The erratic weather conditions in Sabah over the past few years had taken its toll on the local honey production. According to the Rural Development Corporation (KPD), an agency under the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry, a recent research found that the weather was the key factor in the drop of honey production in Kudat, Kota Marudu and Pitas, the top three areas for honey production in Sabah.
KPD general-manager Datu Basrun Datu Harun said the research was done after the local honey production dropped to 9.98 tonnes in 2009, compared with 12.7 tonnes in 2008 and 20.5 tonnes in 2007.
“The research also found that pests as well as forest clearing activity also contributed to the drop in the production,” he told Bernama here yesterday.
He said the high quantity of rain could disrupt the nectar sources on flowers, which is essential for the honey-producing bee.
“To ensure the continuity of KPD’s roles to guide the rural people in the production of honey, we are planning to expand the activities to other districts,” he said. Basrun said KPD had identified several new areas in Keningau and the west coast of Sabah for the purpose.
“KPD is also contemplating planting various species of flowers on a large scale to provide food for the honey bees,” he added.
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