News Straits Times March 30, 2006
Humble kerepek business goes online
By Prasanna Raman
Although as enterprising as they could be, 52 women form three
adjoining villages in Sungai pelek, Selangor never imeginated
that they could sell their kerepek or chips and other traditional
snacks beyond the weekly pasar tani (farmer’s market) in
the closest town.
But with the launch of the electronic industry or e-industry
desa project, these snack makers and frozen food suppliers have
started knocking on the doors of hypermarket in the country to
sell their foodstuff, and even open their doors to the global
market.
The e-industry desa project, an electronic rural mirco-enterprises
social project initiated by Pertubuhan Prihatin Sosial Malaysia,
and fully supported by the Women, Family and Community Development
Ministry of Malaysia is aimed at helping women entrepreneur in
the area to gain information and communication technology(ICT)
skills and knowledge to reap better returns.
The project covers an area called “banghuris”, made
up to three nearby villages, namely Kampung Bukit Bangkong, Kampung
Ulu Chuchoh and Kampung Ulu Teris, in the district of Sepang in
Selangor.
In addition to the cottage industry, some of the women folk here
are part of the homestay tourism business, were by their homes
are open to tourist who want to experience life in rural Malay
villages.
As these villages are located only 20 minites away form the Kuala
Lumpur International Airport, the Banghuris Homestay is quite
popular among tourist form Japan, Europe and Middle East.
Under the phase one of the project, a training centre was set
up to educate the women entrepreneurs on the use of ICT through
a series of workshops, seminars and tutorials as well the development
of a Web site (www.banghuris.net) which profiles all the entrepreneurs,
their product description as well as links to potential buyers.
In the present second phase, the project is looking at more comprehensive
content development such as Web application to sell product online,
personal Web pages, and ways to manage the business.
Last week, the e-industry desa directory was launched by Datin
Norasmah Samsudin, director general of the department of women
development, the women, Family and Community Development Ministry.
The directory consists of names, product information, contact
numbers as well as e-mail address of all the women enterprenuers,
Government agencies that offer training and funds , banks that
offer loans to cottage industries, various schemes for entrepreneur
development, and contact number of major hypermarket and department
stores.
According to Norasmah, with the e-industry desa project, women
entrepreneurs can find a market beyond Malaysia.
“For those in the homestay business, there’s an opportunity
to make friends with “adopted” families as well as
network with friends of these families abroad.” She told
Tech&U.
With the ICT training, she added these women can contribute towards
nation building by growing their cottage industry further.
“This is an exemplary project, and it should be extended
to other areas as the community should benefit from strategic
partner ship between the Government, private sector as well as
non-governmental organization.” She said.
According to Prihatin president Mahalinggam Chelliah, the enterprenuers
are doing very well in their business and some can’t even
meet the demand for their food stuff.
“ There’s a frozen food supplier who is unable to
cope with the demanded, and is putting in the extra time and effort
to meet that demand.” He said, explaining the potential
of this business.
Tech&U visited cottage industry entrepreneurs Jumairah’s
home-cum-factory. Jumairah Food Industries Sdn Bhd, to see how
the business had expanded for the past 18 years.
The company markets their tapioca, jackfruit and banana chips
under the AgroChips brandname. It even does contract manufacturing
for two other snack makers.
The business has expended so much that in May, the company will
start exporting its product to Dubai, united Arab Emirates.
The company currently purchase 2,000 kilograms of chips each
day, and expect to raise production volume with the purchase of
a new fryer and packaging equipment worth RM 580,000.
With a hard-headed drive to expand the business, these entrepreneurs
can certainly become the Martha Stewart, Anita Roddick, Donna
Karan or Imelda Roche of our country.
