Supported By:
Borneo Farmer Adoption Project
( Rebrand Name : Farmily.Farm )
The story started
Success Story
With the Borneo Farmer Adoption Project, sponsored by Kementerian Kewangan Malaysia and Yayasan Hasanah, WormingUp has redirected the impacts towards sustainable farming since the year 2019 with a small pool of farmers, and the impacts expanded exponentially in the month of May, 2020. We came up with this project during the initial stage of the outbreak of Covid-19. As a result of our long-term partnerships and collaborations with farmers in rural areas, we were aware of the issues they were facing, which were amplified when the pandemic hit. People were limited and middlemen were often afraid to visit the kampungs to buy from them during the period because of the movement control order, which resulted in a substantial waste of their produce and when fruits or vegetables began to spoil, they were simply thrown away. Not only is there wastage, but their incomes have also been severely impacted. Another problem is the position of middlemen. Where any intermediaries are involved in assisting these farmers in outsourcing their produce to the city, they are often subjected to numerous price discrimination strategies in which their produce’s prices are compressed to their lowest level. This is why farmers make too little money while middlemen make a lot of money.
Small local rural farmers have low bargaining power and often face unfair trades among the consumers. Therefore, this Farmily will help them to channel their fresh produce to the city while creating a harmonious and fair society. Aside from helping to transport their produce from the countryside, the ultimate goal for this platform is to help the vulnerable group of people to increase their income level. This project also aims to improve rural farmers’ skill sets in order to improve their competitiveness, as well as raise awareness about protecting the environment through sustainable farming in order to ensure the soil’s long-term sustainability. On a wider scale, the project seeks to ensure the sustainability of the agricultural supply chain and food security while simultaneously protecting the environment.
The targeted area is Padawan, Sarawak, with Dayak tribe farmers as the primary beneficiaries. The participants ranged in age from an energetic 30-year-old to a passionate 70-year-old. The fresh produces includes banana (pisang embun, pisang emas, pisang keling, pisang tanduk, pisang otel, pisang kepok, pisang berangan, pisang pisang etc), tapioca (ubi kayu kuning and ubi kayu putih), jackfruits, lemon, lemongrass, papaya, pineapple (nanas Sarawak, MD2 etc), daun ubi, ulam raja, ginger, cangkuk manis, coconut, bunga kantan, cucumber, pumpkin, winter melon, soursop, timun belanda, corn, guava, yam, lengkuas, pomelo, roselle, duck/chicken egg, terung dayak, tuak, bamboo etc.
Stories Of Change
Encik Tajah and family
Kampung bawang
Mr Tajah’s family from Kampung Bawang is normally present during the crop collection, and their children are excited because they know they will receive some pocket money. The children’s innocence helped us feel a sense of identity, and we vowed to get them more than that.
Puan Mariana Unit and peers
Kampung semadang
“I’ve been selling my vegetables and fruits at the local schools and shops for the past ten years” said this kind and cheerful lady farmer from Kampung Semadang, “I never thought there would be a pandemic that would trigger me to lose any market opportunities.” She was truly glad that we were able to help her.
Encik Elvis
Kampung bratan
Elvis is one of the most hard-working farmers we have ever met. Despite having had a stroke on last year, he is still determined to pursue and cultivate her passion in agricultural life, with the full support from his family. This is because he believes that he has a life that he needs to support and grow together, which is his family, and that is what encourages him to move forward in his passion.
Puan Stina
Kampung Payang
Madam Stina’s family now can afford to purchase food, rebuild and extend their home thanks to the rise in profits.
Puan Rokayah
Kampung Sigandar
“With the regular purchases from this project, I’m able to focus on planting as much as I want without worrying about lost crops that don’t sell out,” said Rokayah ak Samd, a 51-year-old housewife farmer who enjoys farming.
Puan Helen
Kampung Semadang
Helen used to have an unorganised post-harvesting site for her agricultural purposes. With the help of our collaboration on promoting her goods and channeling all her produces to consumers, she was able to gain more customers and profits, which allows her to upgrade her post-harvesting site.
Encik Jipo
Kampung Serumah
What touches the heart of a million people? The love of a kidney dialysis patient on the practice of agriculture. Mr. Jipo has been struggling as a kidney dialysis patient, but he still continues on in his farming life as he needs to increase his income to improve his livelihood. The value of his motivation and love in farming is incomparable.
The Elderly
Farmers
These elderly farmers no longer have to walk around to promote their produce because we can do it for them thanks to our involvement in promoting their products and fresh produces channel system! They will eventually unwind at home and concentrate on growing more crops.
Mak Cik Monica
Kampung Nyiru
Pak Cik Sunnau
Kampung Bratan
Pak Cik Tumi
Kampung Git