Elderly woman makes extra income selling sugar palm fruit for Ramadan

BALING: The fruit from ‘kabung’ plant, a type of feather palm, also known as “Arenga Pinnata” or sugar palm, can make a drink tastes more refreshing when added in fruit juices, or as condiments in ‘cendol’ or ice kacang.

The palm grows wild in hilly areas, but due to rapid development in the agriculture sector and illegal clearing of forest land, it is facing extinction.

However, in Kampung Rambong, Jalan Baling-Pengkalan Hulu, 71-year-old Siti Aminah Awang Tengah is diligently collecting the fruit, which she sells for extra income during Ramadan.

“It is a task collecting the fruit because the palm cannot be found in the village, but in the hilly forested area,” she said.

She said the fruit from the palm had to be processed first to get the edible part, which is the seed or endosperm.

“The fruit has to be boiled for three hours to be able to collect the soft flesh endosperm,” she said.

Siti Aminah said the husk of the sugar palm fruit contained a type of sap which could cause itchiness.

“The itchiness can be reduced by rubbing cooking oil on the part that came in contact with the sap,” she added.

She said the boiled fruits had to be left for about an hour to cool.

“The fruits are then cut into half to remove the seeds, which are then soaked in clean water for at least three days before they are ready to be sold,” she added.

She sells the sugar palm seeds for RM2 a packet at the Ramadan Bazaar in Baling.

“There is higher demand for the fruit during the fasting month,” she said, adding that she was able to earn RM1,000 during the month. Bernama