Turning Over a New Leaf: Farmers Going Green in Java

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Turning Over a New Leaf: Farmers Going Green in Java
(Above) Farmers learn to make organic fertilizers during a training session hosted by Trees4Trees. Photo: Doc. Trees4Trees.

“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.  

Trees4Trees Training Raises Awareness of Organic Farming 
(Above) Nuryanto, from Pinggirsari village, who learned how to make organic decomposer microbes during the training provided by Trees4Trees. Photo: Trees4Trees/Kemas Duga Muis.

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. 

Idin Tauhidin learns grafting techniques from Rahmat
(Above) Idin Tauhidin learns grafting techniques from Rahmat, the Trees4Trees trainer; while villagers in Mangunweni village, Kebumen also develop their knowledge (below) . Photo: Doc. Trees4Trees.
Turning Over a New Leaf: Farmers Going Green in Java
while villagers in Mangunweni village, Kebumen also develop their knowledge (below)

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

Growing Together: Training Helps Farmers Go Green

Trees4Trees shows farmers in West Bandung how to make organic fertilizers
(Above) Trees4Trees shows farmers in West Bandung how to make organic fertilizers. Photo: Trees4Trees

Trees4Tress is working to green the world and grow a better future. In these reforestation efforts, farmers have a crucial role to play. Through a series of training activities, we have been working to build farmers’ capacity, empowering them to plant seeds of positive development in their communities. 

From November 4 to the end of January 2022, season, Trees4trees has held farmer training in 193 planting locations throughout West and Central Java. These sessions were attended by a total of more than 4,000 participants. We also employed local people as field facilitators, so they could take the lead in tree planting activities in their home village.

Trees4Trees Training in Numbers: 

  • 193 villages 
  • 40 sub-districts 
  • More than 4,000 participants 
  • 664 field facilitators 
  • 91 field coordinators 
  • 85 government instructors 

Raising Awareness, Developing Skills 

Our aim is to encourage the use of more organic, environmentally friendly methods. Training sessions focused on how to make organic fertilizers, and pesticides, while also showing farmers some handy propagation techniques for seedlings.

“It’s a win-win situation.” – Tedi, Trees4Trees Training Officer

Tedi Purnama is one of Trees4Trees’ training officers. He has noticed most farmers still use chemicals in agriculture. “We want to encourage them to switch to organic techniques,” he explains. “This is not only better for the trees’ growth, but also better for the environment – it’s a win-win situation.” 

Growing Together: Training Helps Farmers Go Green
(Above) mixing organic materials during a training session in Wargamekar village, West Java. Photo: Trees4Trees/Kemas Duga Muis

For many farmers who attended the training, organic farming was something interesting but unfamiliar. Nuryanto, from Pinggirsari village in West Java, was one of many who was happy to find out more information. 

“This training is interesting because the ingredients to make organic fertilizers or pesticides are easy to find and cheap,” said Nuryanto. “We know that chemical fertilizers and pesticides harm the soil – now we finally have a way to reduce our dependency on these materials,” he added.  

Read also: Encouraging Organic Farming Trough a Training 

Showing the Way: Field Coordinators and Facilitators 

Leading these sessions were Trees4Trees’ team of field coordinators and field facilitators; local recruits, trained in organic farming techniques by one of our more experienced training officers.  

“Field facilitators are closest to the farmers and local communities,” explains Tedi, who has been helping this team deliver the training in their communities. “They are also the first people farmers can go to and ask about how to implement organic farming properly. So it’s important for them to know everything,” he added.  

mixing organic materials during a training session in Wargamekar village, West Java
(Above) mixing organic materials during a training session in Wargamekar village, West Java. Photo: Trees4Trees/V. Arnila Wulandani

Rizki Imanuddin is a field coordinator from Pinggirsari village in the Cirasea district of West Bandung. He found the training to be a really positive experience. “Seeing the farmers so enthusiastic about organic farming makes me excited too,” he revealed. In his village, fruit production optimization was the most popular topic, as many local people were looking for ways to sustainably increase their fruit yields.  

Read also: Putting Down the Roots: Trees4Trees Planting Season 2022

Growing Together: Training Helps Farmers Go Green
(Above) Rahmat, a field coordinator from Banjaran Wetan village, shows farmers how to apply a grafting technique. Photo: Trees4Trees/Kemas Duga Muis

In Cisangkuy District, farmers were eager to join the training session about propagation of seedlings and grafting techniques. As the field coordinator, Rahmat noted that “during the training, farmers practiced the techniques seriously – they are eager to begin applying this knowledge in their own fields.”  

“Seeing the farmers so enthusiastic about organic farming makes me excited too.”– Rizki Imanuddin, a field coordinator from Pinggirsari Village

Collaboration is Key to Success Growing Together 

In addition to the generous support received from AstraZeneca and One Tree Planted in the planting area around the Citarum watershed, Trees4Trees is also working together with government instructors from Indonesia’s Agricultural Extension Agency (Badan Penyuluh Pertanian/BPP). 

So far, as part of our current planting season, more than 85 instructors from the government agency have gotten involved in farmer training in 32 sub-districts where our planting areas are located. 

Roni Nur Rohman is one of the instructors who attended the recent training. He believes BPP and Trees4Trees share the same mission: to support reforestation efforts and empower farmers to develop more sustainable livelihoods.

“We hope this training can improve farmers’ knowledge about tree planting and organic farming,” says Roni. “With collaboration, and from cultivation to harvesting, the planting process will bring great benefits to farmers and the environment.”  

