From hunting to padi planting: Transition of the Lusong Laku Penan

BELAGA: As soon as Aring Sinai became aware of the implementation of a pilot project for padi planting for Penans in Lusong Laku, he decided to participate in the programme.

The project was organised by the 1Malaysia Sarawak Advisory Council (1MSAC) via its iM Sarawak, in collaboration with the Sarawak Agriculture Modernisation Ministry, state agriculture department and Ceria Group.

Aring Sinai, 40, views the project as the best way to change the traditional way of life of the ethnic Penan communitry which is noted for hunting and collecting forest produce for its survival.

Aring, who was among four Penans selected to be pioneer participants of the project said besides being able to help reduce dependency on hunting and forest products, the project could also overcome truancy among Penan children.

“Hunting is not easy work…sometimes, you need to spend the night in the forest, you will not always generate a fruitful outcome.

“The worst part is, sometimes you need to spend the night in the forest without anything to eat.

“Truancy also occurs because we take along our children whenever we go hunting or planting the hill padi,” he said when met at a Penan settlement recently.

The Lusong Laku Penan settlement is located in the Belaga district, which is a seven-hour drive from Bintulu town, comprising four hours’ travel by tarred roads and the remainder via logging trails.

Aring is confident that once the programme becomes successful, parents will have more time to spend at their longhouse while the children can focus more on their studies.

The 10-hectare project will benefit about 600 people from 133 Penan familes when the padi is ready for harvest on Feb 23.

The MR263 seedlings used are expected to gain a much higher yield as compared to the hill padi which the community used to plant.

For Lusong Laku penghulu Jati Jarang, 61, the success story of the ethnic Penan in Lusong Laku will be the talk of the community.

“The community at Long Kajang, Long Abit and several other settlements around here can look at the project’s success.

“We are very thankful to the government, thank you iM Sarawak,” he said. — Bernama