ACIAR (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research) evaluated Master Tree Grower (MTG) Program, a program that gives some trainings to local farmers forestry technique skill to maximize tree growth as the result. MTG program was held in Pati, 2014 with 17 farmers joined this program.

This evaluation aims to know the influence of MTG program to local farmers in Pati. This activity was held November 2-6th 2016 by Mr. Muktasam from Mataram University as MTG evaluator, represents ACIAR.

The evaluation was mostly about meeting the farmers, and visiting the lands, seeing the trees. The meeting was going naturally between Mr. Muktasam and the farmers, a lot of discussions and ideas were explored. This continued when lands visiting, farmers were excited to tell about their trees, what they do everyday, what kind of trees that they have. And of course, they also mentioned their struggle especially about diseases that often attack Albizia: gall rust (karafuru in local) and caterpillars bag.

Those diseases, according to farmers, are the most difficult to kill and still no potent solution found. Even when they cut all the trees, the diseases will appear when new trees are planted. Karafuru, or trees tumor, attacks tree stems, inhibits its growth, to death at some conditions. While caterpillars bags attack leaves part of the tree.

This evaluation will also help ACIAR and Trees4Trees to find out what things that farmers really need for their skill and trees planting activity, from beginning to end of trees planting business.

Trees4Trees’ mascot program is to empower community forest in Indonesia. During our monitoring season, we found out that our farmers’ stories are interesting. It’s personal and honest. They told us their motivation, the good things they can do by planting and being a farmer, and why they are so happy to join Trees4Trees. Here are two stories, we collected from our farmers in Semarang and Boyolali.

We begin from our farmer in Mangkang, near Semarang, his name is Sirno. He has been planting trees since he was young. He knows to plant from his father, who was a farmer too. In the begining to end, Sirno plants trees only for investment or savings. When his trees are ready to harvest, he will sell it, plant more trees, sell and the same cycle keeps running. He use the money for house, his children educations, or his daughter’s marriage. He tells us that he is thankfull for his father teaching him planting as a basic skill that he can use for living.

But one time, he began to think that he can do more. It’s time to share to people outside his family, his people in the village. Sirno mentions that people in the village always find difficulties to bury somebody’s dead body as no empty land and money to make ceremony.

This encourages Sirno to give a solution for his people in the village by giving them a land to be a gravery and money to be managed by a village leader for death ceremony from the trees harvest. He has been doing this twice for 8 years. More, he even plants some crops like corn, papaya, herbs like ginger, turmeric, chily and tomato so people can take them for daily need – with note: not for sale.

Sirno tell us his amazing story with full spirit and ethusiasm, saying that his efforts would mean a lot to many people. “Im proud once again my father tought me to be a farmer. Now I know that I will make good things even only as a farmer and from my trees”

He is also proud in joining Trees4Trees program because Trees4Trees offers a complete package of planting program, “Trees4Trees is different. Not only give us free seedlings but also help us when harvesting time comes, help us to sell the woods with the best price. It really helps us a farmers”.

Another story comes from Boyolali, farmer Sriyanto. He plants trees from Javanesse philosophy, “when we do good to nature, nature will do us good back” he says. So he plants as many trees in his lands. He takes care his trees with patience and attention.

Everyday he always visit his trees, one by one, to know just in case, his trees get infected. To make good results of his trees, he always follows Trees4Trees instructions in growing trees. When something bad happens like one or two trees have yellow leaves, quickly, he will get his phone and contact Trees4Trees for the solutions.
Sriyanto believes that planting trees not only because he will get money in the harvest time, but also how he treats his trees in the process, that what matters the most. When you do the best in the process, you not only get the best results of your work but also balance between you and nature. Sriyanto’s tree growth is now one of the best tree planting site in Trees4Trees report.

In the middle of 2016, it’s nursery time for Trees4Trees.

This nursery is set to produce 100.000 baby trees in two different locations, Pati and Purbalingga. What makes it more different is, this time Trees4Trees also cooperates with one farmer group in Purbalingga. A cooperation that also has been an education program for local community for growing high quality of seedlings.

The seedlings produced are albizia (sengon) and teak. Pati nursery is responsible for 60.000 seedlings with 43.000 seedlings of albizia and 17.000 seedlings of teak. While Purbalingga is responsible for 40.000 with 27.000 seedlings of albizia and 13.000 seedlings of teak.

The nurseries began to start in the early June, and now (when the pictures are taken), the trees are beautifully growing. From small seeds into mature seedlings that are ready to be distributed to local community in all around Central Java. Seedlings distribution is set to be done in November 2016.

On Thursday, April 28th 2016, Trees4Trees got a visitation from Jenny of Tari Travel Indonesia. For information, Tari Travel is one of Trees4Trees supporters, a travel agency in Makassar, which has been T4T’s partner for more than 2 years. Jenny came to investigate the tour potential on the route from Yogyakarta to Magelang (Borobudur) and the mountains Merapi and Merbabu. At the same time she got the good idea to see the trees Tari has planted and how they can be part of future trips.

