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Smart SBB estate project: Paddy farmers are advised to think deep and reject

  • Publication Date | August 3, 2021
  • Document Type | Media Statement
  • Programmes | Agriculture
  • Issues | Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, Pollution
  • Tags | Kedah, Kerpan, paddy cultivation, Smart Paddy Field Project
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This is a joint press statement by PeSAWAH and the Malaysian Food Security and Sovereignty Forum of which SAM is a member of

The anchor companies appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture are actively campaigning to implement the Large Scale Smart Paddy Field Project (SBB) launched last February. In fact, government agencies are also involved in lobbying farmers to participate in the SBB scheme. On 31 July, lobster farming activities were also promoted in the paddy estate area to be implemented in an integrated manner with paddy cultivation. It was reported that 30% of the estate area will be used for shrimp farming while another 70% for paddy cultivation.

We take this latest development seriously as it is becoming increasingly clear that this SBB project will empower estate management to do whatever projects they want in areas they have leased or owned. Earlier, farmers were told that the SBB project would focus on improving paddy cultivation to increase yields. The target set for this project is to increase the Self Sufficient Level (SSL) of rice to 75% and increase yield production by 7 tons per hectare. Meanwhile, the average income of farmers will be increased to RM7000 per year per hectare. Less than a year after the project started, the estate changed its strategy by farming shrimp. Are the leading companies not confident in their own ‘smart’ paddy planting plans or from the beginning not interested in the agenda to increase local paddy production because it is easier and more profitable to import rice and raise shrimp?

The history of shrimp farming on a paddy field project in Kerpan, Kedah in the early 90s should teach us that when paddy land has been turned into a shrimp pond, it will bring other problems such as soil and water pollution. In fact, it is no longer suitable to be converted back to paddy fields when the lease period ends. Lessons from the Arowana fish farming project in the paddy fields around Tasik Bukit Merah should also be studied. The fish farming project uses a lot of water from the same source of the Bukit Merah Dam, causing paddy crops to often lack water. CAP and SAM investigation found that there was an incident of stealing water from the water channel and in recent developments, many Arowana ponds have been abandoned due to high maintenance costs and land taxes are no longer an agricultural category.

We also received a lot of feedback from farmers who stated that the SBB project would marginalise many young farmers who are renting a lot of paddy fields if the landlord is offered a higher rental payment by the company. In addition, the risk of entry of cheaper foreign workers will leave local workers jobless, existing tractor and machinery operators will lose customers and the risk of land being mortgaged for not being careful with the terms and conditions of the agreement. The land is also at risk of damage due to widespread pesticide usage, maximum use of soil’s nutrients without replacement or land use being converted to other activities.

Pertubuhan Persaudaraan Pesawah Malaysia (PeSAWAH) and Malaysian Food Security and Sovereignty Forum (FKMM) reject the Smart SBB project and recommend that farmers do the same. Farmers and landlords who are considering participating in the SBB project are advised to think deep and refer to more experienced farmers and seek the help of lawyers or those who are skilled in reviewing agreements before signing any document.

As an alternative to this SBB project, we recommend that the concept of group farming led by local establishments, cooperatives or small and medium enterprises be implemented in areas that are derelict, less productive or still lagging in terms of infrastructure. The existing areas that farmers still work on should not be disturbed, the agencies should continue to help better in terms of capital support, infrastructure, seed and agricultural inputs market, and a fair paddy price system and paddy deduction rate. There are many farmers who have already managed to achieve a yield of up to 7 to 8 tons per hectare on their own efforts. Do not waste their efforts by implementing this SBB project but make them the best example.

