A History of Bidayuh Vegetable Marketing
The Sekeduk Bidayuh adopted the idea of vegetable marketing from the Chinese living closer to Kuching in Beratok and Tapah. They at first used the trial and error method of growing vegetables. Later, the early Bidayuh adopters played as experts in the Bidayuh community.
When the Bidayuh had problems with their gardens, they contacted the Chinese and the Chinese middlemen. They also talked to Bidayuh farmers with a higher social status. For example, they consulted a part-time vegetable farmer who was also chairman of the local farmer’s organization. He also grew vegetables. Another person was the owner of a retail shop and also grew vegetables part-time. Another example was a headman who had a large growing enterprise.
The rise in vegetable farming was caused by the depressed prices in the pepper trade. Farmers had to find a crop to replace the income. From 1955-1985 vegetable growing increased from one to 38 farmers. However, some farmers quit vegetable farming because they did not have enough helpers and/or start-up costs.
One of the concerns in vegetable farming was the construction of raised beds. These were necessary because of the monsoon season. Flooding and waterlogging caused a serious problem in this flatland. The most favoured type of bed was the half-circle. This allowed a greater area to plant.
Another factor was water. Most of the farms were near a stream, river, pond or well. Should drought occur, those that depend on rainwater had problems.
Direct seeding was the most common method of acquiring plants. The most common crops were Sawi Bunga, Kai Lan and Bayam. These crops grew quickly and were harvested early. Individual plants, seeded in the greenhouse and planted later, were French beans, long beans, cucumber, okra, Brinjal, chilli, cabbage, and tomato. Thinning was carried by the farmer to reduce competition and growing space. In other areas, thinning was used to remove diseased and weak plants.
The farmers used various methods for weed control. All of them carried out spot weeding and practised the use of chemicals for post-emergence. None of the farmers used mulching. Chemical fertilizers were used either by broadcast or by forming a ring around the plants. Chemicals seemed to be the only method of pest control.
All of the farmers sold vegetables wholesale. The vegetables were peddled to the middlemen where they simply placed the produce in rattan baskets alongside the road for the middlemen to collect. Other methods included selling to towkays in the markets of either Kuching or Siburan.
However, they had to use their own vehicle or borrow one. It is interesting to note the Bidayuh did not retail because of the extra work involved and was time-consuming as they were also involved in the cultivation of padi, pepper, cocoa and tapping rubber.
The price of vegetables seems to be better during the wet season than during the dry season. During April-September, the surplus and a higher yield would allow the prices to fall to a rock bottom low. On the other hand, there is a high risk of crop failure due to pests and diseases during the wet season. This probably deterred farmers to plant during the rainy season.
Fr: Adoption of Vegetable Market Gardening as Cash Raising Activity among the Bidayuh Farmers in Siburan by Jegak Uli in Sarawak Museum Journal December 1991
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