What an incredible November journey it has been! For the first time, the Asia Pacific Leadership Workshop was hosted in history, and the Malaysian chapter had the privilege of welcoming Global Peace representatives from Cambodia, Indonesia, Korea, and the Philippines to the vibrant town of Muadzam Shah, Pahang

Muadzam Shah may not be the first location that springs to mind for an international leadership summit, but this small yet developing town, with a population of around 30,000, is where the Malaysian chapter’s most important initiatives took root and proved to be the ideal setting to unite leaders from five countries!

This year’s Asia Pacific Leadership Workshop made history as the very first time the event was ever hosted! We were thrilled to welcome 18 international delegates, including our esteemed Regional Representative, Mr. Ingill Ra to Muadzam Shah

Muadzam Shah, with its relaxed vibes, became the ultimate connector, setting the stage for an unforgettable experience of leadership, collaboration, cultural exchange, and yes TRANSFORMATION!

The warm welcome and local delicacies and culture at Pinang village (Kg, Pinang)

The journey began with a cultural welcoming dinner that set the tone for the rest of the experience.

The evening was nothing short of spectacular as the delegates arrived by bus, greeted by the villagers, and crowned with the Tempok. The Tempok, a traditional Orang Asli headgear, is worn by the givers when welcoming guests and also given to the guests as part of the ceremony. It’s a beautiful tradition that symbolizes respect and unity. The air was filled with the serenades of a gong and violin, with 80+ year-old Nenek Poin playing a special tune for our guests.

The food was nothing short of amazing, but what really made the evening unforgettable was the warmth and the collective effort behind it! The villagers worked together on everything from the decorations to the atmosphere, creating an experience that celebrated their culture and the genuine connections shared throughout the rest of the evening!

A deep dive into leadership at UNITEN (UNITEN Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Campus)

Over the next two days, the workshop was a whirlwind of transformation. The theme was clear – leadership starts with character.

Mr. Ingill Ra kicked off the session by emphasizing that true transformation begins with oneself. By strengthening our own character, we play a part in driving positive change in the world around us. He urged us to view leadership as a framework where character serves as the strongest foundation, and the essence of transformation lies in developing people of character.

Our presenters and co-presenters for the two-day workshop.

From left:

Ms Yor ching Poon (GPF Indonesia), Ms Cass Mah (GPF Malaysia), Ms Ann Marlita Montejo (GPF Philippines), Ms Grace Franque (GPF Philippines), Jay-mar Javier (GPF Philippines), Pach Pagnavorn (GPF Cambodia), Mahmudi (GPF Indonesia)

Ms. Ann Marlita further solidified this message during her session, where she explained how nurturing character in leaders is key to creating strong organizations. When leaders are grounded in character, they become the driving force behind organizational success and growth.

Putting Learning into action through Service Days

The service days began with an experience, where the Asia Pacific team got to see up close the on-the-ground work being done by the Malaysian chapter. It was a chance to witness how their collective efforts are making a real difference in the communities.

Syntropic Agroforestry in Sualang Village

The team was welcomed by vibrant sunflowers symbolic plants tied to the service work in the region.

p/s Sunflowers are known as the service plant that is used to mulch the plot so it can nourish the whole ecosystem.

Syntropic Agroforestry stands in stark contrast to traditional monocropping, fostering ecosystems where vegetables, fruits, and native species thrive together. This method not only restores soil health but also helps combat climate change by acting as a natural carbon sink.

This time, the team rolled up their sleeves to participate in land preparation firsthand, and yes, they even had fun digging up sweet potatoes along the way!

Education engagement in Binjai Village

Later that afternoon, the team continued their service in Binjai Village, a pioneer village for the Malaysian chapter’s education initiatives. Binjai is home to the Forest School, the first of its kind in this region. Education hasn’t always been easy for everyone here— (read more about their stories here)

The team bonded with the children through engaging activities, including bamboo cooking, while learning about each other’s cultures. The children were full of energy and participation. 

Everyone shared a few words in their native languages, and to top it off, they joined in a dance that celebrated their shared experience.

Lighting up Batu 3 village with installation of Solar Street light

On the final day of the workshop, the team visited Batu 3 village for one last service day. This visit took the international team to a closer look of the Malaysian All-light initiative in lighting up Orang Asli villages with solar street lights. Each corner of the communal area was illuminated!

A big thank you to Mr. Leonard Fastino (Executive Director, Global Peace Foundation Philippines) for his generous donation, which helped fund the purchase of materials for this project.

Cultural night

To close out this amazing journey, we gathered for a cultural night that brought together the unique traditions of everyone involved. The evening was filled with music, dance, and performances that celebrated the diversity of our group!

