Isu dan cabaran usahawan dalam industri penternakan lebah kelulut (Issues and challenges for entrepreneur in the stingless bee industry)

Abstract

Wujudnya kesedaran masyarakat terhadap pemakanan sihat menjadikan madu lebah kelulut antara produk yang mendapat permintaan tinggi. Namun begitu, penawarannya adalah rendah di pasaran, berikutan wujudnya pelbagai isu dan cabaran yang menggugat pengeluaran hasil. Tambahan pula, bilangan usahawan yang menceburi bidang ini masih di tahap minimum. Oleh itu, kajian ini dilakukan untuk menilai isu dan cabaran yang dihadapi oleh usahawan penternakan lebah kelulut di Kuala Lipis, Pahang. Reka bentuk gabungan kaedah penyelidikan kuantitatif dan kualitatif dilaksanakan ke atas 32 usahawan ternakan lebah kelulut. Hasil kajian mendapati gangguan fizikal melibatkan serangan serangga dan penyakit, monyet, burung pemakan serangga serta kecurian log kelulut oleh manusia merupakan isu serta cabaran utama yang dihadapi oleh usahawan. Gangguan aktiviti ekonomi manusia seperti penebangan hutan, penggunaan racun di kawasan pertanian dan kebakaran hutan, serta faktor musiman dan tahap pengetahuan usahawan yang rendah dalam proses pengeluaran turut menjadi isu dan cabaran dalam aktiviti penternakan lebah kelulut. Lantaran itu, penglibatan kukuh usahawan dalam industri penternakan lebah kelulut perlu mendapat sokongan padu daripada agensi pertanian dan agensi sokongan lain dalam memberi khidmat nasihat dan pengembangan. Selain itu, penyelidikan dan pembangunan terhadap potensi lebah kelulut perlu dipergiat bagi mengurangkan risiko dan cabaran yang dihadapi oleh usahawan. Pendedahan kepada penggunaan teknologi 4.0 dalam penternakan lebah kelulut perlu diperluas kepada usahawan bagi melahirkan usahawan yang berdaya saing selari dengan perkembangan Revolusi Pertanian 4.0.

Kata kunci: cabaran, industri, lebah kelulut, madu kelulut, proses pengeluaran, usahawan

The existence of public awareness on healthy eating makes stingless bee honey among the products that are in high demand. However, its supply is low in the market, due to the existence of various issues and challenges that threaten revenue production. Furthermore, the number of entrepreneurs who venture into this field is still at a minimum. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the issues and challenges faced by stingless beekeeping entrepreneurs in Kuala Lipis, Pahang. The combined design of quantitative and qualitative research methods was implemented on 32 stingless beekeeping entrepreneurs. The results of the study found that physical disorders involving pests and diseases, monkeys, insect-eating birds, and theft of logs by humans are major issues and challenges faced by entrepreneurs. Disruption of human economic activities such as deforestation, use of pesticides in agricultural areas and forest fires, as well as seasonal factors and low level of knowledge of entrepreneurs in the production process are also issues and challenges in stingless beekeeping activities. Therefore, the strong involvement of entrepreneurs in the stingless beekeeping industry needs to get strong support from agricultural agencies and other support agencies in providing advisory and expansion services. In addition, Research and Development on the potential of stingless bee should be intensified to reduce the risks and challenges faced by entrepreneurs. Exposure to the use of 4.0 technology in bee farming needs to be extended to entrepreneurs to produce competitive entrepreneurs in line with the development of the Agricultural Revolution 4.0.

Keywords: challenges, industry, stingless bee, stingless bee honey, production process, entrepreneurs