Botanical Garden

A propolis bee farm at the Penang Botanical Garden here not only produce quality honey for medicinal purpose but also drawing attention as a new tourism product, offering insight into bee breeding among visitors.

Established two months ago, the Propolis Bee Farm was set-up not only for commercial purpose but also aimed at boosting the state tourism industry.

Its Business Development Manager Michael Fong said the 8,000 square feet farm is expected to extract approximately 500kg of raw honey monthly.

Speaking to Bernama, he said the bee farm and gallery is open from 9am to 7pm daily and entrance is free.

“While touring our farm, visitors will get an opportunity to know the difference between natural and synthesized honey, the various types of bees and the kind of propolis and honey produced,”

he said.

Michael said the Botanical Garden is the most suitable location for the farm as there are a lot of native stingless bees there which are needed to collect propolis from the natural botanical plants.

“The beautiful natural scenery and nice weather here provide a good environment for bee breeding dan promote propolis production.

“If you come to Botanical Garden, not only that you can enjoy Malaysia’s oldest botanical garden, but you will also be charmed by the propolis bee,” he said.

Propolis, which is a resinous mixture collected by honey bees from other botanical sources, has been recognised as recipes for natural beauty and natural antibiotical medicine.

Trigona, a tiny stingless bee which is also a native bee in Penang and found nowhere else around the world, plays important role in producing the propolis honey.

Apiculture specialist, Ong Kang Peng said unlike other types of honey, propolis production requires the Trigona bees to extract nectar from other botanical sources such as trees, flowers and other plants.

He said propolis’ colour varies such as red, white, brown and yellow, depending on the botanical sources.

Ong, who has some 31 years of experience in apiculture, said Malaysia is the only country that breeds Trigona bees as an agent to collect nectar while other countries breeds Italian Honey Bees, which is the bigger-sized bees with sting, to produce propolis.

“Propolis promotes healing and regeneration of tissues. It has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory functions and protect the body from oxygen free radical damage,”

he said.

“There are some products from propolis which are useful as healing agent and application for home remedies such as honey, soap and balm,” he added.

To learn more about this, one should take a journey to the Propolis Bee Farm and explore the secret of the Penang native bees and honey, he said.

Source: Bernama