BIOREACTOR DOWNSTREAM PRODUCT TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER - GINSENG AND TONGKAT ALI INNOVATIVE CHOCOLATE PRODUCTION TRAINING IN CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM TO INCREASE SMALL MEDIUM INDUSTRY (SME) ENTREPRENEURS

Abstract

Present economic constraints are a huge challenge to the ability of subsistence of low income and poor community groups and is even more significant in urban areas where the cost of living is very high. Malaysian Nuclear Agency has collaborated with PUSPANITA MOSTI (The Association of Wives and Women Civil Servants Malaysia – Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation branch) to carry out the project of Capacity Building Programme using MOSTI Social Innovation Fund as to increase sources of income of the communities and as encouragement to become SME (Small and Medium Industry) entrepreneurs. The project was implemented by transferring the production technology of innovative chocolate Gitachoc Delight that contains extracts of Ginseng (Panax ginseng) and Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longofolia) to help communities increase their income by producing it as a selling product due to the production process that is easy and does not require a lot and expensive equipment and materials. This product is a type of chocolate that contains Ginseng and Tongkat Ali extract derived from the roots of the culture bioreactor system rather than raw materials harvested from the wild forest or in farms. Ginseng is a plant species that have roots which takes 5-6 years to mature and can be harvested. While Tongkat Ali is a wooden forest plant species which takes 20 years to mature. With the availability of Pilot Plant Bioreactor 1-ton System, Ginseng root can be harvested after 40 days and Tongkat Ali after 60 days after cultivation. This technology gives continuous standardized supply of raw material that are not influenced by the factor of geography and environment, without the use of soil and free from pesticides and other contaminants. The project participants were divided into three groups which were PUSPANITA members who wishes to become an entrepreneur, wives of community support groups and the urban poor who were single mothers, disabled people and low-income groups around the Klang Valley. A total of 150 participants took part in this project included 14 participants with disabilities with hearing and speech. Participants attended series of intensive practical training in production of chocolate products and online marketing. A total of 18 chocolate production workshops, 7 chocolate products marketing online workshops and an internet entrepreneur seminar was conducted completing the programme.