Revisiting the Bario Rice Project in 2024

Abstract

The Bario Rice Project, initiated by the Malaysian government under the National Key Economic Area (NKEA) initiative, aimed to modernize rice farming in the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak, Malaysia, to boost agricultural productivity and improve farmers' livelihoods. The project sought to address challenges such as labour shortages, declining rice yields, and competition from misrepresented rice products, while introducing mechanized farming methods to increase efficiency. This paper provides an evaluation of the project based on field research conducted in 2017 that culminated in a brief report, and focusses on that report’s original objectives, implementation challenges, and the socio-economic implications for the local Kelabit community. Despite significant investment, including approximately RM30 million in government funding, and a joint venture with a private company, the project faced considerable obstacles. These included, critically, a lack of transparency regarding key performance indicators (KPIs) and failed engagement with the local Kelabit community. The 2017 report recorded farmers concerns over the quality of rice produced, as well as the economic viability of the new farming methods. The project's failure to achieve its ambitious goals, coupled with limited community involvement in decision-making processes, raises questions about the sustainability of such initiatives in traditional communities. The fact that there has been no detailed follow up case study of this six year project, which involved government, community and private sector interests, is further indication of a regrettable attitude of neglect that side-steps important learnings.