LIPIS: What started out as a pastime activity two years ago for Shamsiah Mohd Said is now a supplementary income for the 68-year-old settler from Felda Sungai Koyan 1 here.
Shamsiah has managed to expand her stingless kelulut bee farm to 27 honeycombs from two when she first started.
“I was looking for something to do during my free time before I decided to venture into kelulut farming.
“I was excited that my kelulut farm started generating income, and that was when I decided to increase the number of honeycombs.
“The process that goes into kelulut farming is not that complicated.
“As long as there are plants with flowers and herbs in the vicinity, you are set on an exciting journey of breeding and farming the stingless bee.
“I was told that the quality of honey produced by these stingless bees is better than the normal honey.”
Shamsiah’s kelulut farm, operated near her house, had helped her to cushion losses from the drop in the global palm oil prices.
“My main income (from palm oil) is uncertain.
“There are times where I can make RM1,200.
“The income from the sale of kelulut honey is not that lucrative, which is between RM300 and RM500 per harvest.
“I am not selling kelulut honey on a large scale.
“Usually, my children and their spouses will help me sell the honey by word of mouth.”
She said among the species of stingless bees that produced high-quality honey were Tora (Heterotrigona Erythrogastra) and Itama (Heterotrigona Itama).
“I could get one honeycomb for RM300 when I first started.
“However, the price of one honeycomb has increased to RM500 because of increasing demand from the market.”
Unlike most farmers who collect honey once a month, Shamsiah said she harvested the honey once every three months to ensure there was sufficient and quality supply.
“I can collect between two and three kilogrammes of honey per harvest.”
She said she was expanding her kelulut farm.
“I have used my savings to set up this farm and hope to expand the business.
“If possible and God willing, I do not want to apply for loans to expand the farm.
“I want to take one step at a time.
“I am not looking for a lucrative income as I started kelulut farming as a hobby.”