It is disheartening to witness the underutilisation of available resources by many rural Ibans. Many have failed and are still failing to maximise the economic potential of their land for farming, livestock rearing, and other profitable activities.
From my observations, many people in my area could achieve much more than they currently are. While I understand the various challenges that the parents face in meeting their children’s educational needs, their current financial predicaments are often a result of laziness or ignorance.
For example, I have noticed two couples who each have at least three school-going children. They rely solely on rubber tapping to provide for their children’s needs, despite having ample land near the longhouse that could be utilised for livestock rearing and vegetable planting. With proper management, these activities have the potential to yield good economic returns.
Additionally, the Agriculture Department is willing to assist in terms of expertise and even subsidies.
Over the past few years, I have made efforts to encourage these couples to engage in these ventures. Initially, they seemed receptive to the suggestions, but after three years, they have yet to take any action.
However, there are a few relatively well-off parents who have responded positively and are now successfully harvesting crops such as corn, beans, brinjal, cabbages, cucumbers, and other vegetables.
These parents demonstrate innovative thinking and continue to work diligently, making the most of their land and energy even in their sixties, despite having children who have graduated from university and college.
To further motivate them, I shared the story of my late father (Apai) Salok. When my brother Jon and I were in primary school, he sold farm products like corn, cucumber, cucumber leaves, and other vegetables from our farm at Sungai Sibau Temudok Krian. He was arguably the first Iban pioneer to sell farm products in Saratok.
Although many people were initially sceptical, he persevered and eventually enjoyed better clothing, footwear, and an abundance of school supplies for my brother and me, not to mention some extra pocket money.
People showed their gratitude by buying from him in bulk, as he and my mother had provided shelter for Ah Choo and his wife during the Japanese Occupation when the Japanese demanded various items from the Chinese. The childless couple stayed with my parents in the interior for a few months.
There are numerous ways for individuals to supplement their income if they are healthy and willing to put in some effort, particularly with suitable land. At least six families in my longhouse have already started fish farming in ponds, especially those with land near trunk roads or feeder roads.
My own family began our fish ponds over thirty years ago and have consistently had successful harvests of red and black tilapia, ‘chau hu’, ‘lampan Jawa’, patin, catfish (ikan keli), as well as ‘udang galah’ (king prawns) and others.
Our fish ponds, now managed by Jon, continue to flourish. I recall paying someone with a bulldozer RM450 to clear the land and create two ponds next to each other around 1996.
To ensure both short-term and long-term gains, many longhouse residents, including those in Saratok, have started planting various fruits in their orchards or around their farmhouses.
Orange, durian, rambutan, dabai, pakan (a durian variety), guava, temedak (jackfruit), mango, mangosteen, mata kuching, papaya, banana, and other fruits have been successfully cultivated. In our orchard, located about 200 meters from our longhouse, 33 rambutan trees are still thriving.
Moreover, we have several langsat trees, approximately five pakan trees, a substantial number of jackfruit trees, as well as pineapples, pumpkins, and various vegetables. During an abundant rambutan season many years ago, all 33 trees bore fruits.
An additional seven trees in another orchard, approximately three kilometres away, brought the total to 40 trees, all producing ripe rambutans that delighted bats and other creatures.
Bananas, pineapples, and papayas are particularly favoured choices among our longhouse residents, as they require less time to bear fruit and have ready buyers, even within our longhouse community.
Planting durian trees can prove to be a profitable investment, especially with the availability of new varieties that can start bearing fruit after only five years.
Leveraging modern technology, including cross-breeding, can make such planting ventures enjoyable and lucrative.
Additionally, some longhouse residents take advantage of their rural setting by engaging in fishing, hunting, and collecting valuable jungle products, including orchids for sale.
Remote areas, such as the upper reaches of main rivers, still boast abundant exotic fish that can fetch high market prices.
For instance, ‘semah’, ‘tengadak,’ ’empurau,’ ‘tapah,’ and ‘ikanpadi’ can command significant prices, especially the brown ’empurau’ which can fetch up to RM2,000 per kilo.
In conclusion, it is disheartening to see that many rural Iban parents are not fully utilizing the resources available in their environment to maximize their economic potential.
Despite having fertile land suitable for farming, livestock rearing, and other profitable activities, some parents are solely dependent on rubber tapping, which may not provide sufficient income.
Encouraging parents to engage in alternative ventures such as livestock rearing, vegetable planting, fish farming, and fruit orchards can yield significant economic returns.
While some parents have taken up these opportunities and found success, others have yet to take action. It is important to educate and motivate these parents to think outside the box and make the most of their land and energy to improve their financial situations.
By diversifying their income sources, rural Iban parents can provide better for their children’s needs and create a more sustainable future for their families.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the New Sarawak Tribune.
