Lemang bamboo trader ramps up supply to meet high demand
MELAKA: Zulazrai Zokapaly has his hands full this year supplying ‘lemang’ bamboo – used for preparing the traditional Hari Raya glutinous rice delicacy – to lemang vendors this year following heightened demand.
Zulazrai, 36, who has been in the business for five years, says he sources the bamboo from Raub, Pahang and has so far met the demand of approximately 50 lemang vendors in Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Johor.
“Last year, we started selling it in the middle of Ramadan but this year we started at the beginning. The demand is very high.
“We will stop taking orders about five days before Hari Raya Aidilfitri. So far there are orders for 37,000 bamboo stems – the highest single order is for 10,000 stems.
“We also sell small quantities if needed,” he told reporters at his business premises in Pokok Mangga here yesterday.
A native of Melaka, Zulazrai said his suppliers had delivered 20,000 stems so far, with the rest expected to be staggered into four deliveries starting today.
He added that the wholesale price is RM1.30 per stem for purchases of 1,000 stems or more, and RM1.50 per stem for smaller quantities.
Zulazrai, who is in the business to augment his income during Hari Raya, said he preferred bamboos sourced from Raub, Pahang due to their superior quality, with consistent lengths ranging from 43cm to 45cm.
“I used to get supplies from Kelantan and Terengganu, but they were shorter, between 33cm to 35cm, which are lower in demand among lemang vendors,” said Zulazrai, who also runs a sugarcane business and sells health products online.
Aiming for gross sales of between RM70,000 to RM80,000 this year, he highlighted the numerous risks inherent in the lemang bamboo business, particularly the adverse effects of hot weather, which could potentially damage the bamboo.
Given the prevailing hot weather conditions in Melaka, he explained that the bamboo must be watered at least five times a day to maintain moisture levels and prevent cracking or splitting.
Zulazrai added that upon arrival, the bamboo would be sorted and separated by length, diameter and quality before being bundled for sale.
“Usually, over 600 out of every 10,000 stems we receive are damaged and broken.
“We cannot return or exchange them as they are bought wholesale,” he said.
He also said he had a stock of 4,000 ‘lerek’ leaves for sale at RM0.50 each, which are used in making lemang.
He said he expected to sell some 60,000 lemang bamboos this year, compared to 35,000 last year.