The State Government of Sarawak has always advocated a well-balanced urban and rural development to benefit its people. One of the Government’s most effective strategies was the thoughtful and systematic development of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land on a commercial basis, implemented through Sarawak Land Consolidation And Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA). SALCRA functions to aid with the rural community development in Sarawak, by developing idle native lands into productive agricultural ventures, which has raised the economic status of the native communities dwelling in rural areas.

Through land rehabilitation, promotion of various agriculture development projects, and the implementation of schemes for improvement, the development projects are carried out within the boundaries of these rural communities. Members of these rural areas contribute their land, whilst SALCRA provides the expertise and funding. Today, SALCRA’s core business encompasses the management of NCR land for oil palm plantations. Since the establishment of the first oil palm estate in Lubok Antu in 1976, 19 more estates have sprung up, covering more than 51,000 hectares of land area stretching from Lundu to Bau, Serian, Sri Aman, Betong and Saratok.

By combining manual, mechanization and integration of cattle and agriculture, SALCRA has formulated systems that have maximised productivity and efficiency, greatly reducing labour dependency, creating an environmental management system that both is efficient and cost-effective.