustain their livelihood by depending on a single source of income.
ADVERTISEMENT
“And Tantadan farming is one of the best option for an alternative source of income.
“Some entrepreneurs even become millionaires thanks to their success in stingless bee honey-based industry,” he said.
However, he said the most important part of venturing into any field is obtaining as much knowledge as possible.
“You have to learn first about the industry and then put this knowledge into practice.
“There are many agencies, especially under the ministry, that conduct various programmes to encourage the culture of industrialisation among the society.”
George Clinton, one of the facilitators in the course, said it is not impossible for the country to become a main stingless bee honey producer as the climate suitable for the production of high quality honey.
“The demand for stingless bee honey in the State could reach five tonne per month.
“However, currently, we do not have a dedicated honey collection centre…we only have the Rural Development Corporation (KPD) as the sole bulk buyer for honey,” said the entrepreneur who has a 25-year experience in honey-based industry.
Earlier, Tangau, when officiating Tamparuli Adventist Secondary School’s excellent awards ceremony, urged schools to work hard in producing more professionals, especially economists.
Citing South Korea, he said the country had developed rapidly thanks to its economic strength.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