Around 8 in the morning, we arrived in the first planting location owned by a farmer named Suhadi, who received 100 trees of Albizia in 2008 and 2009. The trees have grown with average height 8 meters and with a range in diameter from 25 to 40 cm. Several unique things found at Suhadi’s land, one of them is that he planted roses between his trees, and also another crops like chili, corn, cassava, papaya and wild grass for animal feed. For Boyolali people, planting roses is a common thing as grave flowers and as delicate fumes that are extracted by factories. Many things we explained to Jenny regarding trees planting and the farmers, like how it is difficult to educate farmers how to grow trees effectively, changing their mindset that diameters of the wood matters than the height of the trees.

After the first location, we brought Jenny to the next location owned by farmer Sriyanto that received 700 trees of Albizia in 2014. It is around 100 meters far from Pak Suhadi’s land, got through a bridge from bamboo, 5 meters long and less than 1 meter wide. In this land, we and Jenny found several trees with karafuru, a disease that is not yet found its cure. Even so,  karafuru wont give serious effects if it does not stay in a tree’s main branch, if so, karafuru will disturb the growth and cause death. For around 30 minutes seeing the trees, our trip continued to meet Field Coordinator, Pak Sukardi. He has been a partner with Trees4Trees, helping distribute trees to farmers. We received a warm and friendly welcome as we got to his home where we were offered with nice local food like sweet ‘seurabi’, bacem tofu, lento, tape ketan and sweet hot tea. We chatted for around 15 minuted with Pak Sukardi and his wife before we left to Cepogo to see Lawang Temple, one of hindunesse temple in Java.

On the way from Boyolali to Cepogo we had the chance to see a ‘new’ temple. At least we did not know of its existence but here it was. In Lawang Temple, one main building of the temple is still standing and some stone ruins that remain in position since it was discovered by villagers around. Lawang temple was built approximately in the 9th century, during the time of Ancient Mataram. Until now, Lawang temple maintained by some residents each day by cutting the weeds growing.

The next trip was Merbabu, one of the mountains in Central Java to see if we could find a nice walk for Jenny’s tourists. The journey of Cepogo towards Merbabu were winding uphill, accompanied by a beautiful village atmosphere, cold and foggy. Most of the Merbabu residents are  vegetable farmers growing a range of commodities such as chili peppers, leeks, onions, broccoli, tobacco, cabbage, tomatoes, celery and other agricultural crops.

It was raining when we arrived at the point of climbing, making paths slippery and dangerous enough to climb. We could not try out Merbabu this time, but we found the obvious alternative :  The road up to where the actual climbing starts. Or rather : down from it. It's the only time you can take in the views of the farmland as it is grown , almost vertically.
We hope Jenny got some ideas she could use, our journey had come to the end. A short time traveling with Jenny, from the planting location, a visit to Pak Sukardi house, cultural site and Merbabu, definitely was not enough.

But we hope you enjoyed this journey with us Jenny!

On March 16 2016 Cargill, Semarang Branch as the second planting project of Cargill, planted 1000 Albazia trees. This is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility efforts which means that the company should care not only for the environment but for the local community as well.

Albazia trees were chosen because they are relatively easy to grow, fast growing, and have economical value at the time of harvest. Albazia is also good for capturing water.

Regional Manager of Cargill Indonesia, Mr Sugeng Boniran, says “Since the start of Cargill Indonesia our pledge is to always do good because it is part of our values. We hope we can conserve this area and give something meaningful to the farmers through this activity”.

Sobirin, one of the farmers who received the donated trees, says “We are happy for the trees. Farmers and trees are inseparable; they are our lives. We hope there will be more trees coming for us.”

Ms Yetty, an agricultural officer at the Central Java Provincial office, said “Gondoriyo lies on a hill that is used as a water catchment area. I hope that more trees will be coming to this area in the future and save the water collection of the area.”

Cargill Indonesia, Purwodadi Branch joins Trees4Trees in turning Ketitang village green.

Ketitang is close to Cargill factory buildings and is a rather desolate area. It is hot and uncomfortable all day long and it almost calls for something to be done about it. The mahogany trees were chosen because of their capacity for providing some shade and cool to the area.

On March 15 2016 1000 trees were planted by the villagers and the Cargill team with foresters from Trees4Trees as supervisors. It is the first time Cargill engages in work of a social nature, and they are naturally anxious to make a positive impact. It seems they are successful: Mr. Wage , leader of Ketitang village, says : “This is useful for everybody in the village. Because the planting is not just for today, but will last many years into the future, its impact is long term.”  

Mr Lataebo of the Forestry Department continues: “ It is good that Cargill is involved in this kind of activity which is not easy. Planting is not just planting. It also means taking care of the seedlings and doing maintenance of the trees.”

Spirits were high as 50 local villagers were joined staff from the military and the police from Gedong district, the Ketitang village officials and the Head of the Forestry Department in planting the 1000 trees which everybody hope will be the beginning of turning Ketipang green.