In the 1920's the Brooke Government had already acquired Limbang and it had a policy of "peopling the new division with agriculturalists who would turn the rich Limbang river valley into another rice bowl of the Kingdom of Sarawak." Thus many Iban families were chosen and given payments to migrate from Ulu Skrang . They had to wait in Kuching for government arranged steamers to brig them to Limbang.
One of the groups was afflicted by chicken pox and their departure from Kuching was delayed. According to one of the descendants who remember the story, "Cucumbers started to grow while they were waiting near the Astana. And as they camped they cooked, planted and carried on every day life as if they were in their farm by the river side. Not far from their camp was the Astana."
Within a few years, Limbang did become one of the rice bowls of the Brooke Government envisaged. Later on the Colonial Government established a Government Rice Godown in Ng Medamit. An officer was appointed to look after the godown. One of the last Godown Manager was HJ Awang Baja. Rice was sold to the government by the padi growers at a special price but they also had to right to sell to the Chinese in Ng. Medamit and Limbang town.
According to oral history, during the Japanese Occupation, Japanese soldiers went around monitoring rice production, to ensure that there is sufficient rice for themselves and the town Malays and all those who supported them.
The British Colonial Government in a report stated that in 1958 the first padi research stations were set up in Ukong and Bangkita.
From 1963 to the present day, rice cultivation has seen a rapid decline.
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