A big thank you to all the chapters involved, GPF Cambodia, GPF Indonesia, GPF Philippines, and GPF Korea for bringing the energy, commitment, fun and passion to this experience!

Looking forward to what’s next as we continue this journey of leadership and growth together!

A shared path of growth and empowerment

The 2024 Asia Pacific Leadership Workshop in Muadzam Shah was an opportunity to turn leadership theory into real-world impact. After two days of engaging workshops and deepening our understanding of leadership, the focus shifted to service.

Working alongside the Orang Asli communities, we put our learning into action and contributing to meaningful projects while building connections that will last far beyond the workshop. This experience made it clear that leadership is not just a set of ideas, but a commitment to turning those ideas into something that truly matters.

Written by,

Sofia Aminudin

More fun below!

The post First time in history! 2024 Asia Pacific Leadership Workshop in Muadzam Shah appeared first on Global Peace Foundation Malaysia.

“Pertanian Hutan BEST!!”

The cheer of “Pertanian Hutan BEST!!” (meaning “Forest farming is the best!”) perfectly captured the energy and excitement of the day. It was a moment that reflected the enthusiasm both our farmers and our new friends shared!

It was a day of learning, and community spirit as we welcomed 40 of our Temiar Orang Asli friends from Gua Musang, Kelantan. Traveling all the way from the southern part, in collaboration with KUASA (Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam) bringing together a diverse group from 17 different villages that are eager to learn more about Syntropic farming. 

This special visit was another milestone for our Jaringan Akar farmers, bringing a chance to exchange knowledge and engage in hands-on activities aside from building friendships across states.  

Morning breakfast at Bukit Biru

Our first stop was Bukit Biru, where the day began under the cool shade of a canopy with a hearty breakfast. There, we enjoyed the morning breeze and prepared ourselves for the visit to Mamak Jamida’s plot. 

Note: In the Jakun language, “Mamak” is translated as uncle or refers to an elder man

As everyone moved around the plot, the sound of laughter and conversation showed this was more than just a plot visit but it was a chance for everyone to share their experiences, and learn from each other’s skills and stories

Jamida reflects on his journey with Syntropic Agroforestry, proudly sharing how the practice has led to his many successful harvest

Land prep in Sualang

The next destination was Melor’s plot at Kampung Sualang!

Final recap at Pinang

Once the hard work was done, we headed to our final stop—Kampung Pinang. Here, we gathered for a much-anticipated lunch, featuring a delicious spread of Ayam kampung kacuk lovingly prepared by Amai Normah. The free-range chicken, cooked to perfection, was the star of the meal!

After lunch, the group reconvened for a special gathering. We began by sharing a video made in honor of our ongoing syntropic farming project, an evidence to the hard work and passion poured into this initiative over the past four years. 

This was followed by a lively sharing session led by Dr. Teh, our CEO and Mamak Walter, our chairperson for Jaringan Akar. They offered insights, stories, and practical advice! fostering a warm environment for discussion and learning among our farmers and friends

Dr Teh (Left) and Walter (Right) during the sharing session

To help our friends carry this knowledge back to their communities, our Regen team (Short for Regenerative farming) prepared a comprehensive handbook filled with tips and tricks on syntropic agroforestry.

The eagerness of participants during the Q&A session highlighted the success of the event! curiosity was sparked, and new ideas were shared.

Dendi, expressed his eagerness to take the knowledge he gained back to his community in Gua Musang

With theory covered, it was time to return to the field for more hands-on learning. The group made their way to Mamak Ali’s plot, where he demonstrated his pruning and mulching techniques. The joy was evident on everyone’s faces as they learned these practical skills, and Mamak Ali’s enthusiasm shone through as he shared his expertise by demonstrating the pruning of the banana trees. 

Mamak Ali (Above in Jaringan Akar shirt) confidently shows his pruning and mulching technique

By the end of the day, it was clear that this was more than just a visit—it was a celebration of community, collaboration, and the shared goal of promoting sustainable farming practices. Thanks to the support of organizations like KUASA, initiatives like this continue to grow, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange and fostering a deeper understanding of the importance of sustainable farming, and strong communities! 

Watch the video below!

Note: Hover over the settings icon and select 1080P for better video quality.

Written by,

Sofia Aminudin

The post A new dawn for Jaringan Akar farmers as we connect with our Temiar Orang Asli friends appeared first on Global Peace Foundation Malaysia.

Recently, The Edge featured inspiring stories from our Orang Asli farmers in a special ESG 2024 issue, highlighting how families have learned to grow diverse crops and breathe new life into their land.

The article beautifully captures the resilience and determination of the Orang Asli farmers, who have faced numerous challenges, from deforestation to the pandemic. Yet, with the support of funders and partners throughout this journey, they have transformed their farms into thriving ecosystems.

