Preservation of Community Spirit through farming

21 October 2025

KIULU: Women from Kampung Bambangan Lama have come together to run a communal vegetable farm at their village recreational centre; planting, harvesting, and selling their own produce to generate extra income while strengthening community ties.

At the Kampung Bambangan Lama Recreational Centre, the women cultivate cherry tomatoes, aubergines, kailan, and winter melons, among other crops, which they sell at local markets and use for their own families’ consumption.

Chairperson of the women’s vegetable farm, Catherine Barantis, said that while the earnings may be modest, the impact is deeply meaningful.

“Some of us can earn up to RM4,000 a year. It may not seem like much, but it’s something we’ve achieved through our own hard work. We also grow food for our families, so nothing goes to waste,” she said.

Recently, the women received assistance from Kiulu Assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, who helped fund the construction of a fence around their communal farm to protect their crops from stray animals.

“We’re very grateful for the support. With the fence in place, we can now focus on improving our farm. This also aligns with our wakil rakyat’s call for us to continue empowering ourselves and contributing through agrotourism,” Barantis added.

The women-led recreational centre is being developed as part of a wider agrotourism initiative, offering visitors hands-on, farm-to-table experiences, from picking fresh vegetables to learning about rural life.

Last year, the Kampung Bambangan Lama Recreational Centre was nominated for the ASEAN Community-Based Tourism Standard in recognition of its strong community involvement, though it did not make the final shortlist.

During his visit to the village on Monday, Joniston praised the women’s efforts, describing their initiative as a shining example of how rural women can lead and sustain community-based tourism.

“These women are not only supporting their families, but they’re also demonstrating that empowerment begins at the community level."

“Their cooperation and creativity show that small-scale projects can create value for both local residents and visitors,” he said, adding that he remains committed to supporting initiatives that uplift women and families in Kiulu.