Sufficient and Sustainable Livelihood via Community Economy: Case of Natural Farming Program in East Malaysia

Community economy is an alternative mean for sustainable livelihood emphasized under the Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA) and Sufficient Economy Approach (SEA). Both approaches support the participatory development strategies which concern on the empowerment of marginalized people through an efficient utilization of local resources. The purpose of this article is to analyze the outcomes of the community-based economic activity executed through the natural farming programme in selected rural areas of East Malaysia. Our finding indicates that most participants have gained positive economic and social outcomes from the programme. The programme provides economic benefits such as reduction of household food expenditures, productive usage of household idle resources, increase of household income and saving. In addition, the programme also contributes to social benefits such as provide fresh vegetables, promote closeness among family members, increase self-satisfaction and happiness, increase closeness among community members, healthier feeling and increase agricultural skills and knowledge. The mean of each item show consistent trend that ranges between 3.68 (lowest) to 4.34 (highest). Therefore, the community economy conducted through the natural farming programme has benefited the rural area people in line with the idea of SLA and SEA.