A special shout-out to all of you OUR PARTNERS who made these incredible transformations possible.

“Your support has been at the heart of our work with the Orang Asli communities in Pahang. With your help, we’ve introduced sustainable farming practices like Syntropic Agroforestry, giving these communities the tools they need to reconnect with their land, traditions, and culture, while also building a steady income.”

DR TEH SU THYE (CEO, GLOBAL PEACE FOUNDATION MALAYSIA)

Thank you for being such an essential part of this journey and for helping to restore hope and dignity to these communities!

We’re proud to share this feature story with you—read it below.

Compiled by, Sofia Aminudin

The post Thanks to YOU, our Orang Asli Farmers are thriving and reconnecting with their roots appeared first on Global Peace Foundation Malaysia.

Nothing encapsulates the feeling of familiarity and comfort like a home cooked meal prepared by the women in our families. However, women’s roles do not just stop at the kitchen. Making up ‘43% of the global agricultural labour force‘, women are central to farming and play vital roles in food security and nutrition at both the household and community levels.

Throughout the years of working with Orang Asli communities, we are continuously inspired by the passion and drive of Orang Asli women as they strive to improve and diversify their livelihood through various income generating opportunities. However, despite their interest and hard work, many of them continue to face complex challenges such as lack of knowledge, resources and capital.

Syntropic Farming for Food Security

To address some of these challenges, we kickstarted a Syntropic Agroforestry project with the Orang Asli farmers. This food farming project aims to rejuvenate the ecosystem to allow a diverse variety of plants to grow. In the long term, we hope that these farms will become self-sufficient, providing villagers with nutrient-dense and organic food, as well as additional opportunities for income generation.

It has now been over one year since we started the Syntropic Farming project and many of our Amai farmers (‘Amai’ translates to ‘aunty’ in the Jakun tribe) have successfully harvested a variety of vegetables and fruits ranging from chili, corn and ginger to bananas, sweet potatoes and lemongrass.

Economic Empowerment: From Farming to Selling

However, as farmers begin to harvest their vegetable and fruit crops, they are now faced with another challenge– market access to sell their produce. Many farmers have difficulty selling their produce to nearby towns or markets due to the remoteness of the villages and lack of transportation.

In order to bridge market access barriers, we set up the Kebun Amai to support our farmers in marketing and selling their fresh produce.

Just last month, we partnered with Kongsi Co-op, a consumer cooperative in Malaysia to support the Orang Asli to sell their fresh produce in organic markets across the Klang Valley area. Selling an assortment of vegetables and fruits such as bananas, ginger, sengkuang, lemongrass and more, this partnership not only brings renewed hope for the Orang Asli farmers but also opens the door for additional opportunities for income generation.

We made the video above to show and encourage the Orang Asli farmers that there is great demand for organic food in the market. Through connections with wholesalers, grocers and the communities within the Pahang and Klang Valley area, we hope to empower and support the farmers’ livelihood through income generation.

Meet Amai Normah and Amai Yati

In addition to selling their fresh produce, several Amai have also started experimenting with producing homemade products using harvested vegetables and fruits. As many of them expressed interest in making homemade chips, we organised a food production training session with the farmers. Additionally, we also provided the farmers with basic equipment to help them kickstart their homemade chips journey!

Amai Normah, an Orang Asli farmer from Kg. Pinang surprised our team with her creativity and initiative as she showed us her mouth-watering assortment of banana chips.

Before this, I was disinterested in making chips and losing motivation in entrepreneurship. But after attending the chips making training, I tried to do it myself. I hope to start a mini market that focuses on selling chips with different flavours, and to innovate different variants of chips.

Amai Normah, Kg. Pinang

With flavours ranging from sweet, salty, spicy and even one with turmeric spices, Amai Normah uses the harvested bananas from her farm to make her homemade banana chips. The quality and taste of the chips are so good that even the team from Yayasan Hasanah could not resist buying Amai Normah’s banana chips after having the opportunity of tasting it.

Similarly, Amai Yati from Kg. Bukit Biru also specialises in homemade chips. Working diligently in her farm, Amai Yati is passionate about using her harvested produce to make chips. Since the food production training session, Amai Yati has made a variety of chips, though, her yam chips definitely takes the top spot for best tasting!

New Hope for Orang Asli Amai

There’s no better feeling than seeing the proud smiles of the Orang Asli Amai, as they boast fruitful farms and a renewed hope for the future. In the long term, we hope that the Kebun Amai initiative will foster greater women’s entrepreneurship amongst the villagers, thus, opening the door for boundless opportunities of income generation.

If you would like to support the livelihood of Orang Asli farmers, connect with us here! You may also purchase Kebun Amai’s fresh produce and homemade products by signing up here or by messaging us on Whatsapp at 013-5230587.

