‘Gula nise’ can boost Kelantan’s economy

PEOPLE outside Kelantan may not be familiar with “gula nise”. It is a type of sugar produced entirely using coconut sap. Yes, that is what gula Melaka is made from too, but Kelantan’s version has its own shape and taste according to the way the Kelantanese make it.

This production of sugar from coconut trees by local residents has the potential to be marketed as a premium made-in-Malaysia product that is still largely unknown.

As with the rest of the country and the world, Kelantan’s economy was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Its GDP decreased to RM25.8bil in 2021, compared with RM26.851bil in 2020. Kelantan has various economic sectors that need to be improved to restore the economy, and agro-produce like gula nise could help.

The price of sugar in the market is very high, but the sale of gula nise in Kelantan is still at a reasonable RM3 for 150gm.

The flavour of this (sometimes tombstone-shaped) sugar is sweet and fatty. Because of that, it is favoured when making traditional local cakes.

Apart from the price, another selling point is that it is generally organic, and is usually made 100% from coconut sap with no added sugar. It also comes across as a “village”, or cottage industry product, which is good not only for marketing but also tourism.

This could be an opportunity to help small and medium-sized enterprises while also helping the economy to recover. I suggest it could become a part of the East Coast Economic Region development efforts.

ENGKU MUHAMMAD ASYMAWI ENGKU AMERI @ENGKU AZANI

Faculty of Business & Communication

Universiti Malaysia Perlis