Hot Weather Boosts Production, Ubi Gegeli Provides Income For Couple

By Habsah Ismail

KOTA BHARU, April 11 (Bernama) -- The ongoing hot spell has brought challenges for many, but it has also created opportunities for some to earn additional income.

Among them are married couple Zulkhairul Anuar Abu Bakar, 51, and his wife Roselina Zakaria, 47, from Kampung Permatang Pusu, Melor, here who have seen rising demand for the traditional herb ubi gegeli they produce.

Zulkhairul Anuar said the hot weather has sped up the drying process of ubi gegeli, enabling production to be carried out more efficiently to meet customer demand.

“In hot weather, ubi gegeli can be dried within a day compared with three to four days previously, which significantly increases our production capacity.

“Demand for boiled stems of ubi gegeli, which are used to make herbal drinks, has also increased and has become our main source of income,” he told Bernama recently.

Ubi gegeli, or its scientific name Lasia spinosa, is a herbaceous plant in the Araceae family that typically grows in swampy or marshy areas and is used in traditional medicine.

He said daily demand can reach up to 10 kilogrammes, with around 40 to 50 packets sold each day, in addition to supplies distributed through local agents and customers.

Zulkhairul Anuar said that during the dry season, as swamp areas dry up, it becomes easier to collect ubi gegeli, which grows wild in padi fields and abandoned drains.

Meanwhile, Roselina said the preparation process begins with cleaning the plant to remove roots and thorns before slicing and drying it thoroughly.

“If the weather is favourable, it can be processed and sold on the same day. However, if it is not fully dried, it can easily spoil and become mouldy,” she said.

She said the product was initially made for personal consumption before being sold to villagers at RM20 per packet.

“Following encouraging response, we expanded sales, including through social media platforms such as TikTok.

“Production is now more stable after we secured sufficient supplies from several locations in the state,” she said.

According to her, boiled ubi gegeli water is increasingly popular among the people as it is believed to have health benefits and help cool the body during hot weather.

-- BERNAMA