The post From Farm to Market: The Journey of Orang Asli Women in Sustainable Farming appeared first on Global Peace Foundation Malaysia.

Right outside the small town of Muadzam Shah, Pahang sits an Orang Asli village, Kg. Bukit Biru. Back in 2020, the village made national headlines when an article published by the Malay Mail brought to light the poor living conditions of the villagers. Not only did the village lack access to clean water and electricity, many of the villagers also depended on a nearby landfill to earn money.

Living in temporary makeshift huts, many of the villagers would scavenge through piles of trash looking for recyclables to sell. As hunter-gatherers by nature, many Orang Asli families lived by gathering from the forest. However, as the forest surrounding Kg. Bukit Biru had significantly deteriorated due to deforestation for palm oil and logging, many of the villagers had no other option but to depend on the landfill to earn enough money to put food on the table.

I used to collect rotan and bertam. The bamboo has also lessened, (so) there is nothing for me to forage anymore. Now I have to resort to collecting plastic bottles, metal tins and scrap metal from the landfill. I do that just to get some money to buy food.

Pak Cik Meter, Kg. Bukit Biru

Although we recognise the income opportunities the landfill provides, “landfill scavenging reflects a deeper issue that affects the Orang Asli,” shares Dr. Teh, the CEO of Global Peace Foundation Malaysia. Not only does landfill scavenging emphasise the loss of the Orang Asli’s traditional livelihood as stewards of the land, it also impacts the dignity, health and safety of the villagers who have to sort through rotting food and metal scraps just to earn a living.

From Scavenging to Farming

Global Peace has worked with Kg. Bukit Biru since 2019 and have met many of the villagers who worked at the landfill. Soon after the village made headlines in 2020, the villagers were forbidden from entering the landfill. Unable to forage at the forest or scavenge at the landfill, we knew we had to work with the villagers to find alternative ways to diversify their livelihood.

In 2022, we kickstarted a Syntropic Agroforestry project with the Orang Asli farmers in Kg. Bukit Biru. This food farming project aims to address the challenge of food insecurity and malnutrition whilst also creating additional opportunities for income generation for the villagers. It has been one year since we started the food farming project and the village now boasts flourishing farms that provide the villagers with a wide variety of vegetables and fruits such as lemongrass, eggplant, banana, corn and more!

“Before this, our farm used to be very small. But now that we have incorporated Syntropic farming, our farm is flourishing. I am so proud and feel so at ease now because my farm is healthy. We have even harvested our produce.”

Pak Jamidah, Kg. Bukit Biru

The goal of Syntropic Agroforestry is to create a self-sustaining ecosystem that benefits not only the farmers but also the environment. In the long term, we hope that these farms will become self-sufficient, providing farmers with nutrient-dense and organic food whilst also regrowing the lost forest of the Orang Asli.

Reaping the Fruits of their Labour

This Ramadan, we were able to successfully connect the villagers with a Malaysian supermarket chain to sell their organic lemongrass. In total, the villagers sold an estimated 300 kilograms of lemongrass! What a feat!

To help prepare the lemongrass for distribution and selling, the villagers of Kg. Bukit Biru gathered together at the Rumah Adat to clean, pack and tag the lemongrass into baskets. This was such an exciting and inspirational sight to see, as the journey to this achievement was not easy. Although the villagers faced various difficulties in farming and in selling their produce, they did not give up and continued to work hard in their farms.

To bridge market access barriers, we set up the Kebun Amai, an Orang Asli marketplace to support the farmers to market and sell their organic produce. Through connections with wholesalers, grocers and the communities within the Pahang and Klang Valley area, we have successfully sold Orang Asli produce and handmade products in markets and events both in Pahang and in Klang Valley.

From sustainable farming through Syntropic Agroforestry to economic empowerment through Kebun Amai, we hope that these initiatives will become the stepping stones for Orang Asli families to become resilient and self-sufficient for many years to come!

Transforming Lives, One Village at a Time

When we first started working with Kg. Bukit Biru in 2019, the village had little access to basic needs and necessities. Since then, we have worked with the villagers on a variety of projects ranging from clean water, sanitation and electrification, to education, food farming and livelihood. We are incredibly proud to have had this opportunity to share every step of this transformation with the villagers of Kg. Bukit Biru.

However, the transformation of Kg. Bukit Biru is only the beginning; we are excited to continue our work with more Orang Asli villages and to transform lives, one village at a time.

Watch as we highlight our work with Kg. Bukit Biru since 2019 and how much the village has transformed into a safer, healthier, and more productive community.

If you would like to support the livelihood of Orang Asli farmers, connect with us here! You may also purchase Kebun Amai’s fresh produce and homemade products by signing up here or by messaging us on Whatsapp at 013-5230587.

