Six years in the past, Orang Asli labourer Zario Kuyu switched from his job as a rubber tapper to a farmer to earn further revenue for his household. It was a daring transfer, however the Pahang-based Zario has no regrets.
Today, he’s reaping the fruits of his labour. He’s scaled up his farm to 1 acre (0.4ha), the place he crops numerous leafy greens offered to quite a few markets round the state.
In addition, the father of two plans to make use of half of his financial savings to develop his farm to develop pumpkin, okra and chilli.
“Although it’s hard work, there’s nothing more rewarding than harvesting my vegetables. I often scroll through YouTube and Google to increase my knowledge of organic farming, cost-cutting measures, and improving my yield. Just last week, my barber approached me, requesting help to launch his organic farming business.
“I hope my story will inspire more Orang Asli villagers to venture into organic farming too,” stated Zario, who’s from Kampung Ulu Gumum, Pekan, in an e-mail interview just lately.
Zario hopes extra Orang Asli villagers will enterprise into natural farming.
From the Jakun ethnic group, Zario believes in monetary freedom and growth. He is set to construct a greater future for his kids and his group by venturing into farming.
Zario can also be one of the farmers who has acquired assist from OA Organik (beforehand generally known as OA Organics). This Kuantan-based fair-trade group enterprise works with Orang Asli communities in Pekan.
OA Organik is a venture beneath the Foundation for Community Studies and Development (YKPM), a charity organisation that conducts growth programmes (literacy courses, provision of protected ingesting water, and begin up of income-generating tasks) for the indigenous group.
OA Organik was one of the 10 winners of the 2017 Star Golden Hearts Award (SGHA), an annual award by The Star and Yayasan Gamuda that celebrates on a regular basis Malaysians who make a constructive impression on society whereas selling unity.
On May 12, YKPM chalked one other milestone after receiving the ASEAN Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation award for its excellent contributions to rural growth and poverty eradication.
YKPM managing director Kon Onn Sein, 57, was shocked and honoured by Asean’s recognition of their achievements, particularly OA Organik’s programme.
“This indicates that YKPM is among the leading models in Malaysia that aim to eradicate poverty. We are working hard to improve the lives of rural communities,” stated Kon, who arrange OA Organik in 2015.
The group enterprise gives capital, coaching and advertising and marketing assist to Orang Asli farmers from Zario’s group and Kampung Orang Asli Melai in Pekan.
One of OA Organik’s targets is to empower the group to domesticate eco farms.
“Organic farming remains attractive as the Orang Asli like farming. Men and women enjoy the art of growing organic vegetables.
“To them, farming is a work of art that involves the ability to read nature, weather and plant language. It requires commitment, skills, insight and care to succeed,” defined Kon.
OA Organik has skilled 72 farmers in seven years, and 36 of them are actively concerned in farming.
In addition, a serious grocery store chain is working along with OA Organik as half of its company social duty by promoting the Orang Asli’s produce at its retailers round the nation.
“Some farmers can earn RM1,700 each month. The farm has also grown and reached out to 25% of the community. Slowly, these farmers can strengthen community cohesion and leadership.
“It is also important to support the Orang Asli to enable them to develop a green economy and combat climate change,” stated Kon, a lawyer by coaching.
In 2000, Kon gave up his authorized profession to grow to be a full-time government director of YKPM.
He needs to assist the group as a result of of his sense of justice and realises their potential to maneuver in the direction of monetary independence.
“The Orang Asli have a beautiful culture of respecting nature and seeing themselves as part of the ecosystem. They go beyond the concept of sustainability, they practise the idea of harmony. They believe (nature) is the Creator’s gift to them, and they, in turn, have to nurture this gift responsibly.
Kon (in striped T-shirt) believes in the Orang Asli’s potential to move towards financial independence. Photos: OA Organik
“They are the best custodians and stewards of the forest. In addition, some studies show they play a critical role in sustaining our economy,” stated Kon, from Muar, Johor.
Kon needs to do far more to empower the indigenous group to make sure they’ve a agency footing in the agricultural trade.
Sadly, many farmers are caught in a vicious poverty cycle the place they can not enhance their farming expertise to attain their excessive revenue potential.
“Many of them are still apprehensive about focusing on farming due to the uncertain earnings from selling their produce. So instead, they would work on an oil palm plantation that guarantees a payment of RM50 for each tonne of fruit bunches gathered or go fishing as they would at least have food on their plate.”
To overcome this problem, OA Organik is working in the direction of redesigning the farming mannequin to allow farmers to proceed to work as labourers in plantations.
