TAWAU: After joining the army, Muhammad Zamzuri Zulkefli’s family would rely only on his salary as a staff sergeant at the Kabota Camp here.
But with the nationwide Madani Camp Programme, families like his have the opportunity to gain extra income from small-scale farms that grow either mushrooms, vegetables through fertigation, or cultivate stingless bee (kelulut) hives.
“We received training from UMT (Universiti Malaysia Terengganu) experts on how to care for the bees,” Muhammad Zamzuri told Bernama.
“This project follows the 3T concept – ternak (rear), tinggal (leave), and tuai (harvest). It’s easy to manage, and my wife, who’s a homemaker, can look after it,” he said.
Muhammad Zamzuri’s participation has brought the family extra income from the sale of the bees’ honey, which can fetch RM500 per kg in the open market.
The Kabota Camp’s kelulut project was visited by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who announced that RM10mil has been earmarked this year for various Madani camp programmes.
He said the ministry had proposed the initiative, which is similar to the Madani Economic Programme that is being implemented in rural villages.
“We decided to bring the Madani Economic Programme into military camps, as communities outside are already enjoying its economic benefits.
“Boustead Plantation Bhd, a subsidiary of the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT), is also involved,” he said during the visit, which also included army chief Gen Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan.
Mohamed Khaled added that the programme is also being supported by the Higher Education Ministry and research institutions, who have provided guidance to participants.
“Each camp can choose its own focus. For example, the kelulut honey project at Kabota Camp is carried out in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), which has expertise in this field,” he said.
UMT Knowledge Transfer Centre director, Dr Zuha Rosufila Abu Hasan, said the programme is a collaboration between the Defence and Higher Education ministries, with four universities.
UMT leads the kelulut honey project, UTHM is implementing hydroponic initiatives, while UiTM and UniMAP are focusing on mushroom cultivation.
“These projects provide direct benefits to camp communities and bring university research closer to the people. They are also aimed at improving household incomes.”
UMT offers workshops covering basic beekeeping, downstream product development and bee trap making.
Dr Zuha said kelulut bees are reared in wooden boxes and can produce about one kilogramme of honey each month.
“At Kabota Camp, 60 hives are managed by 20 participants. The market price for a kilo of pure kelulut honey is over RM500,” she added.
