Empowering ruber smallholders women towards entrepreneurial development through continuing education-Malaysias experience
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TextPublication details: Proceedings of IRRDB Conference: NR Industry: Responding to Globalization, 7-8 September 2004, Kunming International Convention & Exhibition Center, China. pp.239-245.Subject(s): Summary: This paper attempts to present in the Malaysian context a continuing education programme in entrepreneurial development for women in the rubber smallholders sector in line with the development of small and medium enterprices (SEMEs) in the Malaysian economy. Developing rural women entrepreneurs is a critical issue in human resource development of the SMEs in the Malaysian economy. Women make up half the population of the rural sector in Malaysia. Ignoring the rural womenfolk would mean forfeiting half the potential human reource. It has all along been the consensus of the international community, that equal participation of women in the economy is indispensable for sustainable development in the 21st century. Hevea Leaf Technology Enterprise was one of the projects introduced to the women-folks of the rubber smallholders as an income generating activity. Traditionally, the rubber tree has been associated with latex production and timber. But in the past few years, a new craft has emerged the production of various handicrafts using the leaves of the rubber trees. It is a technology whereby rubber leaves are fermented, and left to decompose over a period of one month. Then, they are cleaned and bleached to produce a fine textured material; dued and turned into bouquet of flowers (such as roses, hibiscus etc) plus other products such as key chains and bookmarkers. However most of the participants of this project are only doing it either for self-employment(a source of supplementary income for themselves and their family) or independent operators and are not growth oriented. Market need for products using this technology indicate that there is potential opportunity for growth into micro enterprises and SMEs. There is potential at least in the tourism industry. However, informal assessment of the situation indicate that there is relatively lack of motivation in growing their business and obviously there is a need for a continuing education programme to ensure a sustainable income generating activity for the rubber smallholders women involved in this enterprise.
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This paper attempts to present in the Malaysian context a continuing education programme in entrepreneurial development for women in the rubber smallholders sector in line with the development of small and medium enterprices (SEMEs) in the Malaysian economy. Developing rural women entrepreneurs is a critical issue in human resource development of the SMEs in the Malaysian economy. Women make up half the population of the rural sector in Malaysia. Ignoring the rural womenfolk would mean forfeiting half the potential human reource. It has all along been the consensus of the international community, that equal participation of women in the economy is indispensable for sustainable development in the 21st century. Hevea Leaf Technology Enterprise was one of the projects introduced to the women-folks of the rubber smallholders as an income generating activity. Traditionally, the rubber tree has been associated with latex production and timber. But in the past few years, a new craft has emerged the production of various handicrafts using the leaves of the rubber trees. It is a technology whereby rubber leaves are fermented, and left to decompose over a period of one month. Then, they are cleaned and bleached to produce a fine textured material; dued and turned into bouquet of flowers (such as roses, hibiscus etc) plus other products such as key chains and bookmarkers. However most of the participants of this project are only doing it either for self-employment(a source of supplementary income for themselves and their family) or independent operators and are not growth oriented. Market need for products using this technology indicate that there is potential opportunity for growth into micro enterprises and SMEs. There is potential at least in the tourism industry. However, informal assessment of the situation indicate that there is relatively lack of motivation in growing their business and obviously there is a need for a continuing education programme to ensure a sustainable income generating activity for the rubber smallholders women involved in this enterprise.
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