JOHOR BAHRU: The National Kelulut Honey Industry Plan 2020-2030 was today launched to introduce kelulut beekeeping as a new source of sustainable income.
Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub said as of today, there are 717 entrepreneurs involved in the kelulut beekeping industry throughout the country and the plan is expected to assist farmers to rake in high income by looking at the world market.
He said, the plan was drafted with the cooperation of the Agriculture Department with experts from the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Malaysia Genome Institute (MGI) and the Akademi Kelulut Malaysia (AKM) as well as industry players.
“We (govt) are focusing on the development of the kelulut honey industry and to prove our seriousness we have a 2020-2030 plan to assist players as we see kelulut honey has been proven by scientific research to be good for health.
“As such, it has the business potential and opportunities for the people especially the younger generation,” he told reporters after launching the plan and myGAP certification on kelulut beekeeping at Pentas Budaya & Senitani in Plaza Angsana, here today.
Also present at the ceremony were the ministry’s deputy secretary-general (Development), Datuk Salim Parlan as well as deputy secretary-general (Policy) Datuk Haslina Abdul Hamid.
Salahuddin said the kelulut beekeeping industry produces 133 tonnes of honey annually, and to ensure industry players are competitive abroad, the government has also introduced myGAP (Malaysian Good Agricultural Practice) certification for each product from the group of entrepreneurs.
“Each entrepreneur who wants to produce the honey needs to obtain myGAP certification. It is very important and the most basic to ensure food safety and ensure the agricultural product adhere to world standards.
“It is also recognised at local and international levels,” said Salahuddin who added that the process of certification used to take two and a half years but some were able to shorten it to three to eight months now. – Bernama
