Shifting agriculture has been an integral part of the traditional food production system of indigenous communities in Sarawak. In recent years the long-held practice is facing a crisis due to various challenges faced by the communities. Indigenous communities from various regions in Sarawak are reporting that increasingly the annual dry and wet seasons had been erratic and this had affected their crop production. The main crop is the vast varieties of hill paddy grown on undulating and gentle slopes. This form of agriculture is rooted in traditional knowledge of the micro-climate conditions that are characterised by a distinct dry season and rainy season, an intricate knowledge that has been passed on through generations.

The unpredictable dry season has not only severely altered the slash and burn practice which is a traditional way of fertilising a controlled area for rice cultivation in a rotational land-use system but it also compromised the ability to ensure vibrant seed conservation at the community level. Other problems associated with the existing agriculture practices include soil degradation; pollution of soil, water and food with continued use of pesticides and chemical fertilisers; increased resistance of pests to the commonly used pesticides; dependence and reliance on off-farm inputs, which in turn increases the reliance and dependence on credits, loans and debts (to purchase synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, etc.), which eventually contributes to decreased food security, self-reliance and self-determination of the communities. Women who are actively involved in farming are also exposed to the harmful toxins in agro-chemicals.
The proposed project will cover three villages i.e. Sungai Buri in Bakong (N: 04?11?45.9 E: 114?07?37.1), Long Pilah in Baram (N: 03?29?05.8 E: 114?25?40.5), Long Miri in Baram (N: 03?33?52.2 E: 114?27?13.0) in the Miri region, state of Sarawak.
In all three targeted areas, past destruction to the forests has caused loss of forest produce that communities were depending on for their lives and livelihood. Besides this, habitat loss due to deforestation, fragmentation or degradation of habitat also poses threat to the survival of wildlife in these areas.
The main features of ecological agriculture approach that we will be introducing to the community include maintaining soil fertility through organic measures and reducing dependence on synthetic materials such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Agro-ecology works with nature by following the way nature functions, protecting and rationally using natural resources and agricultural biodiversity, adapting to the local environment and providing highly diversified operation modes.

By practising natural farming methods where soil fertility is maintained, there would be no necessity to practise shifting agriculture and as it is also labour intensive, the traditional farm community would welcome this natural farming approach as their children migrate to the urban areas. Compared to agriculture production modes which depend heavily on agro-chemical inputs, the more comprehensive ecological approach to agriculture can effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

By reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the agriculture sector and by using farming techniques that increase soil carbon, farming can contribute to mitigating climate change. The agro-ecological method also aids soil carbon sequestration, hence enhancing adaptation to climate change. Healthy soils and diverse ecosystems are also better placed to adapt to the emergence of new pest or an increase in pest numbers under new climate conditions.
Through the agro-forestry project where reforestation and forest enrichment efforts will be undertaken it will enable the communities to rebuild their communal reserves and keep logging and plantation companies out of their customary lands. Certain tree species will be planted in and along their boundaries to keep away trespassers and for community use.
The overall objective of this project is to generate communities that are self-reliant, improve their livelihood and build up their resilience to climate change so as to be able to ensure food security and protect their customary lands through agro-ecology and agro-forestry efforts.