The Impact of Rural The Impact of Rural Resettlement on Livelihoods: Resettlement on Livelihoods: A Case of GRID, Kota A Case of GRID, Kota Marudu, SabahMarudu, Sabah

Study Area - GRIDStudy Area - GRIDThe GRID Project was initiated by the

SFD in 1998 under the Community Forestry Trust Fund.

Situated at Kota Marudu District, Sabah, Malaysia. About 42KM from Kota Marudu town

Resettled on a state land of 1,619 ha.90 to 793 meters above sea levelAbout half of the area is flat. The

higher elevation is an extension of the LFR which is mountainous terrain surrounding the flat area.

Backgroud of the Backgroud of the developmentdevelopment Concept, Goal and Objectives

◦ The aim of the project is to relocate the local communities residing in 10 villages scattered within and adjacent to Lingkabau FR into a well developed, permanent and complete settlement area, which is located in state land in Kg. Gana.

◦ These 10 villages were consolidated as a well established centre where other government agencies would come in and joint the SFD to create sustainable economic opportunities to generate income and employment, particularly in modern agriculture, agro-based industries and the services sector.

◦ Communities from the identified villages moved to GRID on a voluntary basis.

◦ The key project component are the provision of basic infrastructure namely, roads; housing 450 units; clinic; chapels and surau; school; village library; electricity; water supply; multipurpose hall; and recreational facilities (football field, children playground)

◦ The opportunity to access health care, education and social services motivated many community members to move to GRID.

Development phases

Out of 450 houses built, about 350 occupied, the rest are unoccupied or collapsed.

Data collectionData collection

Findings and DiscussionFindings and Discussion

LivelihoodAssets

Before GRID, 1997

Intvn. I GRID, 2006 Intvn. II

Present - July 2014

Human capital

•Limited access to education and health services

• Improved access to school and health services

• Improved access to school and health services

Land •Land - Forest reserve cannot be alienated.

• Unsettled issues over land in terms of unclear status and boundary as well as uneven allocation across and within villages

• same issues• Cultivated land has the risk of being taken for Agropolitan project

Economy •Depend exclusively on subsistence agriculture •Off-farm work is limited•Av. income <RM100

• Persistent poverty with 88% earning income below the hardcore poverty line•Out migration

• Majority still in poverty• Some have started to involve in off-farm work (road construction, rubber plantation)• out migration

Infrastructure and basic amenities

•Lack of roads•Water sources from spring,and deep well,•No electrcity•Only 2 kampungs has school

• connected via former logging roads• no water and electricity supply• Village clinic, kindergarden, church, surau, public telephone and internet connection and a village hall.

• Connected via paved roads but road in GRID is unpaved

• Electricity supply, • No water supply• Improved access

to basic amenities

Social •Various ethnic – Lingkabau, Tembanua, Sundayoh, Sungai, Kimaragang and Sosongon

•Disunity - lack of cooperation•Community organization was weak

•Foreign workers were brought in• same issues

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Quality of life of the settlers is lowCash income is little -hard core poverty

Limited off-farm work They didn’t sell their products

They don’t produce other marketable items (livestock, fish, medical plans, flower, handicraft)

They do not grow cash crops

Self-relience & innovative are not developed among the people (they do not know what can be sold in the market, they do not know how to produce

Agropolitan project?

•Soil is not fertile• current farming does not produce much•They grow only for eating •Land allocation is not clear•Transportation cost to bring to market is high•They don’t have enough skills & knowledge in production•Problem with water management•Basic infrastructure for farming is not established•Money is not so necessary

Cooperative body is not organized

Community identity is not establised

Reliable representative is not exist

•The rubber planting scheme is expected to derive and elevate the settlers living status•450 concrete homes

At least, efforts are already moving to ensure the people of Kg Gana enjoy better living standards, amenities and economic opportunities