The post From Landfill Scavenging to Regenerative Farming: A Story of Orang Asli Empowerment appeared first on Global Peace Foundation Malaysia.

As hunter-gatherers by nature, many Orang Asli families lived by gathering from the forest. However, over the recent years, many Orang Asli have had to transition from forest gathering (such as gathering bertam or fishing) to agriculture as their main source of livelihood. This is due in large part by increased deforestation for logging and palm oil.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, we found that many Orang Asli families lost their income and did not have food supply. Unable to rely on the forest, many of them had to rely on food aid to put food on the table for their families. 

This lack of adequate food not only results in hunger and food insecurity but also malnutrition, particularly in children.

Although many villagers are keen on farming, they face a multitude of challenges that prevent them from farming successfully such as lack of capital and experience. Recognizing that food security is crucial to building resilient Orang Asli communities, we decided to work together with the villagers to find a sustainable solution.

Why Regenerative Farming?

After months of research and work on the ground with our farmers, we introduced Syntropic Agroforestry (SA). SA is a type of regenerative farming method that aims to rebuild the health of the soil by promoting biodiversity and increasing soil organic matter. This farming method rejuvenates the ecosystem to allow a diverse variety of plants to grow, while reducing erosion and nutrient loss.

The goal of regenerative farming is to create a self-sustaining ecosystem that benefits not only the farmers but also the environment. In the long term, we hope that these farms will become self-sufficient, providing farmers with nutrient-dense and organic food whilst regrowing the lost forest of the Orang Asli.

Milestones On the Journey To Regenerative Farming

During the beginning stages of regenerative farming, many Orang Asli farmers struggled with complex farming challenges. Their lack of experience and knowledge about the principles of regenerative farming– pruning, mulching and planting densely– made it difficult for them to follow the SA farming method.

To help the farmers to overcome their challenges, our team worked closely with the farmers and provided them with hands-on coaching and training in their farm plots. To further support them, we also organised the Jaringan Akar programme, a network of and for Orang Asli farmers. The Jaringan Akar programme ensures that farmers are able to confide in one another and to share their farming experiences, challenges and knowledge.

Furthermore, we also provide farmers with additional training and mentorship through our partnership with A Little Wild, Malaysia’s first syntropic farm in Kota Tinggi, Johor. The 3 hour trip to A Little Wild is always such a rewarding experience for the farmers as they get to experience first-hand what a successful syntropic farm plot looks like!

Continuous Learning: The Key To A Thriving Farm

Last month, we organized a trip to Kota Tinggi with all of the Orang Asli farmers for an intermediate training session. The focus of this training session was to learn more about the importance of bio-mass. Led by Imran, a trainer at A Little Wild, the farmers engaged in an open discussion with one another and had the opportunity to gain deeper knowledge about syntropic farming.

We hope that the immersive training sessions at A Little Wild, Kota Tinggi will support the Orang Asli farmers to apply the principles of SA farming in their own respective farm plots.

Fruitful Beginnings

We are now embarking on the one year mark since we started our Syntropic Agroforestry project with the Orang Asli farmers. Despite initial challenges and a few hiccups along the way, the farmers have come so far and we are so proud of the progress that they have made in their farm plots! Through their hard work, tenacity and passion, many of the Orang Asli farmers are now seeing the fruits of their labour and have begun harvesting a variety of vegetables such as okra, cucumber, lemongrass, corn and more.

However, this is only the beginning of a much longer journey to come! As stewards of the land and with livelihood dependent on the forest, we hope that regenerative farming will not only provide the Orang Asli with nutrient-dense and organic food but also help to regrow their lost forest. Through our Syntropic Agroforestry project, we hope to continue to support and cultivate farmers in their knowledge and experience in regenerative farming, so that this can become a stepping stone for Orang Asli families to become resilient and self-sufficient for many years to come!

If you would like to learn more about regenerative farming, click here! If you would like to support the livelihood of Orang Asli farmers, you may also purchase their fresh produce by signing up here! You can also order Kebun Amai’s homemade products on Whatsapp at 013-5230587.

The post 1 Year Milestone: Fruitful Beginnings of Regenerative Farming appeared first on Global Peace Foundation Malaysia.

Behind every brand, there is always a story worth telling. This is the story of Kebun Amai.

In the Jakun tribe, the word ‘Amai‘ translates to aunty. Lamenting on the warmth of eating home cooked meals prepared by the women in our families, Kebun Amai tries to encapsulate feelings of familiarity and passion by supporting our hardworking, selfless and joyful Orang Asli farmers! So, what is Kebun Amai and why did we start this?

