The Viability of Traditional Farming System Among The Local Household Communities at Bengoh Resettlements Scheme (BRS)

This study examines the viability of traditional farming system among local household communities in Bengoh Resettlement Scheme (BRS) that is limited to three acres of land per household, the identification of their previous and current livelihood strategies, suggested land utilization pattern on the new land using their common way to run the agricultural activities and projection of cost and benefit on the land utilization pattern. A random sampling of 40 respondents were selected through face-to-face interview using semi-structured interview schedule. Focus group discussion was also executed to gain information on the typical agricultural practices among the farmers. This study was also supported by secondary data obtained from several official meeting reports on the progression of the resettlement projects. Cost benefit analysis was employed to determine the viability of agricultural farming system in which NPV, BCR and IRR was calculated by using Microsoft Excel. The study discovered that disrupted livelihood strategies in the BRS were attributed from challenges in seeking for new employment (60%) in which it is related to limited natural resources (27.5%). Access to sufficient amount of land is vital for the local communities to support their living. Small area of land restricts them to cultivate agricultural activities especially using traditional farming system. In terms of traditional farming system proposed, this study found out that a mixed-pattern of pepper vines (230 vines) and 10,000 cobs of maize planted on 1.5 acres of land respectively is the most viable to the local communities. With a discount rate at 10 per cent, the NPV throughout 10 year period was projected RM22,508.43, BCR of 1.39 (more than 1), IRR of 28 per cent (more than discount rate) and the payback period is estimated on the sixth year after planting these two crops using the traditional farming system