“Some farmers have chosen the hybrid approach rather than relying on one economic activity. The way forward will have to be a hybrid of the two but balanced in a way that, in totality, achieves the desired income.
“Thus, the farm has to be integrated with their existing oil palm or rubber as a whole livelihood strategy,” shared Kon, who goals to copy and begin comparable farming tasks with different Orang Asli communities.
It is Tan’s dream to empower Penan girls to be self-sufficient, financially unbiased and assured. Photos: Helping Hands Penan
Lending a serving to hand
Frida King has been a weaver for over 20 years and her intricate luggage and baskets with Penan motifs have graced many exhibition cubicles in Malaysia, Singapore and Australia.
But for the Penan girl, it isn’t a lot about showcasing her stunning handcrafted items to the world. As the sole breadwinner in her household, she is extra involved about incomes an revenue and placing meals on the desk.
She additionally must preserve apart some cash to pay for her ailing husband’s medical payments.
“My mother taught me how to weave traditional Penan designs on baskets and mats. I have been a bag weaver for many years.
“It takes me about one or two days to weave a basket, depending on my schedule,” defined King, from Long Sebayang in Limbang, Sarawak, in an e-mail interview.
“I hope that I can earn more money as a basket weaver. My dream is to lead a better life and enable my four children to complete their studies and have a brighter future,” she added.
King is one of the Penan weavers who provides her merchandise to Helping Hands Penan.The weaver provides her merchandise to Helping Hands Penan (HHP), a Miri-based social enterprise on a mission to empower Penan girls by weaving and providing training sponsorship programmes for college kids. Thanks to this initiative, weavers like King can transfer in the direction of monetary independence, construct confidence and have the likelihood for a brighter future.
Last 12 months, HHP was chosen as one of the SGHA winners. This 12 months, awards will likely be given to 3 people and 7 organisations, who will every obtain RM8,000 and RM10,000 respectively. These recipients may even be eligible to win the coveted Gamuda Inspiration Award, which comes with an extra RM50,000 grant.
HHP director Violette Tan, 62, says successful the award has been the most unimaginable honour for HHP and the complete cohort of volunteers, weavers, college students and networks.
“The award is a recognition and validation of our work and cause, which has been challenging. But unfortunately, the Penan do not have a voice and they are a forgotten group.
“However, the situation has improved. The rural development programme has started to improve the infrastructure in far flung Penan villages. Hopefully, it will be heightened to benefit more people living in the interiors of Sarawak.”
More Penan kids now have the alternative to achieve an training because of Helping Hands Penan.
HHP has additionally put in photo voltaic lighting in eight Penan villages in Ulu Limbang, Limbang, and Upper Tutoh, Baram.
Tan and her volunteers are additionally dedicated to their group growth tasks, together with improving the welfare of the aged and “Operation Milk Bottles”, a feeding scheme that gives milk to toddlers.
During the pandemic, HHP organised three rounds of meals support to their weavers and households, benefitting 80 households in three villages.
While successful the award is by far the most important milestone for HHP, Tan defined that there have been many highlights alongside the means. They embody the set up of water pipes in Long Ludin in Ulu Baram and the many success tales of their sponsored college students who’ve managed to additional their training.
“We also celebrated the achievement of our first graduate in 2016 and our first Master’s degree scholar who is currently pursuing his PhD.
“It made us believe that despite the odds, Penan children are capable of achieving tertiary education, which all children and youth are entitled to.
“This has boosted our drive to enrol more Penan children in school. We want more young Penans to further their education in colleges, vocational schools, universities and teachers’ training colleges,” shared Tan, a retired instructor who is predicated in Kuala Belait, Brunei.
The award has additional fuelled Tan’s ardour to do extra for this nomadic group in Sarawak.
Her subsequent step is to coach Penan weavers to handle the orders and the distribution of their crafts.
“Since our inception, we have relied heavily on volunteers and networks. Unfortunately, this is not sustainable in the long run as our turnover rate for volunteers is high.
“We realise that we need to train the younger generation to take over one day. Therefore, we hope our young Penan graduates will eventually take over the management to achieve our aim of ‘By the Penan, For the Penan’,” stated Tan.
This story is a component of a collection of articles that includes previous Star Golden Hearts Award winners and the award’s newly launched classes of causes which embody group empowerment, training, atmosphere and wildlife, social welfare, and catastrophe and disaster aid.
Nominations for this 12 months’s awards are now open. Tell us about your heroes at www.sgha.com.my earlier than July 31, 2022.
