Latest news with #MadaniEconomicProgramme
The Star
05-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Boosting income in military communities
Honey for everyone: Muhammad Zamzuri and wife Nurdiana Rudy watching as stingless bees (kelulut) enter a specialised wooden box to make honey at Kabota Camp, Tawau. — Bernama TAWAU: After joining the army, Muhammad Zamzuri Zulkefli's family would rely only on his salary as a staff sergeant at the Kabota Camp here. But with the nationwide Madani Camp Programme, families like his have the opportunity to gain extra income from small-scale farms that grow either mushrooms, vegetables through fertigation, or cultivate stingless bee (kelulut) hives. 'We received training from UMT (Universiti Malaysia Terengganu) experts on how to care for the bees,' Muhammad Zamzuri told Bernama. 'This project follows the 3T concept – ternak (rear), tinggal (leave), and tuai (harvest). It's easy to manage, and my wife, who's a homemaker, can look after it,' he said. Muhammad Zamzuri's participation has brought the family extra income from the sale of the bees' honey, which can fetch RM500 per kg in the open market. The Kabota Camp's kelulut project was visited by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who announced that RM10mil has been earmarked this year for various Madani camp programmes. He said the ministry had proposed the initiative, which is similar to the Madani Economic Programme that is being implemented in rural villages. 'We decided to bring the Madani Economic Programme into military camps, as communities outside are already enjoying its economic benefits. 'Boustead Plantation Bhd, a subsidiary of the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT), is also involved,' he said during the visit, which also included army chief Gen Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan. Mohamed Khaled added that the programme is also being supported by the Higher Education Ministry and research institutions, who have provided guidance to participants. 'Each camp can choose its own focus. For example, the kelulut honey project at Kabota Camp is carried out in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), which has expertise in this field,' he said. UMT Knowledge Transfer Centre director, Dr Zuha Rosufila Abu Hasan, said the programme is a collaboration between the Defence and Higher Education ministries, with four universities. UMT leads the kelulut honey project, UTHM is implementing hydroponic initiatives, while UiTM and UniMAP are focusing on mushroom cultivation. 'These projects provide direct benefits to camp communities and bring university research closer to the people. They are also aimed at improving household incomes.' UMT offers workshops covering basic beekeeping, downstream product development and bee trap making. Dr Zuha said kelulut bees are reared in wooden boxes and can produce about one kilogramme of honey each month. 'At Kabota Camp, 60 hives are managed by 20 participants. The market price for a kilo of pure kelulut honey is over RM500,' she added.
Malay Mail
04-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Soldiers, spouses profit from kelulut honey in RM10m Madani Camp drive
TAWAU, May 4 — The government has allocated RM10 million this year to implement the Madani Camp Programme in military camps nationwide, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. He said the ministry had proposed the initiative to ensure military personnel and their families also benefit from a programme similar in spirit to the Madani Economic Programme. As an example, Kabota Camp here has been identified for a stingless bee honey (kelulut) project aimed at generating income for members of the 7 RAMD Armed Forces Welfare Body (Bakat) and their spouses. 'We decided to bring the Madani Economic Programme into military camps, as communities outside are already enjoying its economic benefits. 'Boustead Plantation Berhad, a subsidiary of the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT), is also involved,' he said during a visit to the kelulut honey project site and the new military family housing (RKAT) construction area at Kabota Camp, accompanied by Army Chief Gen Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan. Mohamed Khaled added that the ministry has also received support from the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) to implement other projects, including fertigation and mushroom cultivation. 'Each camp can choose its own focus based on local interest. For example, the kelulut honey project at Kabota Camp is carried out in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), which has expertise in this field,' he said. He noted that such projects not only help generate additional income but also contribute to the national economy if expanded. Meanwhile, Madani Camp participant Staff Sergeant Muhammad Zamzuri Zulkefli expressed his gratitude for being selected for the kelulut honey project, which has helped increase his family's income. 'We received training from UMT experts on how to care for the bees. 'This project follows the 3T concept – ternak (rear), tinggal (stay), and tuai (harvest). It's easy to manage, and my wife, who's a homemaker, can look after it in her free time,' he said. UMT Knowledge Transfer Centre director, Dr Zuha Rosufila Abu Hasan, said the programme is a collaboration between the Defence and Higher Education ministries, involving four universities in the first phase. UMT leads the kelulut honey project, UTHM is implementing hydroponic initiatives, while UiTM and UniMAP are focusing on mushroom cultivation. 'These projects provide direct benefits to camp communities and bring university research closer to the people. They are also aimed at improving household incomes,' she said. Dr Zuha explained that UMT offers workshops covering basic beekeeping, downstream product development, and bee trap making. She said kelulut bees are reared in wooden boxes and can produce about one kilogramme of honey each month. 'At Kabota Camp, 60 hives are managed by 20 Bakat participants. The market price for a kilogramme of pure kelulut honey is over RM500,' she added. — Bernama