The changing livelihood of the Orang Asli

As hunter-gatherers by nature, many Orang Asli families lived by gathering from the forest. However, over the recent years, many Orang Asli have had to transition from forest gathering (such as gathering bertam or fishing) to agriculture as their main source of livelihood. This is due in large part by increased deforestation for logging and palm oil.

As natural resources in the forest and river became increasingly scarce, many Orang Asli had no other options but to adapt. Although many villagers are keen on farming, they face a multitude of challenges that prevent them from farming successfully.

The lack of capital and experience, exacerbated by degraded and infertile soil, makes farming extremely challenging for Orang Asli farmers. During the MCO lockdown, many villagers resorted to only eating tapioca and flour, as many lost their income and had to depend on food-aid. This lack of adequate food not only results in hunger and food insecurity but also malnutrition, particularly in children.

Regenerative Farming as the answer

Understanding the importance of having access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food, we decided to work with the Orang Asli farmers to find a sustainable solution to help them overcome farming challenges and gain food security for years to come.

After months of research and work on the ground with our farmers, we introduced Syntropic Agroforestry (SA). SA is a type of regenerative farming method that aims to rebuild the health of the soil. This rejuvenates the ecosystem to allow a diverse variety of plants to grow. In the long term, these farms will become self-sufficient, providing farmers with nutrient-dense and organic food whilst regrowing the lost forest of the Orang Asli.

Building a network of and for farmers

After many months of intense work on their farms, our Orang Asli farmers started to see the fruits of their labour! Many of them were able to harvest a variety of vegetables such as okra, cucumber, lemongrass and more.

However, the journey to self-sufficient farming does not happen overnight or in a straight line. To ensure that our farmers are able to confide in one another and share farming experiences, challenges and knowledge, we organised the Jaringan Akar programme, a network of and for Orang Asli farmers.

We have successfully held three Jaringan Akar programmes in the Orang Asli villages this year!

Economic Empowerment for Orang Asli Farmers

As farmers gradually overcome farming challenges and begin to harvest their vegetable and fruit crops, they are now faced with another challenge– market access to sell their produce.

Many farmers have difficulty in selling their produce to nearby towns due to the remoteness of the villages and lack of transportation. As a result, many farmers become overly dependent on the middlemen, who purchase in bulk at very low costs. The middlemen are also highly unreliable as they are not consistent. This lack of market access results in major food wastage.

In order to bridge market access barriers, we set up the Kebun Amai to support our farmers in marketing and selling their fresh produce.

Through connections with wholesalers, grocers and the communities within Pahang and Klang Valley area, we hope to empower our farmers and support their livelihood through income generation.

In October 2022, we officially kickstarted Kebun Amai’s first marketplace in the village of Kg. Bukit Biru, in conjunction with the Bursa Vibe volunteer program! In anticipation for the big day, many farmers harvested their crops and came together to sell their produce at the market.

The huge assortment of vegetables ranging from fresh brinjal, brazilian spinach, bananas, chilis, corn, lemongrass and more, was such an inspiring sight to see!

Aside from fresh produce, we are also experimenting on the different ways to combat food wastage by using the farmer’s produce to make homemade products that are long-lasting, nutritious and tasty! So far, we have successfully produced dried fruits such as pineapples and bananas, as well as pineapple jam.

Hopeful beginnings for Kebun Amai

By working together with the farmers on the planning and execution of the marketing and distribution of their produce, the farmers are able to gain both knowledge and experience in selling their produce. In the long term, we hope that farmers will be able to manage their own supply chain operation.

From sustainable farming through SA to economic empowerment through Kebun Amai, we hope that these initiatives will become the stepping stones for Orang Asli families to become resilient and self-sufficient for many years to come!

If you would like to support the livelihood of Orang Asli farmers, you may purchase their fresh produce by signing up here! You can also order Kebun Amai’s homemade products on Shopee or Whatsapp us at 013-5230587.

The post Hopeful Beginnings for Kebun Amai appeared first on Global Peace Foundation Malaysia.

Because of this, we brought together the network of OA syntropic farmers once again, this time hosted by Pak Ali and his wife, Amai Norma, in Kg. Pinang for another round of Program Jaringan Akar.

This time around, the purpose of the event was to focus on knowledge sharing on the soil food web to further enhance their syntropic farms. This topic is of importance because as the passionate farmers develop their syntropic farms, regenerative practices become more vital in order to help them understand more about the principles of syntropic farming. 

The workshop on soil food web led by Dr. Teh probed into microbes and their critical roles in regenerating the soil and its fertility. 

The Living Soil

It’s hard to imagine that the soil is a living thing but the life inside it is what helps plants and trees bear fruit. These living creatures in the soil are called microbes – a microorganism vital to soil health.

