KUCHING: Honey from stingless bees (“madu kelulut” in Malay) and its downstream products have attracted much interest in the state.
Since 2012, the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development (Mardi) has helped agropreneurs throughout Malaysia to venture into the farming of stingless bees through various programmes and initiatives.
During the period, the stingless bee honey has undergone various transformations through research and development by various universities throughout Malaysia. Among them is Sarawak’s own, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas).
Unimas’ Faculty of Science and Technology has developed several products from the honey and the highlight here is a hair styling cream.
Most commercial hair styling products contain hazardous chemical ingredients and are only for styling purposes.
According to a Mardi research officer, the speciality of the stingless bees is their ability to pollinate small flowers because they themselves are tiny. This cannot be achieved by the bigger honey bees.
Besides, the stingless bees are not choosy when building their hives. As a result, it is easier to build artificial hives for them to increase the production of honey and wax for commercial purposes.
Stingless bees, just as their name says, do not sting. Thus it is easier to extract their honey, pollen and propolis frequently.
They are easier to handle compared to regular honey bees which are often lost, always abandoning their hives and are vulnerable to disease.
Unimas’ post-graduate student, Syed Ahmad Tarmizi Wan Yusop, from the Faculty of Resources Science and Technology is among the key researchers of the bees and their honey.
“We want to identify another use for the stingless bee honey. The design and formulated innovation will open a new path of research on the propolis and other essential key ingredients,” he said.
“This will create awareness of the presence of local natural resources in Sarawak. The purpose is to standardise the natural Sarawak product in order to be on par with the international standard.”
This innovation has won two awards – Gold Medal Award at Intex 2017 and Silver Medal Award at the 29th International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (Itex) 2018.
“Sarawak products have global market potential. Their reach is limitless. The support from non-governmental organisations and the government to increase awareness of the value is essential for its direction, development and progress,” said Syed Ahmad Tarmizi.
He believes that Sarawak has rising potential in the industry and with proper direction; it can assess the global market.
According to Pertubuhan Usahawan Kelulut Bumiputera Sarawak (PUBKS), there are approximately 600 farmers of the stingless bees.
