ADAN rice cultivated in the highlands of Ba’kelalan in northern Sarawak stands as a symbol of heritage and identity for the Lun Bawang community.
Passed down through generations, Adan rice is not merely a staple food but the lifeblood of the Lun Bawang people, reflecting their close relationship with nature.
In efforts to preserve this heritage, farmers in Ba’kelalan have taken proactive steps by practising sustainable agriculture in collaboration with WWF-Malaysia through the System of Rice Intensification (SRI).
WWF-Malaysia community engagement and empowerment officer Nadya Cindy Wembly said the SRI method, introduced in 2017, not only helped conserve the environment but also improved crop yields.
“At the initial stage, only 12 farmers were willing to take up the challenge of joining this pilot project with financial support from a local bank.
“In addition, WWF-Malaysia appointed an SRI expert, Kapt (Rtd) Zakaria Kamantasha, who is also founder of SRI Lovely Organic Farm in Kedah, to train farmers in Ba’kelalan,” she told Bernama.
By 2019, Nadya said, farmers began to see positive changes as crops became healthier, with increased padi yields achieved without the use of chemicals.
“The approach has also helped raise farmers’ incomes while reducing pressure to clear new forest areas for padi cultivation and minimising river pollution.
“Despite facing challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic, farmers remained resilient by continuing their efforts through community-based training with ongoing support from WWF-Malaysia.”
Nadya said Adan rice received the Geographical Indication (GI) recognition from Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) in 2022.
She said the recognition was important in safeguarding the authenticity and uniqueness of Adan rice, which was closely linked to its place of origin and continuous efforts of the Lun Bawang community in preserving their agricultural heritage.
“By 2025, more farmers had joined the initiative, with over 100 trained in SRI methods and 12 Ba’kelalan farmers successfully obtaining the Malaysian Good Agricultural Practices certification.
“We have also implemented strategic collaborations to help market Adan rice to a wider audience, while supporting conservation efforts through contributions from each sale,” said Nadya.
Today, Adan rice is recognised as a premium heritage product that reflects the land, culture and agricultural legacy of Sarawak, she added.
