A slick endeavour of the coconut kind

 By Olivia Miwil - December 8, 2020 @ 1:00pm

Villagers find a lifeline on producing virgin coconut oil following the shutting down of resorts at Mantanani island. - Picture courtesy of Adzmean Chiee

KOTA BELUD: The sight of coconuts dotting the grounds used to be a norm for the villagers on Mantanani island, which is some 40 minutes by boat from the mainland.

The abundance of the drupes did not cross the minds of locals that it could be their next moneymaker, until recently.

As most of the local resorts were closed due to Covid-19 pandemic's, the villagers received help from non-governmental organisation Yayasan Hasanah to make use of the coconuts.

Their hard work paid off when they came up with the Mantanani Virgin Coconut Oil.

One of the villagers, Mainah Maulana, 45, said she and five others had learned how to produce the coconut oil traditionally.

Mainah Maulana, 45, and other villagers find a lifeline on producing virgin coconut oil following the shutting down of resorts at Mantanani island. - Picture courtesy of Adzmean Chiee

She said her team would grate about 70 coconuts within two days to extract their milk and oil.

"Out of those 70 coconuts, we could only yield about four litres (of coconut oil). But we are thankful to have some income from the sales.

"As to ensure the best quality for our product, we will only produce the next batch once the previous ones are sold," she said.

Mainah said the villagers had previously focused on tourism as the island is said to have the best water visibility in the world among divers.

"There were many tourists, mostly from overseas, who come here. At that time, most of us worked with the resorts.

Mainah Maulana (centre), 45, and other villagers find a lifeline on producing virgin coconut oil following the shutting down of resorts at Mantanani island. - Picture courtesy of Adzmean Chiee

"But when the Covid-19 pandemic hit early this year, we lost our jobs and lives became difficult as it affected our livelihoods," she told the New Straits Times.

Apart from Yayasan Hasanah, the community programme is supported by the Finance Ministry, Cintai Mantanani and SŌP.CO.

The Mantanani Virgin Coconut Oil is sold at RM38 per 500ml bottle or RM372 for 12 bottles.

The product can be ordered via https://forms.gle/ugeNdpUEiP4HX9Np6 or visit the Mantanani Local Products Facebook Page.