KUCHING: The LINAWA brand, built around the Lawas highlands’ signature Adan rice and Arabica coffee, has officially been handed over to Koperasi Usahasama Long Sukang Lawas Bhd, marking the completion of a five-year community entrepreneurship initiative under the ‘Towards Uplifting Lives Programme’ (TULiP).
The transition places the homegrown brand fully under the cooperative’s management after five years of support from PETRONAS, Yayasan Hasanah, and Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), aimed at strengthening rural entrepreneurship and livelihoods.
PETRONAS Carigali Sdn Bhd (Sarawak Assets) Senior General Manager, Shalby Reduan, said the programme has transformed small scale farming into a more structured and sustainable value chain.
“Through the TULiP initiative, we have seen how small scale efforts gradually evolve into a more structured and sustainable value chain.
“It reflects the way the community has strengthened its organisation and deepened its agricultural activities over time,” he said in a statement.
Since 2021, the programme has provided entrepreneurship training, mentoring, product innovation, capability building and market access, while establishing a processing facility in Long Sukang for coffee collection, roasting and packaging.
LINAWA now markets white, red and black Adan rice alongside Arabica coffee, including its signature Adan Arabica blend.
The brand has also received Outstanding and Silver awards at the Malaysia Technology Expo Sustainable Energy and Green Technology International Innovation Awards, while both product lines have secured halal certification for wider retail expansion across Sabah and Sarawak.
According to the Department of Agriculture Lawas District, 94 farmers now cultivate more than 28 hectares of farmland in Long Sukang, with coffee cultivation expanding from about 700 trees before 2021 to 7,230 trees this year.
“This reflects a meaningful milestone in strengthening local livelihoods and advancing community development in the highlands.
“It also demonstrates PETRONAS’ commitment to supporting rural communities through sustainable economic opportunities and efforts to strengthen local skills and capabilities,” Shalby said.
Cooperative president, Sulaiman Palong, said the initiative has encouraged more villagers to venture into coffee farming by providing stronger market access and continuous support.
“The TULiP project brings many benefits to the community. We truly appreciate PETRONAS’ support, as more farmers are now taking up coffee planting because they see its future potential.
“We are also grateful for the guidance along the way,” he said.
The cooperative, which now has 30 members, has assumed full responsibility for managing LINAWA, positioning the brand as a community owned enterprise rooted in the agricultural heritage of the Lun Bawang highlands.
