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Here and Now in Malaysia
Giving Farmers a Chance
in Batang Lupar
Tan Anak Lining, a farmer from
Rumah Luyuh, lives in one
of the longhouses in Batang
Lupar, and was initially skeptical
when he heard about a project to
modernise paddy farming in his area.
His first thoughts were, “Why change
something that was already working?
This is a government project? Are
you sure? Talk is easy. If you are not
serious, do not disturb the way
we work. Our livelihood depends
solely on paddy so please do not
disappoint us.”
The project within Entry Point
Project 11 of the Agriculture
National Key Economic Area is a
collaboration between the Ministry
of Modernization Agriculture
Sarawak, Department of Agriculture
Sarawak and BERNAS.
This project which began
in September 2011 saw the
participation of an adjacent block
of 77.73 hectares of fields with 144
families from 11 long houses. In a
bid to promote commercial-scale
farming, some of the efforts to help
the community include improving
irrigation density and the use of
equipment as well as planting
methods to increase their yield.
“We are happy with our success
so far. My neighbours and I have
learnt about time and labour saving
methods in paddy planting. Now we
can increase the size of our farms and
plan for other off-farm activities such
as fisheries to increase our income,”
he said.
The farmers have begun to see the
benefits of these new methods. With
an increased income as a result of
increased productivity, it is hoped
that Tan and his friends will enjoy the
fruits of their labour.
Tan is no longer cynical after seeing
the rewards of his hard work and
the implementation of this project.
“Direct sowing is time and labour
saving.”
“ We are happy with
our success so far.
My neighbours and
I have learnt about
time and labour saving
methods in paddy
planting. Now we can
increase the size of our
farms and plan other
off-farm activities
such as fisheries to
increase our income
”
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