MELAKA (Bernama): Belacan, or prawn paste, is an important ingredient in many dishes, so much so that without it, the taste would not be the same.
The fear now is that the production of prawn paste, especially in Melaka, which is well-known, including in Singapore and Brunei, will come to a halt due to the depletion of the geragau shrimp, which is used to make the paste.
Problems getting a supply of geragau shrimp are forcing many belacan makers in Melaka to venture into other businesses.
However, Mohd Azmi Doraman, 42, who manages the shrimp paste business under the brand name Belacan Maklong Tanjung, is still trying to keep this traditional business alive.
He claimed that sea reclamation work, which has been going on for almost 20 years, is the main reason for the depletion of the geragau shrimp.
“Honestly, the situation is becoming more critical. In the past, I could get 200 tonnes of geragau shrimp from my suppliers. That amount is enough to produce belacan for three months, but now, I’m getting only 10 to 15 tonnes.
“The supply of geragau shrimp in Melaka has dropped by 90% to 95% and it is said to be because of the natural habitat of the marine life that has been disturbed,” he said when met by Bernama in Bachang here.
Azmi, who inherited the business from his family, said he had to compete with commercial belacan operators in obtaining his supply of geragau shrimp from outside Melaka such as from Kuala Selangor and Kuala Perlis and also from the Philippines and Indonesia.
“The price is also high, which can reach up to RM10 per kilogramme and because of that, many of the small entrepreneurs have had to close down their belacan-making business,” he said, adding that the depletion of the marine resources not only impacted belacan makers, but also the fishermen.
He said only two items were needed to make the belacan and what makes belacan from Melaka different from those produced in other states is its colour.
The belacan from Melaka is pinker, he said, adding that he has 200 agents nationwide selling his products. – BERNAMA
