Nowadays, stingless bee honey (meliponine honey) or locally known as ‘madu lebah kelulut’ is becoming popular among Malaysian consumers due to its acclaimed health benefits and advantages such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Usually, stingless bee honey is used as a supplement to modern medicine, and the increase in health awareness among consumers has also increased the demand for stingless bee honey. However, due to the low production of stingless bee honey in the local market, Malaysia continues to import honey from other countries. As there is an abundant of imported honey products, local beekeepers are facing stiff competition, and consumers also need to make a difficult purchasing decision on the most preferable honey products in the market. Therefore, the main objective of the present work was to determine the consumers’ quality preferences towards stingless bee honey based on sensory characteristics. A total of 406 respondents of honey consumers were selected to test stingless bee honey sample based on its appearance, aroma, texture and flavour. The respondents responded based on a structured questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale statements about their responses towards stingless bee honey sensory characteristics. The responses of the respondents were analysed based on descriptive analysis, factor analysis and logistic regression analysis. The results revealed nine factors that influenced consumers’ preferences towards stingless bee honey such as granularity, colour, bitterness, sweetness, viscosity, spice aroma, sourness, herbal aroma and fruity aroma, with viscosity being the most influential factor. The present work concluded that sensory characteristics were important to determine the consumers’ quality preferences towards stingless bee honey on purchasing decision.
Not many attempts have been made in previous studies to understand consumers’ socio-demographic characteristics and their awareness towards organic rice. Knowledge towards organic rice among consumers is fundamental to induce demand and market for organic rice. This study seeks to understand consumers’ awareness towards organic rice in Malaysia. The survey is exploratory in nature and was conducted at major supermarkets in Klang Valley. Data were analysed using descriptive analysis and chi-square analysis using cross-classification techniques, and correlation to determine their relationship, strength and direction of their relationship. The findings showed majority of the respondents (85.6%) have some level of awareness towards organic rice, while only 64.7% planned to consume organic rice in the future. This indicates that awareness of consumers towards organic rice does not necessarily translate to their planning to consume organic rice. Thus, achieving awareness and understanding the linkage between awareness and consumption is fundamental to impacting demand and market for organic rice. The study also showed that the younger respondents have more concern towards organic rice. These findings if well responded to, would definitely have positive implications for the Malaysian organic rice industry.
Aquaculture businesses in Malaysia require careful and comprehensive financial analysis to be successful. Comprehensive financial analysis has three key components, namely financial position, profitability and liquidity/cash flow. This research focuses on using pro forma income statements to analyze financial positions and to evaluate the effect of government incentives on sustainability of Malaysian aquaculture farms. This paper is divided into two sections; the first section discusses and provides the finding and comparability of the financial analysis on freshwater and brackish water producers. In the first section, the discussion was based on financial viability criteria, namely net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR) and benefit cost ratio (BCR)) for base study. The evaluation process was carried out using four different phases; base study and government incentives simulations, Pioneer Status (PS), Investment Tax Allowance (ITA), and Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) for effectiveness of government incentives and roles in increase of profitability and production. The results showed that in all brackish water farms, NPV after the ACA incentive showed a higher and positive value comparable to individual PS and ITA. The effect of Government Incentive on Penaeus vannamei and Grouper showed that IRR and NPV on ACA (based on PS) is 2% and 9%, respectively higher than ACA (based on ITA). Meanwhile, in Barramundi farming ACA (based on ITA) was 8% higher than ACA (based on PS). The results on freshwater showed that ACA (based on ITA) on Tilapia and Catfish was 8% and 6% higher than ACA (based on PS). This paper concludes that the aquaculture operators should choose to accept PS with ACA on Penaeus vannamei and Grouper and choose ACA based on ITA on Barramundi, Tilapia and Catfish in order to maximize private profitability.
Malaysia depends on imports for its fragrant rice, mostly from Thailand, Vietnam, India and Pakistan. The fragrant rice farming in non-granary areas has been included in the new Entry Point Project (EPP) under the National Key Economic Areas (NKEA). In order to realize the aspiration of producing fragrant rice in large areas, it would require full participation and commitment from the existing and new farmers. The objective of this paper is to investigate farmer’s acceptance towards fragrant rice farming in two districts namely Pasir Mas and Tanah Merah, located in the state of Kelantan. The respondents of the study are 23 farmers and in-depth interviews are carried out to obtain farmers’ responses towards fragrant rice farming. The results from the content analysis reveal innovation characteristics, extension services and market pressure are among several factors that explain farmers’ acceptance towards fragrant rice farming.
This study investigates pest management practices among lowland farmers on growing
leafy and fruit vegetables, particularly focusing on the pesticide usage in controlling pest. In
Malaysia, vegetable productions in lowland areas are to some extent really important as in the
highland areas due to the wide marketing channel, from local till traded across border. Yet, the
ignorance of vegetables safety regarding the appropriate of pesticide usage by farmers was
undeniable, as the market demands only products with good extrinsic quality. Thus a survey
was conducted among of 85 of lowland vegetable farmers to get information on their pest
management practices in farms. Result showed that the pesticide application by farmers on
vegetables crops still indicated a calendar spraying practices. In most cases, farmers tend to
harvest the vegetable products shortly after a few days of last pesticide spraying. In order to
enhance the food safety control starting from the primary production, extensive monitoring of
the current pesticide usage by farmers in vegetable productions is vital to provide an updated
data on the food safety risk regarding to the pesticide residues. Therefore, the thrust of this
paper was to get a better understanding on the level of safe pesticide usage among vegetables
farmers especially in areas of growing vegetables productions.