Belacan makers looking forward to shrimp season
MIRI: Belacan (shrimp paste) makers here are eyeing the return of the shrimp season to produce the popular food item, which is in high demand in the market.
Housewife Muslinawati Sirat, who hails from Lutong, sells her belacan to relatives staying in Kuching, Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah as well as to buyers from Brunei who buy in bulk yearly.
“I’m now eager to earn side income as Miri belacan is not only in demand in the market but also the price per kilogramme can reach up to RM30 to RM35 during good times,” Muslinawati told The Borneo Post when met at Batu Satu Beach, Lutong yesterday.
According to Muslinawati, ‘ bubuk’ or shrimp caught by fishermen in Lutong or Miri are clean as they are caught fresh from the sea.
Her belacan stock is now gone and whenever she hears of ‘ bubuk’ that are freshly caught or sold at stalls along the LutongKuala Baram road, she is eager to buy as many kilogrammes as possible so she can start making belacan.
She said she managed to make and sell over RM1,000 worth of belacan last year.
Belacan made here is sold in Brunei, Kuching, Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia as the shrimp paste is famous because
I’m now eager to earn side income as Miri belacan is not only in demand in the market but also the price per kilogramme can reach up to RM30 to RM35 during good times.
of how it is prepared and its fresh ingredients that make it taste nice.
“Hopefully, if the weather is good and there is no rain, the ‘bubuk’ would swim nearer to the shore and fishermen can catch them in bulk and customers can buy them at a cheaper price,” she added.
Another belacan maker, Mak Siyot, when met in Kuala Baram said this was the time to make extra income for her family by producing belacan and selling it to her relatives in Ulu Baram and the interior areas across Northern Sarawak.
She said, during good times, she could produce up to few hundred kilogrammes of the flavourful paste depending on how much shrimp she bought.
Siyot said her children would help her to pound, dry and repound ingredients using a machine to make the belacan.
“It takes time and spirit to pound shrimp paste as it is
Muslinawati Sirat, housewife
also time- consuming; however, the result is worth it as there is demand in the market for belacan,” she said.
“I will scout for ‘ bubuk’ sold by fishermen in Lutong or in the surrounding Pulau Melayu and Piasau these few weeks to produce my Miri belacan,” she added.