Author: Vironica Arnila

In 2019, Rasito (53) joined the tree planting program initiated by Trees4Trees and Tree Ltd. At that time, he proposed various types of tree seedlings such as sengon, indigofera, and coffee to be planted in his field. He cannot help but feel grateful for the free seedlings he received. His decision to register and join the tree planting program three years ago was actually because of his strong will to optimize the yield of the field he owned. 

Fortunately, Rasito has a more fertile field compared to the fields in other villages. His field is located not far from his home in Kalirejo Village, Kebumen Regency.    

“I can say my field is fertile and easy to plant with any kind of crops and timbers. I think it is because the location is near the spring and river. So, when the dry season comes, it does not ever experience a drought,” Rasito said.  

Manage Pests is the Biggest Challenge

While strolling around his field, he seemed to trim the yellow leaves occasionally. According to Rasito, the biggest challenge to manage plants in his field is because of pests. “These yellow pests are very troublesome. They make leaves turn yellow, wilt, then die. Many sengon trees from Trees4Trees that I planted here were attacked by this kind of pest and could not survive. Auspiciously, there are still around 20 sengon trees that survive and grow well,” Rasito continued. He was pointing us to the sengon trees which now have reached 10 meters in height.  

Since returning to his village twenty years ago, Rasito has chosen to focus on agriculture. He used to work in the coffee plantation in Lampung, Sumatera. However, he decided to return to his village because his heart felt heavy to leave his 7-years old son at that time. 

From the coffee plantation he used to work at previously, he has learnt a lot about agriculture and how to grow coffee. From his parents, he inherited traditional agriculture knowledge. He used them to manage his field area of more than 1.000 square meters until now.  

Unsatisfied with The Result of His Field

Before joining the tree planting program, most of his field was planted with cassava and taro. There were also turmeric and Kaempferia galanga or aromatic ginger. He also planted stinky beans, papaya, and kelor trees. All the yields to be sold as his income to support his family’s daily needs. He also raised goats as his saving.  

Regrettably, the price of cassava as his main yield is less competitive in the market. “One kilogram of cassava that has been cleaned costs around 1.700 rupiahs. If I don’t clean the skin, the price is only 1.500 rupiahs per kilogram. Taro’s price is much better. It is more stable, around 2.000 rupiahs per kilogram,” Rasito revealed. When the price drops or does not sell well in the market, then Rasito must give up the cassava he grew to be used as his cattle’s feed.  

For that reason, when he heard that there was a tree planting program and free seedlings distribution, he was enthusiastic. “At that time, I heard that coffee seedlings would be distributed to farmers. I was interested. I always want to apply the knowledge I have learned from the coffee plantation where once I worked in my own field,” told Rasito. 

Growing Coffee Trees, Increasing His Field’s Productivity

He was thrilled to know that of the 180 Robusta coffee seedlings he received in 2019, he managed to grow well 150 coffee trees. Over the last three years, he has already harvested twice. “In one harvesting time, there may be about 5 kilograms. But it has not been sold yet. I am still testing my coffee trees, grinding the beans, and consuming them by myself. I have compared the taste with the Robusta coffee sold in the market and even with coffee sold in a cafe. I am sure that this coffee can compete with them,” he said confidently.  

Compared with cassava, Rasito believes coffee is more prospective. He also said it is not difficult to grow coffee trees. According to his survey, ground Robusta coffee’s price in the market can reach 30.000 rupiahs per kilogram. That interested him. Therefore, Rasito intends to replace cassava and taro with coffee in the future. “These cassavas are temporary. When I can grow more coffee trees, I will replace all of cassava and taro with coffee in order to make my field more productive as well as my income,” he was hoping.  

In addition to coffee, Rasito also grows pepper which is planted as vines on other trees. He is quite satisfied with the result of pepper. He can sell them for 80,000 rupiahs per kilogram.  

Rasito expects he we will be allowed to join the next tree planting program with Trees4Trees. He hopes he can receive durian and avocado seedlings. “I have tried planting durian and it is growing well in my field. If there will be another program, I intend to apply durian seedlings as well as avocado,” said Rasito. 

“We only know how to use the normal farming materials – we can’t develop them by ourselves,” laments Idin Tauhidin, a farmer from Banjaran Wetan village in West Bandung. Like many farmers in the region, he gets his fertilizers and chemicals from a supplier.  

Nuryanto lives in the neighboring village of Pinggirsari. He says most farmers here rely on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which are easy to get hold of and practical to use. However, they have noticed these chemicals harm the soil, leaving dangerous residues in the plants and trees they cultivate.  

Now, with the help of Trees4Trees and sponsors, Idin, Nuryanto and many more like them are learning to make their own materials, using organic ingredients and sustainable methods that can improve their crop without damaging the soil or the surrounding ecosystem.

Trees4Trees Training Raises Awareness of Organic Farming 

Held from November 4, 2022, through January 21, 2023, the training sessions were part of the Trees4Trees tree-planting program, designed to help farmers go green. “I consider this training as my opportunity to increase my knowledge and skills, especially in organic farming,” explains Nuryanto. “I hope I can use the knowledge to improve the agricultural process in my land, from planting to post-harvesting,” he added.  

Most farmers in Nuryanto’s village are unfamiliar with organic farming. “They use instant chemical materials in farming, so they were surprised because the methods presented in the Trees4Trees training are quite different,” explains Agus, the Agricultural Extension Service officer for Pinggirsari village.  

The organic farming method takes longer and is more complicated. For example, the fertilizer mixture must be ripened for a week, then stored for another 15 days. “This is something new for them (the farmers),” explains Agus, “but I think it will be useful for them.”  

Agus believes the training is a golden opportunity to raise awareness among farmers about the many benefits of organic farming methods. “For example, chemical fertilizers often disrupt the soil structure, while organic fertilizers will restore the soil fertility and nutrients,” he added.   

Cheaper, Greener, Better: Finding More Sustainable Solutions 

One of the topics we covered at the training was how to make organic decomposer microbes. This process is an essential way to maintain soil nutrients. “Not many farmers could make [the microbes] on their own before,” observed Nuryanto, “but now we know it can be done using ingredients around us.”  

The training showed farmers how to make decomposers, fertilizers and pesticides by themselves, utilizing organic waste such as leaves, rotten fruit, expired milk, and eggs. Solutions like this allow them to reduce their expenses, while also lowering their impact on the environment. 

Working in Harmony with Nature, Going to the Next Level 

During our recent planting season, Trees4Trees held training sessions in a total of 193 villages around West and Central Java. Idin Tauhidin is one of around 4,000 farmers who benefited. He believes it offers a way to reduce farmer’s dependence on suppliers and reduce the cost of buying seedlings and farming materials. When we spoke to him during the grafting technique training, he shared his thoughts: 

“If farmers always expect seedlings from outside agencies or institutions, or always buy ready-made agricultural materials, it means they will remain dependent,” he said.  

“By mastering the techniques, farmers can be more self-sufficient; from my experience, if farmers don’t update and accelerate their knowledge and skills, never attend training sessions, and rely only on self-taught knowledge, they will never go to the next level,” he added. 

Idin, Nuryanto, and the many farmers in their communities hope to apply the knowledge they have gained from the Trees4Trees training to their own land. They aspire to become more independent, building their well-being without harming their environment where they live. Together with Trees4Trees, they are beginning to bring this dream to fruition. 

Writer: V. Arnila Wulandani. Interview: Kemas Duga Muis. Editor: Christopher Alexander