Dulu "traditional" sekarang "Self-reliance"

Amalan bercucuk tanam secara kecil-kecilan oleh masyarakat di luar bandar sering dikritik sebagai satu punca kepada masalah kemiskinan dan kemunduran mereka. apa tidaknya, penanamana kecil-kecilan ini dikatakan bukan sahaja kurang produktif tetapi satu kegagalan untuk memanfaatkan tanah yang luas. Selain itu, tanaman kecil-kecilan seperti ini juga dikatakan tidak mencapai tahap ekonomi komersil yang menekankan pengeluaran berskala besar untuk memenuhi tuntutan pasaran.

Krisis harga makanan yang sedang melanda dewasa ini membuktikan bahawa kritikan ini gagal mengambilkira kepentingan tanaman kecil-kecilan ini sebagai satu sumber makanan yang penting dalam menghadapi kegawatan ekonomi mahupun semasa keadaan ekonomi yang baik. Amalan seperti ini menyediakan jaring keselamatan yang boleh menyerap risiko kekurangan makanan pada masa kegawatan ekonomi serta menjadi bonus pada masa keadaan ekonomi yang baik.

Laporan akhbar the Star menceritakan isu ini lebih lanjut. (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/10/13/southneast/2186386&sec=southneast

Monday October 13, 2008
Rural community addresses food issue in its own way
By HILARY CHIEW

MIRI: Along the banks of the Baram river, the private houses and government quarters in the interior town of Long Lama are brightened by the green backdrop.
It’s not only soothing to the eyes but these green patches also provide food security for around 2,000 inhabitants of the town.
The rural community, located about 140km from here, made up of mainly the ethnic Kayan, are putting the land surrounding their houses to good use by growing paddy.
Sight for sore eyes: Many people in the rural area are resorting to growing their own paddy.
Subsistence farming had always been practised by rural folks but this year it gained renewed importance - all in response to the recent food price hike.
A bag of 5 kilo rice that used to be sold at RM10 had shot up to RM25 in the interior of Sarawak compared to RM21 in the city.
Poor rural folks are paying a higher price for food items than urban families due to the transportation costs.
Healthy: Besides paddy, Lajo grows greens, bean, rows of chilly plant, tapioca and fruit trees.
At Jane Lako’s garden, there are young paddy saplings, leafy vegetable and beans plots, rows of chilly plant, tapioca and numerous fruit trees.
In fact, her little ‘food’ garden is not unique in Long Lama. Most of her neighbours are doing the same.
“I hardly buy any vegetables from the market these days.
“My family eats the leafy greens and beans that are grown in my garden.
“In this way, I can cut down my food bill considerably and the savings can go to other expenses like petrol and school expenses,” said the mother of five children aged 16-year-old to eight-month-old.
The Penan lady from Long Spigen, Ulu Baram, who is married to a Kayan moved to Long Lama from Marudi early this year.
Alternative: People from the interior Long Lama grow corn, tapioca and beans in their house compounds.
And the first thing she did was approach her neighbour and ask for rice seeds.
“They sold me about 2 kilo of seeds at RM10.
“After this season, I’ll be able to save my own rice seeds for next year planting,” said the 37-year-old enthusiastically.
She will soon transplant the saplings to a semi-submerged patch in one corner of the garden and wait for harvest time next February