Project Detail

Conservation and Sustainable Use of Rice Biodiversity - An Integrated Project Involving the Indigenous Rice Growing Community in Tanjung Purun, Sarawak.

The project will train indigenous farmers to efficiently conserve rice biodiversity and utilize inputs and maximize outputs while conserving the environment and promote eco-tourism. Farmers will be taught to reduce the cost of production by utilizing environmentally friendly resources.

Down stream activities such as milling and packaging will improve farmers' participation in value added on-farm operations. A rice mill capable of efficiently process multi varieties will be operated by the farmers at the village level.

The project will also open the door for the local community to participate in other down stream activities that will improve their income generation and their sustainable livelihood while conserving and sustainably use agro-biodiversity.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Ecofare Bhd

Country:

Malaysia

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

Phase 3

Grant Amount:

US$ 50,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 116,165.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 40,548.00

Project Number:

MAL/OP3/2/06/FP-51

Start Date:

10/2006

End Date:

4/2009

Status:

Project Terminated Before Completion

Project Characteristics and Results

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

Besides the various sources of in-cash and in-kind co-financing, the very fact that the farming communities themselves would be reducing the amount of money spent on farming inputs while increasing the amount of money earned from farming outputs could be considered an innovative financial mechanism, especially for its sustainability.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

Due to the publicity generated on the project, particularly on i. conservation and sustainable use of traditional varieties of rice (since rice happens to be one of the major staple foods of most Asian countries), ii. the innovative environmentally friendly mechanisms practised by the indigenous farmers, iii. the increased yields and incomes benefitting the local farming community in Sarawak, many more people throughout Malaysia and also in other countries have become much more aware and knowledgeable on the significance of the project. In order to facilitate greater public awareness, its grantee, ECOFARE, has also produced a CD video of the steps involved in the project.

Gender Focus

Some components of the project eg. like looking after the ducks as biocontrol for weeds and pest as well as for natural fertilisers, handicraft and packaging, primarily involve women while most of the agricultural activities in the field and milling involve men farmers.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The local indigenous farmers will also be trained on how best to reduce the cost of cultivation and production of traditional rice varieties by utilising environmentally friendly methods. The farmers' income would also be improved by a number of downstream activities such as milling, packaging and marketing of the traditional rice varieties without the involvement of middlemen. Some traditional varieties of rice covered by the project have already managed to secure a "niche" marketing among some of the leading hotels in Sarawak and elsewhere in Malaysia.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

The participation of "Indigenous People" is not applicable in this case although it directly involves the participation of only indigenous farmers from Sarawak state.

Notable Community Participation

The project aims to train indigenous farmers to effectively conserve traditional rice biodiversity and to utilise ecofriendly inputs thereby, maximising outputs while conserving the environment and promoting ecotourism.

Capacity - Building Component

The project includes several components on farmers' training and capacity building on i. improving farmers' awareness and knowledge of the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in general and of rice agro-biodiversity, ii. increasing the capacity of the local farmers to undertake some of the new and innovative environmentally friendly methods involved in the project. Some of these methods involve integrated pest management (IPM), good agricultural practises (GAP), post harvest activities, use of biofertilisers, integrated farming approaches, farm surveillance methods, optimal planting methodology, etc.

Policy Impact

This project fits well into the policy priorities identified in the 9th Malaysia Plan (2006-2010) which includes emphasis on agriculture and agro-biodiversity.

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