Dam Building and Mono-cropping: Effects on Dayak Tribe Culture

This report examines the effects of dam building and mono-cropping on the cultures and livelihoods of indigenous Dayak tribes in Sarawak. It discusses both the advantages and disadvantages of these practices, including water harvesting, electrification, crop specialization, loss of lives, and soil depletion. The report also explores how dam building and mono-cropping have impacted the economy, agricultural festivals, society, customs, and external factors of the Dayak tribes. It concludes with recommendations for sustainable farming practices and dam construction to minimize negative impacts on the environment and downstream communities.

Running Head: EFFECTS OF DAM BUILDING AND MONO-CROPPING ON DAYAKS TRIBES
Effects of Dam Building and Mono-cropping on Cultures and Livelihood of Various
Indigenous Dayaks tribes in Sarawak
Name
Institutional affiliation

EFFECTS OF MONO-CROPPING AND DAM BUILDING ON DAYAK PEOPLE 2
Effects of Dam Building and Mono-cropping on Cultures and Livelihood of Indigenous
Dayaks tribes
This report paper discusses the effects of dam-building and mono-cropping on the
cultures and livelihood of the numerous indigenous Dayaks tribes in Sarawak. Dayaks are the
native individuals of Sarawak principally situated in the southern and central interior of
Borneo, every tribe with its own culture, territory, laws, customs, and dialect though there
share some similarity in their traits. The languages of Dayak can be grouped as part of the
languages in Austronesia in Asia. There are seven major divisions in ethnicity of Dayaks in
terms of their native language which are namely Ot Danum, Punan, Murut, Bidayuh, Iban,
Apo Kayan, and Nguju.
There are more than fifty ethnic Dayak clusters speaking diverse languages. The
Dayaks were known to be peacemakers and headhunting. These tribes took part in land
tenure and agriculture by implementing various systems of farming (Addison, 2014). They
planted paddy on the slopes of the hill while other used lands allocated to them by their kings.
The Dayaks started planting cocoa, pepper, and rubber and later they planted oil palm. The
government later built bigger dams within the region occupied by the Dayak tribes, such
dams included Bakun dams and Baram dams which were constructed with the aim of
generating hydroelectric power.
Advantages of Dam Building and Mono-cropping on Indigenous Dayaks Tribes
(Hillel, 2012) Stated that the building of dams in the regions of Dayak encouraged
water harvesting which was used for the purposes of irrigation. Many sub-tribes of Dayak
lived near rivers where they could use water from the rivers for farming and domestic
purposes. These rivers were known to be seasonal and they would really be affected by lack
of sufficient water for their crops and for domestic use. The Dayak society realized that when

EFFECTS OF MONO-CROPPING AND DAM BUILDING ON DAYAK PEOPLE 3
they built a dam by using huge logs on the paths of the river flow, then the water could be
available in the area for a longer period even if the rivers are dry. The construction of Bakun
dams and Baram dams by the government led to the electrification of the region hence
improved the security and livelihood of the people indigenous tribes of Dayak. These power
station were also source of employment to the indigenous people since they could work in the
power companies and get wedges and salaries to improve their lives.
The dams also prevented the rivers from flooding during the rainy seasons. The floods
used to sweep parts of the villages during the rainy seasons leading to loss of lives and
destruction of properties as mentioned by (Barack, 2013). Mono-cropping encouraged the
indigenous tribe of Murut to practise crop specialization, they only concentrated on planting
paddy. This specialization enabled them to understand the planting seasons for the paddy and
various planting methods of the crop. Through the practising of mono-cropping, the tribe of
Apo Kayan were able to optimize their operations provided that harvesting, pest control,
maintenance, planting, and growing requirements were the same across the farming area as
illustrated by (Colchester, 2016).
Disadvantages of Dam Building and Mono-cropping on Indigenous Dayaks Tribes
The construction of these dams by the Dayak tribes proved to be expensive since they
used log of woods which were gotten from the forest. The woods would then be arranged
horizontally across the river to prevent the flow of water. The construction of these dams
latter proved to be catastrophic since many lives were lost especially that of children that
used play near the dams. In case the heavy rains, the dams would flood and break its banks
and destroy properties and claim lives of the tribe of Apo Kayan as elaborated by (Hall,
2015). The construction of large dams by the government such as Bakun dam and Baram

EFFECTS OF MONO-CROPPING AND DAM BUILDING ON DAYAK PEOPLE 4
dams resulted to massive loss of lives for both livestock and people who stayed near these
dams.
(Henley, 2011) States that the growth of paddy crops specifically by the Dayak tribes
proved to be disadvantageous after a period of time. This is because the mono-cropping in an
intense manner led to the depletion of nutrients in the soil hence low yield in production was
witnessed after sometimes. It forced the tribe of Apo Kayan to improve the fertility of the
land such as the use of manure gotten from animal waste. Mono-cropping also encouraged
the growth of specific pests and weeds which are associated with the paddy crops. The mono-
cropping farming method did not provide a balanced diet to the Dayak tribes since it was the
only crop that they were planting.
Effects of Dam Building and Mono-cropping on Indigenous Dayaks Tribes
Later in the 19th century, the Dayaks tribes in Sarawak learnt about mono-cropping as
an effective farming method where they could plant paddy only on a piece of land or on the
slop yearly. This type of farming as implemented by these tribes since they lacked the
equipment to plant other crops. Many sub-tribes of Dayak lived near rivers where they could
use water from the rivers for farming and domestic purposes. These rivers were known to be
seasonal and the indigenous tribes of Dayak could really be affected by lack of sufficient
water for their crops and for domestic use as discussed by (Fonseca, 2011).
The Punan people realized that when they built a dam by using huge logs on the paths
of the river flow, then the water could be available in the area for a longer period even if the
rivers are dry. The development of dams and the implementation of mono-cropping really
affected the livelihood and cultures of the Dayak tribes in the following ways:
Economy of Indigenous Dayaks Tribes Promoted by Dam Building and Mono-cropping

