Kelulut honey farm as eco-tourism product for Terengganu islands

KUALA TERENGGANU: A total of six popular islands in Terengganu show great potential as kelulut ( stingless bee) honey farm locations, thus creating an eco-tourism product to be promoted among tourists.

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu ( UMT)’s kelulut and bee research group head Assoc Prof Dr Shamsul Bahri Abd Razak said the six islands, namely Pulau Bidong, Pulau Redang, Pulau Perhentian, Pulau Lang Tengah, Pulau Kapas and Pulau Tenggol, have great potential to be developed for the kelulut honey farming industry in the state.

He said this was based on the recent kelulut mapping works carried out by 22 researchers from various fields on several islands around the waters of Terengganu to record species of the kelulut bee on the islands and its suitability for breeding.

“We found two unique species on Tenggol Island, one of which is Tetrogonula Laeviceps and another species that we are still in the process of identifying.

“We are currently studying the island’s suitability for kelulut honey farming as the species found on the island are different from those on the mainland,” he told Bernama.

Shamsul Bahri said UMT would offer its expertise to the community and chalet operators on the islands who showed interest to develop the kelulut honey farming as an eco-tourism product.

“Kelulut honey farming is relatively easy as the bees do not sting. Furthermore it does not take too long to get the result, usually for about one month.

“As for the islanders, kelulut honey farming can be developed as a source of income as well as to serve as tourist attraction for resort or chalet operators,” he said.

He said thus far only residents of Pulau Redang had embarked on the kelulut honey farming project and he would monitor the development from time to time. — Bernama