Orang Asli organic farms in UN exhibition in New York

EDITOR'S NOTE: OA Organics wrote to Malaysiakini in June 2020 to clarify that the company has since changed its brand name to OA Organik.

INTERVIEW | Today in New York, the Orang Asli farmers of Kampung Ulu Gumum will be highlighted in an exhibition in New York

The eco-farm under OA Organics is one of three organisations that have been selected to be exhibited for the United Nations Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues, which will run from April 22 to May 3. The other two are from Ethiopia and Colombia.

The forum, established in 2000, highlights the concerns and rights of the world’s indigenous peoples.

OA Organics was selected for its progress in running a sustainable and profitable model working with indigenous farmers, in this case the Jakun community in Kampung Ulu Gumum in Pekan.

According to the company’s general manager Kon Onn Sein, the project started to take off three years ago when they secured a UNDP grant.

“We were among 500 organisations around the world that applied for funding. Of that 500, we were among 20 awarded a grant of US$40,000 (RM165,000) to start this farm,” Kon told Malaysiakini in an interview...