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

Encouraging Organic Farming Through Training of the Trainer 

Encouraging Organic Farming Through Training of the Trainer_1
Encouraging Organic Farming Through Training of the Trainer_1
Training participants learnt organic farming materials during the training session. Photo: Trees4Trees/Yulianisa Dessenita

Encouraging the planting season begins, Trees4Trees holds a Training of the Trainer (TOT). It is part of a series of tree planting programs. This year, Trees4Trees held the training from October 10 to 26, 2022 in all sites. The training itself aims to provide field coordinators with practical knowledge related to tree-planting. 

Through the training session, Trees4Trees’ training team train all field coordinators to mastering various materials related to organic farming. They are including planting patterns, fertilization, and planting techniques. After the training is completed, field coordinators then will transfer the knowledge to the farmers who are involved in the planting program with Trees4Trees. The training for farmers is conducted during the planting socialization stage, just after Trees4Trees distributes tree seedlings to farmers. 

Tailored to the needs of farmers 

The field coordinator will deliver the materials  to farmers in each village. They will provide material through training according to the materials requested by the farmers. 

“When it comes to the initial stage of the program, field coordinators have asked the farmers about what kind of training they would like to get. Once we know what kind of training they want to improve, we structure the training materials into tutorials. So, the training we provide basically will be tailored to the needs of farmers,” said Tedi Purnama, Trees4Trees Training Officer who was also a trainer of TOT training. 

Encouraging Organic Farming Through Training of the Trainer_3_IMG_5850

Tomi Bustomi, Trees4Trees West Java Regional Manager also said that one of the advantages of the Trees4Trees’ tree planting program is that it involves local farmers in planting trees and always considers the needs of farmers. 

“We always listen to the needs of the farmers. Not only for trees we distribute, but also training we provide. Our programs always tailor to the needs of farmers. Therefore, what we provide will bring real benefits to them,” Tomi added.

Encouraging using organic waste and other organic materials that are easy to find 

This year Trees4Trees delivers seven training materials through TOT. One of them is mandatory material. It is a timber and multipurpose tree species planting pattern. The other materials include how to make organic liquid fertilizers, organic congested fertilizers, organic pesticides, seedlings propagation techniques, and fruit cultivation techniques. Trees4Trees dedicates the training in fruit cultivation to farmers who are willing to increase their fruit production on a business scale.  

According to Tedi, before he delivers the material to the trainee, all materials have been tested first. “We made the simulation first to know the efficiency. Including the ingredients and cost estimation. We make sure that the ingredients and materials we use as references are the easiest, cheapest, and most efficient materials. We designed it in such a way that farmers can easily produce by themselves,” said Tedi. 

Encouraging Organic Farming Through Training of the Trainer_4_IMG_0156

For example, to make organic fertilizers, field coordinators were trained to use organic waste and other organic materials that are cheap and easy to find, such as eggs, expired milk, rotten fruits, moss, and animal dung.   

Encourage farmers to do organic farming 

Through this training, it is expected that field coordinators are able to understand all training materials. Afterwards they can deliver the training materials to farmers as well as reinforce and encouraging them to do organic farming. 

“The purpose of TOT is to provide another perspective on cultivation patterns to farmers in 180 villages in Central Java and West Java as our partners. In West Java especially, most farmers still use chemicals in agriculture. Trees4Trees wants to encouraging all farmers to cultivate plants with organic farming techniques that are environmentally friendly. And the field coordinator will be the first who provides information and answers when farmers ask questions about how to implement an organic farming,” said Tedi. 

Writer: V. Arnila Wulandani

Trees4Trees Collaborates with BRIN to Strengthen Program Effectiveness

Trees4Trees collaborates with BRIN to strengthen reforestation program effectiveness_1

Trees4Trees collaborates with BRIN to strengthen reforestation program effectiveness_1

Trees4Trees Collaborates and the National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia (BRIN) are establishing a collaboration to accelerate the development of Trees4Trees programs related to research, education, and community service. The project will reinforce all Trees4Trees programs and will be rolled out in the Citarum watershed reforestation program funded by AstraZeneca Forests and One Tree Planted.  

Through the guidance and training from professional forestry experts and researchers of BRIN, it is hoped that Trees4Trees programs can create a greater impact in the local communities and environment and also contribute real world research results of BRIN’s innovation goals. 

Trees4Trees collaborates with BRIN to strengthen reforestation program effectiveness_2

Trees4Trees Collaborates is in its Early Stage 

Currently, the collaboration is in its early stages. It started by holding a training session conducted by BRIN last month. A four-day training was held at Trees4Trees Arjasari, Bandung Regency, and attended by Trees4Trees technical officers, and Field Coordinators.  

As part of the event, the BRIN team visited T4T tree-planting sites at local farmers’ fields to review and evaluate the agroforestry and conservation cropping patterns that had been applied. The team also recorded data on tree growth and pests found on the young trees. In addition to the discovery event, the team also visited impact measurement locations and seedling nurseries.  

Trees4Trees collaborates with BRIN to strengthen reforestation program effectiveness_3

Advancing Trees4Trees program development 

The project is expected to advance the success of eight aspects of the Trees4Trees’ program development; agroforestry demonstration plots, conservation demonstration plots, pest control, organic fertilizer and pesticide production, environmental impacts, social impacts, nursery and seedlings production training, and development of mangrove rehabilitation. 

“Currently, Trees4Trees is running a program for rehabilitation of critical areas working with local communities around Citarum watershed. To strengthen this program, Trees4Trees initiated research collaboration with BRIN which is the most relevant institution that can support this program development. In the early stages of the collaboration, starting with agroforestry plot research and research on social and ecological impacts, it is expected that the collaboration can provide great benefits,” Anto Wartono, Forestry Planning Manager of Trees4Trees commented.  

Author: V. Arnila Wulandani. Photos: Kemas Duga Muis