Pictured here is the expanse of Fantri Katili's corn fields in Doda Village, Central Lore District, Poso Regency in Central Sulawesi. —KOMPAS.com/DANUR LAMBANG PRISTIANDARU
AFTER years of farming, Fantri Katili, 35, has finally experienced a corn harvest of four tonnes from her approximately 1-hectare plot of land.
In previous years, her field—located in Doda Village, Lore Tengah District, Poso Regency, Central Sulawesi (Sulteng)—had only been able to produce around two tonnes of corn per harvest.
“We’ve always used (the usual corn planting methods). We planted whenever we wanted. After attending the training, it turns out that everything I’ve been doing has been wrong,” said the farmer in her cornfield on Saturday (June 1, 2024).
AFTER years of farming, Fantri Katili, 35, has finally experienced a corn harvest of four tonnes from her approximately 1-hectare plot of land.
Fantri is one of the female farmers empowered by Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI) – a humanitarian organisation that helps vulnerable communities – through a programme called Increasing the Leverage of iMSD across Indonesia (Inclusion). In the programme, Fantri received mentoring and training on sustainable farming methods, starting from land preparation, seed selection, agricultural techniques, fertilisation, pest control, to post-harvest.
Fantri saw an in increase in her income due to the heightened productivity of corn on her land.
According to her, farmers with small landholdings such as herself need assistance to become more independent.
“I have already taken to heart the best practices and the right way to plant and harvest, with proof by results,” said Fantri.
She said she would be happy to share her knowledge with other small farmers if needed.
Another female farmer from Lore Tengah District who has experienced an uptick in corn productivity is Eta Dewysamentara, a resident of Hanggira Village. In the past, when using local seeds with rudimentary farming methods, 3kg of seeds only produced around 500kg of corn. After attending various training sessions from WVI and its private partners, Eta’s cornfield productivity has tripled.
“Yesterday I planted 1kg of (superior) seeds and I got a harvest of around 570kg,” said Eta.
Meanwhile, a farmer with disabilities from Rompo Village, Lore Tengah District, Abdul Hasan Polohe, also claimed to have had a large harvest after applying the farming methods provided by WVI. With a capital of 20kg of corn seeds that he planted, the farmer with physical disabilities managed to harvest around 10 tonnes of corn.
Before applying the various methods he was taught, Hasan was initially sceptical of the methods. After all, having been a farmer for decades, various farmer training projects had only been a passing thing without any sustainable support.
“But it turns out that the community was truly assisted. I thought (the programme) would just end like that, but it didn’t,” Hasan explained.
Given this trust, Hasan applied the farming methods he was taught, while also receiving the necessary guidance. And the results were in line with what he had hoped for.
Targeting vulnerable farmers
Inclusion Project Sulteng WVI team leader Kristian Edi Suseno said that the programme aims to empower small and vulnerable farmers through the development of an inclusive and sustainable market system.
The vulnerable groups include women, elderly farmers, people with disabilities and other communities such as religious communities. The programme that has been running since 2022, is an enhancement of the previous programme, which conducted initial trials in several villages in Lore Tengah District, Poso.
Edi said vulnerable farmers have so far faced low productivity, making it difficult to meet their needs. The productivity of cornfields should be able to reach seven tonnes per hectare. However, they have only been producing around three tonnes so far.
“This means that in one hectare, corn farmers lose around four tonnes,” said Edi.
This low productivity is because vulnerable farmers do not know the right farming techniques. There is a knowledge gap in managing their cornfields.
Through the Inclusion programme, WVI intervenes with vulnerable farmers starting from seed selection, maintenance, fertilisation, post-harvest, to inclusive financial management.
Sustainable agriculture
If successful, the potential vulnerable farmers can become offtakers or collectors so that the absorption of the harvest becomes more diverse and the price of corn increases.
Meanwhile, agricultural waste can be used as animal feed. While farming, the farmers can also care for livestock. Livestock waste in the form of manure can also be used as fertiliser to support fertilisation of the farmers’ fields.
Therefore, in addition to empowering vulnerable farmers in an inclusive manner, this system can also realise sustainable agriculture. Besides being vulnerable, these groups also face high dependence.
For example, many women are involved in corn-farming, but the majority are only farm labourers.
“We want them to have the knowledge. Upon obtaining that, they can invite, mobilise and promote it to others - that is our empowerment,” said Edi.
*This story and photo(s) first appeared on June 3, 2024, in Kompas.com, the Indonesian publication that is part of the Asia Sustainability Impact Consortium, which includes Star Media Group, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Kompas Gramedia of Indonesia as founding members.
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