By WU VUIDE
KUDAT: The honey industry can raise incomes in northern Sabah, where extreme poverty persists.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said the Rural Development Corporation (KPD), through its Borneo Honey Bee Centre in Sikuati, has collected 30 tonnes of pure honey from contract farmers.
The total includes wild honey and farmed honey.
“KPD’s work in northern Sabah can create real income for villagers,” Jamawi said after opening KPD’s Golden Jubilee and the BHBC Open Day in Sikuati.
He has asked KPD to expand the programme to more villages in Kudat and Pitas — two districts still classified as extremely poor.
The key is a guaranteed market. KPD buys back all honey its farmers produce.
“There is a market. That gives farmers confidence,” he said.
KPD is also launching a new product with a local water producer, using KPD honey. It was launched yesterday and will be rolled out in stages.
“Buy it, and you help families in Pitas, Punggut, Kudat and Sikuati,” Jamawi said.
Also present were MAFFI assistant ministers Datuk Ruslan Muharam and Datuk Hendrus Anding, permanent secretary Datuk Jifrin Mohammad, KPD chairman Datuk Yussof Abdul Manan and general manager Jailis Masarip.
Jamawi later visited a 600-bird layer farm in Kampung Bingolon.
Jamawi, together with guests after launching the event.
