- Feb 27, 2024
- Tamanna Patel
Cultivating Change EP#1 Captain Zakaria
In this two-part episode, we speak to retired Navy major Captain Zakaria Kamantasha who started a 10-acre organic paddy farm in a rural area of Sik district in Kedah, Malaysia.
#1, Part 1: Creating a Model Paddy Farm
Part 1 of this episode provides insights into the predicament of paddy farmers in rural Malaysia. We reflect on the natural approach to paddy farming that older generations of farmers practiced. Can past natural farming methods hold the key to a more sustainable future paddy farming in Malaysia? Captain Zakaria shares the story of how and why he started SRI Lovely Farm and his perspective on the worrying state of Malaysian paddy farms and farmers.
Show notes
[00:03:20] System of Rice Intensification and understanding the process/cycles of paddy farming
[00:07:00] The benefits of paddy farmers being independent /self-reliant
[00:08:00] Organic paddy farming yields going from the average 2.5 up to 7 metric tonnes per hectare
[00:10:30] What does Integrated Pest Management and eco-engineering look like on his farm
[00:10:30] Role of policymakers in the paddy farming industry and his relationship with them
[00:17:10] Impacts of artificial/synthetic chemical use on paddy farms
[00:19:10] Captain Zakaria’s work with paddy farmers in Sabah and Sarawak
[00:21:30] Organic rice as a niche product, certification with the department of agriculture
#1, Part 2: Paddy Farming Future
In Part 2 of this first episode, we talk about the critical aspects of the process of turning paddy into rice. Captain Zakaria shares specific methods and steps he has taken to turn his paddy farm into an organic farm while gradually increasing his yield. How does he manage his ecologically friendly cultivation process? Why does he think farmers need to be independent? What should be the government’s role in paddy farming? And why he continues to share his methods and lessons with other farmers in Malaysia.
Show notes
[00:03:20] System of Rice Intensification and understanding the process/cycles of paddy farming[00:07:00] The benefits of paddy farmers being independent /self-reliant
[00:08:00] Organic paddy farming yields going from the average 2.5 up to 7 metric tonnes per hectare
[00:10:30] What does Integrated Pest Management and eco-engineering look like on his farm
[00:10:30] Role of policymakers in the paddy farming industry and his relationship with them
[00:17:10] Impacts of artificial/synthetic chemical use on paddy farms
[00:19:10] Captain Zakaria’s work with paddy farmers in Sabah and Sarawak
[00:21:30] Organic rice as a niche product, certification with the department of agriculture
Additional Resources
1. Connect with Captain Zakaria and his farm here.2. Interested in learning more about paddy farming in Malaysia, check out these reports by Khazanah Research Institute.
Credits
Special thanks to Captain Zakaria for his time and invaluable insights.
Senior producer and host: Nova Nelson.
Executive Producer, presenter and researcher: Tamanna Patel.
Music credits go to LongTong Studios Longtong Studio
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Visit us at Cultivate Central
About Cultivating Change
Cultivating Change is a podcast about people and communities shaping regenerative local food systems in different parts of Southeast Asia. Hear from farmers and urban growers, food producers, culinary trailblazers, researchers, environmentalists and various individuals that are imagining, designing and creating healthier more sustainable food futures from the ground up.
Our mission? To explore questions and find answers about the vital aspects of our food system, why it matters to your well-being, and the seismic impact it has on the environment in Southeast Asia. It's not just a podcast; it's a recipe for change.
Tamanna Patel
Tamanna enjoys reading, writing, yoga, being outdoors, and of course gardening. She's on a mission to grow as much of her own food as possible and get composting on a balcony right! It's all a work in progress for her and she dreams of one day owning a piece of land far, far away from the hustle and bustle of cities to cultivate veggies, maybe rear some animals, and watch the stars sparkle in light pollution-free night skies. In the meanwhile, she's happy being content cultivator at Cultivate Central.
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