Some other importance of microbes in the soil include provision of nutrients to the plant, re-structuring the soil so it becomes less impacted, creating a healthy network of roots so that the connected plants will be able to withstand droughts and to prevent the plants from diseases.

Soil organisms such as microbes also decompose organic compounds, including manure. They sequester nitrogen and they fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, making it available to plants instead.

There are also certain things that the farmers can do to encourage the presence of microbes in the soil such as covering the soil with mulch, feeding the soil (with compost, etc.), planting densely and avoiding the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. These steps will ensure a thriving ecosystem in the soil that will show through the health of plants and fruits.

Farmers are also encouraged to grow more biomass plants such as mombasa grass, acacia trees and others which can later be used as mulch which can stimulate the presence of good microbes.

The Soil Food Web

Soil organisms prey on crop pests and are food for above-ground animals.Once the population of microbes is thriving in the soil, it will attract other organisms, such as earthworms – which in return fortifies the soil even more. They do this through increasing the soil aeration, giving way for water movement and changing the structure of the soil.

As the earthworms decompose, nutrients are converted from one form to another and are made available to plants and other soil organisms. All plants, trees and crops depend on this cycle and food web for their nutrition and health.

While some farmers have already seen good progress, there are others that are still finding out ways to improve their farm plots so that they too may see some yield from their hard work. This is where the role of knowledge sharing comes in. In educating the OA farmers about soil health and fertility, we hope that they will be able to use this knowledge  to boost and enhance their farm plots, so that the crops planted may grow healthily and produce harvest in time to come. 

About Program Jaringan Akar

With the Program Jaringan Akar, the Global Peace team aims to foster a network between all the OA farmers that have begun Syntropic Farming. This network has now evolved into a knowledge-exchange hub that cultivates a culture of learning and teaching.

The Syntropic Farming project was initiated to encourage the OA communities to start growing their own food for nutritional benefits which can also be sold off to consumers once their farms have produced enough harvests. It is a long-term sustainable farming project that uses minimal costs and external factors so that the OA farmers can sustain it on their own.

Global Peace aids these farmers by sending them for training and providing tools and seedling subsidies. Apart from that, the team also guides the OA farmers as they begin their journey in syntropic farming through land preparation, coaching and monitoring. As the timeline progresses, the team also provides training and briefing on how the farmers can market their produce.

With enough dedication and passion, we believe the OA communities will be able to have food security and economic empowerment through this farming project.

The post Cultivating a Learning Ecosystem for OA Farmers appeared first on Global Peace Foundation Malaysia.

This network is crucial for the Orang Asli syntropic farmers because unlike organic farming, syntropic farming can be a bit more challenging and the additional support from fellow farmers will be instrumental to the community. Program Jaringan Akar has been Global Peace’s biggest gathering of syntropic farmers so far and we are proud that the event succeeded in what it set out to do.

“Besides being a training ground, we’ve launched this network that we are excited about because these farmers can now support each other and promote it to others.”

Dr. Teh, CEO of Global Peace Foundation Malaysia

Fostering relationships, lending support

The event started off with a welcoming speech from Dr. Teh, CEO of Global Peace Foundation Malaysia and Pak Borhan, the Tok Batin of Kg. Guntung Minum Chempedak, followed by a quick ice-breaking session for the villagers.

After warming up, they were taken for a walkaround through Pak Borhan’s farm plots which is doing really well thanks to his and his family’s efforts in maintaining it, with loads of harvests that have been collected recently. The other farmers asked questions and even took some seedlings for their farm plots at home.

Following this, Mr Hon Kai Peng, one of the event’s distinguished guests, gave a talk on the different ways Orang Asli can protect their land rights – which is currently a pressing topic for the Orang Asli communities we work with. This topic evoked and highlighted the connection between farming and land rights as well and how important it is to use farming as a tool to safeguard their land.

The event continued with an appreciation ceremony where we awarded the syntropic farmers for their hard work and dedication that they put into their farm plots. Pak Jelita from Kg. Jenit who is a true fighter of his ancestor’s land and a believer of syntropic farming urged the others to keep their efforts despite slow progress. Mamak Amat also reiterated the same sentiment.

“Just like our land issue, we fight for our land and our rights to stay in this village, we do not give up. Same goes for Syntropic Farming, we don’t give up, just do it, plant more vegetables and fruits for our future!”

Mamak Amat, Kg. Patah Pisau

“Although my farm still does not produce much like everyone else’s plot, but maybe in a year or so, I’ll have enough produce that I can eat, sell and even share with other villages.”

Kasa, Kg. Batu Putih

“Thank you to Global Peace for their guidance, training and coaching in Syntropic farming. I’ve learnt so much over the past few months. I’ve even learnt that lalang (weeds) are not our enemy, but rather our friend in syntropic farming!”

