RM1 Mln MADANI Adopted Village Initiative Drives Community Development

KUALA BERANG, May 19 (Bernama) -- Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)’s RM1 million MADANI Adopted Village initiative is creating new income streams for Kampung Menerong residents through stingless bee farming, agro-tourism and community entrepreneurship projects.

UMT Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Zamri Ibrahim said the initiative had successfully produced local entrepreneurs while generating monthly incomes of up to RM2,000 for some villagers through honey-based products and agro-tourism activities.

He said the projects implemented under the MADANI Adopted Village Programme had also enhanced the village’s economic resilience while improving public facilities and recreational areas for the local community. 

“Among the projects implemented is the Stingless Bee Farming Project under the SejaTi MADANI and Komuniti@UniMADANI funds, which has successfully produced entrepreneurs and opened up economic opportunities based on honey production and agro-tourism," he said.

Speaking at the Kembara Pendidikan Tinggi@Terengganu programme in conjunction with the handover ceremony of UMT’s MADANI Adopted Village here, today, he said a solar-powered Menerong Stingless Bee Gallery was also established by the community, while villagers were given opportunities to participate in exhibitions and honey product sales programmes, including in Kuala Lumpur.

Also present were Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and Higher Education Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Aminuddin Hassim. 

Mohd Zamri said the university received the mandate from the Ministry of Finance in January last year to implement the MADANI Adopted Village initiative before an allocation of RM1 million was channelled in March 2025. 

He said the allocation was used to upgrade key public areas in Kampung Menerong, including the mosque compound, community hall and the Lubuk Bayas recreational site, which are among the main gathering points for residents. 

According to him, the transformation in Kampung Menerong was not limited to physical and infrastructure development, but had also revitalised community spirit and strengthened the village’s appeal as a rural tourism destination rich in natural resources. 

In addition, he said an Oyster Mushroom Entrepreneurship Programme under the Komuniti@UniMADANI initiative had provided villagers with comprehensive training in cultivation, management, marketing and downstream mushroom-based product development. 

“This initiative has also opened up income-generating opportunities, with estimated earnings ranging from RM500 to RM1,200 per month, further strengthening the economic resilience of the local community,” he added.

-- BERNAMA