Women turn their village garden into a tourist attraction

 

Kiulu assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai (left) and Catherine Barantis touring the women-run communal farm at Kampung Bambangan Lama, Kiulu. – Pic by Sabah Tourism Board

TUARAN: A women-run recreational centre is being developed as part of an agrotourism initiative to boost the livelihoods of villagers from Kampung Bambangan Lama. 

The women had initially set up a communal vegetable farm at their village's recreational centre, selling produce such as cherry tomatoes, aubergines, kailan, and winter melons to supplement their income while also meeting their own household needs. 

Farm leader Catherine Barantis said that while the earnings might not be substantial, they made a meaningful difference. 

"Some of us can earn up to RM4,000 a year. It may not sound like much, but it's the fruit of our own labour. We also grow food for our families, so nothing goes to waste," she said in a statement.  

Last year, the Kampung Bambangan Lama Recreational Centre was nominated for the Asean Community-Based Tourism Standard in recognition of its community-driven approach, although it did not make the final cut. 

The farm allows visitors to experience simple farm-to-table activities — from picking vegetables straight from the garden to learning about village life.

Recently, the women received assistance from Kiulu assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai to build a fence around their communal farm, protecting their crops from stray animals. 

"We are grateful for the support. With the fence, we can now focus on improving our farm, and this echoes our wakil rakyat's call for us to continue empowering ourselves and contributing through agrotourism," said Catherine. 

During his recent visit to the village, Joniston commended the women's efforts, describing them as a strong example of how rural women can lead community-based tourism through their own initiative. 

"These women are not just helping their families — they're showing how empowerment can begin at the community level. Through cooperation and creativity, small projects like this can bring value to both the people and the tourism experience," he said, adding that he hopes to continue supporting initiatives that benefit women and families in Kiulu.

-nst online.