Nenek Alan, Kg. Jong

 Listening to their testimonies of grit and hope, the other Orang Asli farmers instantly felt motivated and stated that they can’t wait to go back to work on their plots.

Taking care of life underground for better life overground

Towards the evening, Dr. Teh took the stage for a session on soil health. He emphasized the importance of microbes and insects in the soil and how they help to create pockets of air underground for better movement of water and nutrients – resulting in land fertility and prevention against diseases, pests, flood and drought. Apart from that, Dr. Teh also highlighted the benefits of mulching and protecting the soil from the sun in syntropic farming.

After his insightful session, the marketing team took over for a survey session with the farmers. They were asked about their challenges and concerns regarding their produce and most of them voiced out their negative experiences with previous buyers. They then mentioned that most of their harvest in the next six months to a year would be mostly bananas, pineapples, tapioca and lemongrass and that they would need to learn how to process these products so that they can last longer. 

The first day ended with a merewang (community cooking) session and a  hearty dinner which consisted of corn, spinach and pumpkin from Kg. Guntung Minum Chempedak’s syntropic farm itself. 

Increasing harvests, maximizing connections

The program continued the next morning with a compost-making session by Pak Jabar and his wife, who are syntropic farmers from Kg. Jong. They demonstrated the process with the help of the villagers and farmers at Kg. Guntung Minum. The next session was led by Mia and Chung Siu from Global Peace who demonstrated the steps to making fish fertilizer to enhance the growth of plants and trees in the farm plots.

By the end of the program, the syntropic farmers were connecting with one another and were more motivated to go back and plant more, especially vegetables, after seeing the abundance of vegetables growing in Kg. Guntung Minum’s farm plot. The spirit of “lawan tetap lawan” and not giving up was definitely instilled in the souls of the Orang Asli – whether it’s to keep fighting for their land or to keep working on their farm plots – through this program.

“We’re in this together as a team and we think it is a critical effort to uplift the Orang Asli community. As we are approaching the one-year mark of the start of this project, we are excited with what’s coming in the future for them.”

Dr. Teh, CEO of Global Peace Foundation Malaysia

The post Creating a Network of Syntropic Farmers appeared first on Global Peace Foundation Malaysia.

The Orang Asli farmers that we introduce syntropic farming to often come from an agricultural background, which is an advantage to their plots as they are able to shed some of their own pearls of wisdom in order to further enhance their farm plots.

Orang Asli, also known as guardians of the forest, have long been associated in the field of agriculture. Living in the forests has definitely taught them a thing or two about taking care of surrounding plants and trees. They know what works and this has come in handy as they take on syntropic farming. Other Orang Asli have also engaged in farming activities, planting food trees wherever and whenever they could. This, too, has led them to master the art and science of farming.

Going from one village to another, there is a noticeable difference between the farm plots despite all of them implementing the principles of Syntropic Farming that was introduced by our team. This is because they integrate some of their own farming knowledge to get the most out of their farm plots.

Pak Lipak and his family from Kg. Sualang have been using the tuba root (known scientifically as Derris Elliptica) to get rid of insects at their farm plots. According to him, his ancestors began using the technique and have been passed down for generations.

The tuba root is taken and crushed. Once crushed, it is then squeezed into a bucket or water can that has already been filled with water. The mixture is then sprayed onto the plants.

Amai Imah and her husband from Kg. Petoh use an organic compost of food scraps such as fruit and vegetable skins and peels.

The process does take awhile as the food waste needs to be broken down before it can be used as compost. Once it’s ready, it is poured into a bottle and is sprayed on dying and diseased plants.

As you enter Kg. Guntung Minum Cempedak, you’ll see their quaint little nurseries with many types of plants hanging and arranged on the ground on one side and on the other, neat arrangements of plants in a wooden arch that resembles a mini greenhouse, but without the glass, of course.

When you go closer, you’ll realise that it is actually their syntropic farm plots that are growing around the wooden arch that was built for the purpose of growing vine plants such as long beans and watermelon.  Where many other mainstream farms use metal fences, villages such as Kg. Guntung Minum Chempedak use whatever resources they have around them to make their plots suitable for their growing produce. Another village that does this is Kg. Pinang, which has recently yielded a basket full of long beans.

Currently, there are 67 syntropic farmers from 13 Orang Asli villages who are putting their strengths, effort and prior knowledge into growing their agroforests according to the syntropic farming method. We hope that their farming wisdom will help to develop their farm plots so that they may yield more harvest in time to come.

Listen to some of their testimonies regarding syntropic farming here and follow us on social media to see the latest harvests from the farmers!

Written by,

Pamela Victor

Communications Officer

The post Integrating Orang Asli Farming Wisdom into Syntropic Farming appeared first on Global Peace Foundation Malaysia.