Kejaman Adaptive Strategies in the Context of Development Efforts.
|
THE SARAWAK MUSEUM JOURNAL |
|
Title :
Kejaman Adaptive Strategies in the Context of Development Efforts. |
|
Author :
S.S. Strickland |
|
Abstract:
This paper is concerned with the nature of development policy in practice. It takes the form of a case study, from research undertaken in 1983—1984, of the Kejaman, a small population of orang ulu living somewhat upriver from Belaga bazaar in the Seventh Division, who form part of the “Kajang” group of peoples. The paper is divided into three parts. First, a summary account is presented of subsistence patterns for the two Kejaman longhouses, and the relative balance of food production and cash cropping activities is assessed. Second, some background is given of the aims of national development policies in general, and of those extended in Belaga District in particular. The “actor-orientated” nature of this case study is stressed as an essential characteristic of development feasibility assessments. Third, the paper attempts to assess how far agricultural development schemes have responded to different socio-economic and ecological characteristics of settlements. It approaches this question by investigating (a) the expressed aims of schemes in view of the need to improve subsistence sufficiency; and (b) problems of implementation of schemes as indicated by (i) local farmers’ responses to schemes on the one hand, and official views on the other, and (ii) the extent to which “diffusion” of innovations, with the market stimulus in mind, has succeeded. Therefore the question is posed of whether a discrepancy between local and official views of problems is sufficient to call into question current policy priorities for the balance between cash cropping and food producing crops. Where this paper is critical it is intended in a constructive spirit.
|
| DOI: XXXX |
|
How to cite:
Strickland, S. S. (1989). Kejaman Adaptive Strategies in the Context of Development Efforts. The Sarawak Museum Journal, XL (61): 251-270 |
|
References
|
