My Two Weeks back at the Farm.- My two cents worth to the Mentri Besar of Kedah.

One of the negative event that i learned upon my return was the loss of the refrigerator which was given by MARDI,  to the facility for use. Due to some conflict of interest MARDI ( Malaysia Agriculture research and Development Institute) has pulled itself out of the joint project with the Koperasi Belantik Agro  So what went sour? I seriously think that this matter should be looked into and resolved so that everyone involved will stand to benefit from the outcome and not left hanging whatever the issue that has transpired between the Government agency and the Private sector. There is no excuse for failure in this matter and in time it will raise its head for further investigation by higher authorities. Malaysian especially the Malay has allowed for failures to slip by unresearched and investigated too often to the detriment of the whole community and this matter in not a new one. I know not what the whole issue id about but I will say this  stop the blaming and finger pointing whatever it may be and start putting the interest of the whole ahead of your private issues!  

A whole lot of research and development is still needed and on going as far as the Organic Rice implementation  program is concern. Many Institutes such as the Universiti Utara Malaysia and the  Universiti Pertanian  and a few other related institute are involved in this project recording and researching all venues and possibilities to produce Rice crops back in the traditional ways of non chemical and manufactured pesticides free environment. It is like turning back history in Agriculture. Now reverse R&D is being carried out in order to heal the land from too much man made chemicals that kills more than what it is suppose to. But aid is very slow in coming from the government agencies which is typical of Malaysia especially predominantly Malay run agencies , (My own personal observations)  I find that most of these agencies have their own self serving interest to promote rather than work towards the good of the whole! The old question of what is in it for me is still a damning factor.

Most of our agricultural lands around the country are being polluted by processed chemicals that has been used by farmers for more than a few decades since it was a common thing to do so. In the process numerous wild life and micro biotic creatures have been wiped out including numbers of species of wild life and birds. The ecosystem has never been the same ever since man made chemicals were introduced into the agricultural environment. What natural resources we have we throw them down the drain and opted for the easy  way out of solving our problems and in the process we [pollute our resources till there no more wild life surviving worth mentioning.

This young Man deserves better!
 The slow process of healing the soil and its dependents have become a 'Jihad for the few who saw the dangers and were willing to take the chances of not making it in this life as well to do people are. Most often they were willing to work at a loss and at the mercy of Government Agencies that seek to self aggrandize their image and take  credit for what was being done in terms of research and development. We will will help you if you play the game to our understanding, our way or no way. 

At the foothills of a small almost non-existent village called Lintang a handful of  dedicated individuals are taking it upon themselves to turn the history of  Padi growing from that which has become the norm of  today to what was. For the Chemical fertilizers and pesticides that kills more than they should to what was natural and environmental friendly of the past.

From the dawn of civilisation man has been growing rice alongside nature with all its natural friends and foes and through out history this coexistence has allowed for both man and nature to survive alongside one another without too much off set in balance. But today man has decided that it was more productive and beneficial for him if he eradicate as much competition as he possibly can in nature in order for him to have greater out put of  profitable harvest. With the introduction of man made chemicals and toxic agents, nature has practically receded from the natural environment leaving behind  a barren landscape of silence and sterility called plantations. Many of the wildlife that was a common sight in my younger days growing up along the rice fields in Terengganu are now practically nonexistent or gone practically extinct. 

The SRI LOVELY  - Organic Farm which located far out into the foothills of  the Belantik area of Sik, Kedah is one small collective farm land formed into a Kopersai by a few Mavericks to combat the degradation of Malaysian farmlands by major chemical companies  in their use of processed chemicals to make for greater output and profitability in  most of the major crops grown in Malaysia. In the process they have destroyed most of the surrounding vegetation and wildlife that is often lost  and when discovered has become to late to repair.

Students from higher institutions are a great source of inspiration  towards creation a better future in agriculture, even if their s is more of a self interest, towards getting their degree or certification, their presence and iteration with the local boys in implementing their projects is invaluable for both. Most being' 'City Boys and Girls', their presence is often  an added incentive towards getting the younger minds involved in the agricultural revolution in this country. It is sad that more is not encouraged towards this end.

The interactions between the 'farm Boys and the College kids out in the field should be encourage at all cost so as to instigate a healthy respect one has for the other and for mutual development that would benefit the process of integration of  getting the process implemented in the best of ways for a sustainable future in Organic Farming.