Informal Sector in Rural Areas: Socio Demographic Profile of Traditional Food Industry Entrepreneur in Kelantan and Terengganu, Malaysia
WAN IBRAHIM WAN AHMAD, ASYRAF HJ. AB. RAHMAN, ZAINAB ISMAIL

Abstract
This paper analyzes how rural society in the state of Kelantan and Terengganu receives benefit from their involvement in the informal sector. The informal sector constitutes one of the important sources of income for rural society besides their existing traditional agricultural sectors. The main objective of this study is to analyze the involvement of the local people in the informal sector especially in the traditional food industry. Using a convenience sampling technique, a total of 300 traditional food industry entrepreneurs of both states were detected. Results show that the involvement in this sector does not require any special educational background. Most of them only completed their education at Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia level. Its diversity of scope and the time flexibility have attracted rural folks to devote their living in this sector. Data of this study also demonstrates the average age of respondent is 42 and the majority of them aged between 40 to 49 years old. More than half of the respondents receive monthly income RM450.00 and above and they perceived them as sufficient to fulfill their daily needs. The study concludes that the involvement in this traditional food industry is very important for the survival of the rural society in both states.

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