The Orang Asli are the natural guardians of the forest. They have a beautiful culture of partnership between people and the forest, nurturing and protecting the forest, and taking from it only what they need daily. But modernisation – irresponsible logging and the imposition of the market economy – has threatened the Orang Asli’s livelihoods, […]
Two indicators of genuine transformation are ownership and self-development. We see these, not just in the Orang Asli farmers at Kg Ulu Gumum where the OA Organics eco-farm project is, but a group of Orang Asli at Kg Melai. At Kg Ulu Gumum, there are now 32 farmers! The success of the 2-acre land started […]
The Orang Asli farmers of Kg Ulu Gumum will be showcased in an exhibition in New York! The eco-farm has been selected to represent Asia at the United Nations Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues (22 April – 3 May 2019). The Forum, established in 2000, is mandated to deal with indigenous issues related to the […]
Behind the OA Organics farm produce you see at three Jaya Grocer outlets, two Ps continue to enhance this process of building sustainable livelihoods for the farmers: Planet-friendly and People-centred. Planet Friendly To protect the environment, the young Orang Asli are being educated to stay connected to the forest. Two Sundays ago, a group […]
In the last few months, we witness the development of new mini farms in Kg Ulu Gumum! Being inspired by the success of the OA Organic farmers, a few orang asli in the village took the initiative to develop their own farms, using their own resources. Zariu and Burn, our farmers, have been coaching these wannabe […]
Let’s get to know one of our farmers, Manan, a hardworking and progressive man in his early 30s. His life-story is typical of the plights of many orang asli who want to provide a better future for their family. Prior to joining the OA Organics farm in August 2017, Manan worked for an owner of […]
It was a month of expansion! It all started in mid-July when we had a good problem: the farmers were producing a surplus of 30kg per harvest but the Kuantan market could not absorb the increase in production. Jaya Grocer, who has adopted OA Oganics as their CSR project, stepped in; they offered to sell the vegetables at […]
June was an eventful month of gains for the farmers at OA Organics. Firstly, it was a month of personal triumph as the farmers surpassed the RM800 income mark! In March, a compost specialist identified that the soil at the farm possibly comprised 60% sand which could not retain nutrients for the plants. With this, […]
In March 2018, Mr Piotr Frąckowiak, a young Polish residing in Germany and on a gap year before starting university this September, volunteered four weeks at the farm. Piotr described his time at the village as a “life-changing, unbelievable, and unforgettable experience of being given a chance to live among the poorest of the poor who […]
There’s an exciting income generation project going on at the village – a home-stay project! After two years of planning with the OA who are involved in the project, including the design of the home-stay, building works commenced in January 2018. From a grove of rubber trees full of mosquitoes, Bada and team transformed our […]