EFFECTS OF MONO-CROPPING AND DAM BUILDING ON DAYAK PEOPLE 5
The livelihood of the tribe of Bidayuh improved drastically after the building of dams
across the rivers. The building of dams promoted sufficient water supply to the agricultural
sector. This water supply was used in the agricultural sector which led to an abundant supply
of food for consumption and also for trade with other communities. The economy of the
Dayak tribes improved as well as their livelihood since there was always a continuous supply
of food. Through the practising of mono-cropping, the tribe of Bidayuh were able to optimize
their operations provided that harvesting, pest control, maintenance, planting, and growing
requirements were the same across the farming area. This improved their production of paddy
crops and hence sufficient food production for consumption and trade as discussed by (Hillel,
2012).
The government also took the initiative of constructing dams near the region occupied
by the people of Dayak since the risers provided sufficient water to enable construction of
dams. Such dams include Bakun dam and Baram dams which was constructed with an aim of
generation of hydroelectric power. These power stations provides employment to the local
communities during the construction of dams as well as in the maintenance of the power
station. The employment increased the livelihood of the tribe of Apo Kayan leading to
development of the society.
Agriculture Festivals among the Indigenous Dayaks Tribes Promoted by Dam Building and
Mono-cropping
Mono-cropping involved less equipment and enabled the tribe of Iban to concentrate
on the farming of paddy on both the land and on the slopes. The dam-building further
promoted farming in the region by proving water to the tribes for the whole year without
being affected by the drying of rivers. The steady supply of crops encouraged by tribe of Iban
to take part in the agricultural festivals throughout the whole year since there was always

EFFECTS OF MONO-CROPPING AND DAM BUILDING ON DAYAK PEOPLE 6
agricultural produce. The paddy being the primary crop grown, it was used in the agricultural
festivals which involved the dedication of paddy farming to honour Gana Semplang who was
believed to be an agriculture deity as elaborated by (Kusakabe, 2014).
This agricultural festival is a series of festivals which include paddy storing festival
(Basimpan Gawai), Initiation of harvest festival (Matah Gawai), Farm healing festival
(Ngemali Gawai), and seed festival (Benih Gawai). According to the tribe of Iban, there are
27 steps involved in the farming of hill paddy. The common ritual activity which was known
as making good (mudras), meant that any omen found during the stages of farming
specifically during the initial stage of bush clearing as stated by (Lenon, 2013).
Society and Customs among the Indigenous Dayaks Tribes Promoted by Dam Building and
Mono-cropping
(Umrani, 2010) Stated that the mono-cropping and dam building encouraged the
Dayaks tribes to live together as a society since they took part in the farming process together
as a result of water availability in the region. They planted paddy on the slopes of the hill
while other used lands allocated to them by their kings. The tribe of Iban started planting
cocoa, pepper, and rubber and later they planted oil palm. The availability of crops for
cultural festivals encouraged these communities to preserve their cultures and tradition since
there was less occurrence of droughts which could make them relocate to other geographical
areas and meet other communities during this movement.
External Factors Promoted by Dam Building and Mono-cropping
The construction of dams and mono-cropping affected both the internal and external
factors within the Dayak tribes settled. Some of the external factors that were affected include
the increase in the trading commodities in areas that trade used to take place, expansion of
trade between the Dayaks tribes and other communities, as well as an increase in population

EFFECTS OF MONO-CROPPING AND DAM BUILDING ON DAYAK PEOPLE 7
since there was steady supply of food. Mono-cropping and dam building was copied by other
communities who viewed these factors to be the source of prosperity among the tribe of Apo
Kayan as discussed by (Fonseca, 2011).
Conclusion
This report paper is about the effects of dam-building and mono-cropping on the
cultures and livelihood of the numerous indigenous Dayaks tribes in Sarawak. The building
of dams in the regions of Dayaks tribes encouraged water harvesting which was used for the
purposes of irrigation. Mono-cropping was the framing system practised by the Dayaks
tribes, it involved less equipment and enabled the Dayak tribes to concentrate on the farming
of paddy on both the land and on the slopes. The dam-building further promoted farming in
the region by proving water to the tribes for the whole year without being affected by the
drying of rivers.
Recommendations
It would have been in order for the Dayaks tribes to implement the rotational system
of farming which would improve the fertility of the land since a particular crop will only
consume a given nutrients from the soil, hence the nutrients would not be exhausted from the
soil at any particular time. The construction of dams marked the turning point in the lives of
Dayaks tribes since the drought seasons were no longer a factor in the agricultural sector.
However, the construction of the dams affected the flow of rivers and affected other
communities living in the downstream.
It would be in order for the dams to be constructed after this consideration hence
making the depth of the dam to accommodate just a given level of water and allow the rest to
flow downstream to other communities. These dams should be constructed by the

EFFECTS OF MONO-CROPPING AND DAM BUILDING ON DAYAK PEOPLE 8
government just like Bakun dam and Baram dams which were of the standard required
internationally.

EFFECTS OF MONO-CROPPING AND DAM BUILDING ON DAYAK PEOPLE 9
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