Supporting Smallholders Towards Improved Livelihoods and Sustainable Production Project

The project just started in October 2017, a comprehensive survey conducted in 20 villages at Telupid, Tongod, Beluran, and Kinabatangan (TTBK) pilot areas in Sabah State to get the database on smallholder situation and condition including current agronomy practices applied by smallholder. The team also started engaging with Department of Agriculture of Sabah and Land and Survey Department of Sabah as well as plantation and mills operate around the pilot areas. At the same time, a research also carried out in Seruyan to design the agricultural facility center for smallholder. Focus group discussion to evaluate the best options how this design should be formalized also arranged in Jakarta, attended by the representative of relevant government team from district, province and national level. The status of implementation of the project components, at the time of reporting, are not completed and still in progress. Those of a more technical nature are likely to be delayed around six months and those that require decisive political will can only be assessed as and when the governments take key decisions, over which no one has control, except the governments themselves. The project start-up late because of delayed in the signing of the agreement and fund transfer that cause some activities loss of the implementation momentum due to holiday seasons. The project activities in Sabah has reported three, interconnected factors that led to the shortfalls in implementation; (a) inadequate capacity in the implementation team, (b) delays in state-level decision-making on key issues and (c) involvement and support from industry. The support and commitment from all stakeholder involved in the process is the key to success of the project.