KUALA TERENGGANU: There is money aplenty in honey.
Realising this potential, dozens of bee farmers in Terengganu have grouped up to establish a single entity, to better market their produce under one brand.
Thus, the birth of the Terengganu Kelulut Honey Entrepreneurs Association (Pelekat) last month gives hope for a better future, with plans to establish a large-scale honey village.
Pelekat patron Zulkifli Abu Bakar, who is also Kuala Terengganu City Council mayor, said the umbrella organisation would be able to especially handle sticky issues concerning the supply and demand that determines the price of honey.
Then there are the statutory regulations and health parameters to look into.
“All these can only be handled more effectively if the bee farmers group together as a single voice to highlight their plight, share a common database, experience and know-how.
“Marketing their produce with a single brand will also have a greater impact and enhance their competitiveness, while generating more honey entrepreneurs” said Zulkifli at Pelekat’s first annual general meeting at the council’s Exclusive Club in Batu Burok.
He added that too many brands within a small market would dilute their sales, whereas, a common collection and distribution centre would strengthen their market share.
“In the past, many bee farmers had little guidance on their business. This resulted in lower customer confidence on the originality and quality of their honey.
Now, we have experts from the agriculture and health industries to guide and check on them.
Zulkifli added that thus far, the bee farmers were able to collectively harvest 500kg of honey a month, accounting to about RM200,000.
“With a collective effort under Pelekat, we expect to reap in a better harvest and more business turnover for entrepreneurs to improve their socio-economy,” he said, adding the Agriculture Ministry and Small and Medium Enterprises Incorporated were lending support.
Pelakat chairman Dr Nor Riah Mahmood, a qualified pharmacist, said they hoped to rope in at least 1,500 bee farmers to become members of the association.
She said kelulut honey was not only a health nutrient but had many by-products like soap, lotion, skincare, balm and other food and beverage items.
“As a pharmacist, I am able to play my role as I understand the ingredients and the quality of honey, which can be screened in a laboratory.
“For effective marketing, we need to standardise our certification and packaging to build customer confidence on our products.
“Also, the equipment, utensils, bottles and other material used must adhere to strict hygiene standards to meet customers’ expectations globally,” said Dr Nor Riah.