Issued by:
Pertubuhan Persaudaran Pesawah Malaysia (PeSAWAH)
Malaysian Food Security and Sovereignty Forum (FKMM)

List of FKMM Members and other organisations supporting this statement:

  1. Agora Society
  2. Badan Bertindak Petani MADA
  3. Belatani
  4. GRASS Malaysia
  5. IDRIS Assoc.
  6. Majlis Tindakan Ekonomi Melayu Bersatu Berhad (MTEM)
  7. Malaysian Institute of Sustainable Agriculture (MISA)
  8. MiM Bersaudara
  9. Persatuan Agroekologi Malaysia (SRI-Mas)
  10. Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam – KUASA
  11. Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Jaringan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING)
  12. Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang (CAP)
  13. Pertubuhan Rangkaian Pembangunan Kesinambungan Malaysia (SUSDEN Malaysia)
  14. Sahabat Alam Malaysia
  15. Third World Network
  16. Treat Every Environment Special Sdn Bhd (TrEES)

Contact numbers: 
Tuan Haji Mohd Fuad Yaacob (PeSAWAH) – 0135080207
Nurfitri Amir Muhammad (FKMM) – 0137069509

Email: pesawah.malaysia@gmail.com & foodsovereignty.malaysia@gmail.com

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Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah satu badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang telah sekian lama berjuang mempertahan kelestarian alam. Ia juga mendidik masyarakat tentang pentingnya kebersamaan dalam pemikiran dan tindakan agar alam ini dapat kita wariskan kepada generasi hadapan dalam keadaan yang elok dan terpelihara. Dalam pada itu juga SAM giat membantu golongan nelayan pantai dalam memperjuangkan hak-hak mereka sehinggalah tertubuhnya Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING). Nelayan pantai sepenuh masa ini dididik oleh SAM sehingga mereka mampu memainkan peranan sebagai pemimpin nelayan yang meneruskan kesinambungan memperjuangkan hak-hak nelayan pantai lainnya. Sebagai contoh SAM telah berjaya menyedarkan masyarakat nelayan keperluan menjaga hutan paya bakau untuk kebaikan hasil tangkapan nelayan itu sendiri.
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Jamaluddin Mohamad BualikPersatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Jaringan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING)
During the 1980s, I used to read about the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) in the news. After retirement, some time in 2001, while lazing around, I read news about the construction of a carbon in leach plant using sodium cyanide to extract gold in Bukit Koman. My friends and I visited CAP and we were introduced to SAM and her legal team. We discussed the details of filing a case against the gold mining company and the department of environment with Ms Meenakshi Raman and her legal team. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between lawyers from SAM and many of us from Bukit Koman. We had many ups and downs in our struggle to shut down the gold mine that was causing a nuisance in our village. But, as a community we never gave up because SAM had our backs.
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Hue Fui HowSecretary, Bukit Koman Ban Cyanide in Goldmining Action Committee (BCAC)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah sebuah NGO yang memperjuangkan nasib masyarakat luar bandar khasnya. SAM menerima aduan-aduan masyarakat dan menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi. SAM telah mewujudkan ramai aktivis-aktivis sosial dan alam sekitar. Pada era 1980 dan 90an SAM sangat dihormati oleh masyarakat dan agensi kerajaan. Apabila media sosial menguasai maklumat maka SAM pun terkesan dan masalah masyarakat terus disalurkan dengan pelbagai cara. SAM perlu mewujudkan aktivis-aktivis pelapis yang muda untuk terus membantu masyarakat. SAM juga perlu membuat perubahan supaya banyak turun kelapangan dan jangan mengharapkan laporan media sahaja. Tingkatkan prestasi sebagaimana pada zaman kegemilangan SAM di era 80-90an.
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My journey with SAM started when her community organisers took me to the meet the paddy farmers of Kedah, connecting my growing interest in environmental law with our people who struggle to work the land in the face of pollution, replacement of traditional seeds with commercial hybrids and their accompanying chemical package of fertilisers and weedicides. I then had the honour to work with SAM in the struggle for the rights of the native communities of Sarawak, in defence of their forests from massive logging and destructive mega-projects. In every issue that SAM takes up, she combines rigorous research with the realities and voices of the communities to advocate for policies and laws that care for people and nature. From the courts to the elected legislators to policy makers and implementers and to the United Nations, SAM walks side by side with the communities in Malaysia. How can I not be inspired by the vision and passion of the generations of women and men who coalesce to form SAM?
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Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Headquarters)
No. 1, Jalan Joki, 11400 Penang,
Malaysia
Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Marudi Office)
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Jalan Tuanku Taha,
P.O.Box 216,
98058 Marudi, Baram, Sarawak,
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Tel & Fax: +6085 758 973

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