Fortified rice and nutritional patterns for Indonesia

The Food and Nutrition Society (PERGIZI PANGAN) Indonesia in collaboration with Better Rice Initiative Asia (BRIA) Nutrition Component Indonesia and GIZ conducted a study on fortified rice production and a clinical impact study to gain evidence on the effectiveness of fortified rice for school children in order to reduce micronutrient malnutrition in Indonesia. BRIA is a sister project of ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems.

The general objective of this study is to gain evidence on the efficacy of fortified rice for female boarding school teenager students on improving nutritional status.

Evidence showed that consuming micronutrient fortified rice – 150g per meal, three meals a day for a period of fifteen weeks – increased haemoglobin level, ferritin level (3,31 ± 1,67 ng/mL) and folic acid level (1,62 ± 0,45 ng/mL) of teenage girls.

Indonesia is one of 17 countries with concerning nutrition problems (Global Nutrition Report by IFPRI). BRIA has stimulated the interest of the private sector to join the fortified rice business since the technology and production process have been tested and proven domestically. A number of small and big companies have become interested in producing premix kernels and fortified rice.

Rice plays an important role in Indonesians diet. About 97.7% of Indonesians consume rice every day (MOH 2015). The Indonesian population still consumes less than 50% of the amounts of vitamins and minerals required especially iron, calcium, vitamin B1, B2, B3, and B9 (Hardinsyah et al. 2012).

Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) is a serious health issue that compromises the cognitive development of young children and increases the risk for maternal death at birth. According to Riskesdas 2013 (Indonesian Basic Health Research) of Ministry of Health, 37.1 % of pregnant woman, 28.1% of children under-five years and 26.4% of school children are anaemic. There is not much change in the prevalence of anaemia among children under-five and school children.

According to this study, it was also found that the participants in the urban area were interested in purchasing the fortified rice, however, under the following conditions: affordable pricing, good taste, fluffy and tender (pulen), and if there is no chemical smell.

The urban participants agreed that fortified rice is needed by each and every member of their family as a daily consumption at all times. However, this opinion will not translate into practice if they cannot afford the price. Some of them mentioned that the same condition applies to brown rice. Some of them are supposed to eat brown rice because they have diabetes. But they do not regularly buy brown rice because of the higher price compared to regular rice.

To most participants in the urban area, eating more nutritious rice for healthier lifestyle is not something they would aspire to. This may be caused by the relatively higher cost of living in the urban, compared to the rural areas. Also, the participants have limited understanding of the importance of micronutrients in the fortified rice. Thus, their preference towards fortified rice depends more on the price, texture, and taste of the rice, rather than the health benefits offered.

Read more about the study and its findings Click here

17/11/201610/07/2017

Agribusiness model: ‘No green agriculture, no agro-eco tourism’

Over 15 years since it has started, Taman Simalem Resort in Karo Highlands, Indonesia well combines business, agriculture and tourism and becomes a model to many. Eddy Tanoto Sukardi, its Director shares a good mix of success recipes.

‘Simalem’ in Batak Karo language means cool and pleasing.

Bringing up eco-agro tourism

“Taman Simalem Resort (TSR) started an infrastructure project in year 2001-2002. The vision is to provide eco-agro tourism aspect and to visualize the North Sumatra’s tourism industry especially the Lake Toba. [TSR is located on the hills of north-western part of Toba Lake, which is one of the highest and deepest crater lakes in the world.] The project is sub-financed by the group of [private] investors.

“We started this project with 60 hectares of a bear land with no trees in the first year. In a year later, we acquired another 140 hectares which comprise with forests. The reason why we acquire land with forests is to try to stop the villagers from cutting trees for logging. We also rely on water supply from this forest and it supplies water to the whole project.”

Getting out of a comfort zone

“In 2003, we built orange farm followed by loquat farm. Around 2005, we started planting coffee and tea. At that time, we still did not do organic farming yet. We still did it in the conventional way, still using chemical. We started converting to organic in 2011. About five years ago, we started working with the farmers and that was when GIZ came in. Initially, the team first brought the trainers and persuaded us to convert into organic. They found us a consultant, technology and everything. They supplied us, motivated us and showed us success story from elsewhere. It is GIZ’s sustainable initiative project. [GIZ is an implementing agency on behalf of German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.]

Taman Simalem Resort is located on the hills (1,500 above the sea level) of north-western part of Lake Toba, one of the highest and deepest crater lakes in the world, in Indonesia. It is located 45 minutes away from the resort town of Brastagi and can also be reached in 2.5 hours by road from Medan, the provincial capital of North Sumatra. The 206 hectare resort is arguably Indonesia’s first tourist destination that integrates agro-and-eco tourism activities within the same compound.

“Simalem in Batak Karo language means cool and pleasing”

“Also, from 2005 to 2011 we saw that the use of chemical had increased, but the productivity had not risen. At the same time, we met a group of farmers nearby who grew tomatoes and potatoes who came to us for help in 2007. They told us about their problems that the use of chemical had increased 10 per cent but their productivity had in fact decreased by 15 per cent. Other than that, they also suffered a lot from insects that pierced into their tomato plantation [due to the pesticide resistant] from the chemical spray. After that, we met the GIZ officer, Mr. Sulaiman. [Sulaiman Ginting is Regional Project Coordinator of ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems based in Medan, Indonesia.]

“It took us four years from 2007 to 2011 to take courage to convert [from the conventional farming practice to organic]. We, initially, did not believe it. We were also very scared. We were worried about our young coffee plantation, our tea plantation and our orange farm. But, our motivation to move into organic is really on the production aspect and also the soil fertility.

“We actually investigated our soil and the result showed that the level of chemical residue had increased. CN ratio [Carbon-to-Nitrogen Ratio] was not that good. The Carbon was increasing very fast so that in 2011 we decided to convert into organic with the encouragement from GIZ team who also wanted to help us to get certified [organic] after one year.

Growing trust

“GIZ help us work with the farmers. And, we have implemented the initiative until today. We still go with farmers—we still supply them with seeds, fertilizer, organic fertilizer, liquid fertilizer, organic pesticide until we buy their products at higher prices than the market rate. This is how we convince the farmers to join us. From five types of crops we have increased our yield up to 55 crops. And thanks to the technical support of GIZ, all our commodities are certified organic. The main organic products are avocado and coffee. The rest are vegetables and fruits. The compost that we use is made of cow dungs. The cows are checked by inspectors. [The process has to be] all organic to make sure that we do not feed chemical to the cows. The cows actually eat only grass.

“We have about 50 contract farming farmers. The most active ones are about 30. The rest depends on the season. These are very new to the farmers that we train them with all kind of vegetables [growing]. We harvest vegetables three times a week, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday about 800 kg to 1,000 kg of 35 varieties of vegetables, about 3,000-4,200 kg per week. Some certain crops are difficult to be organic. They depend on the seasons.

“[In the future] It is to have more vegetable crops like sweet potatoes, red beans, and something that will last longer in the supermarket, maybe, also increase plantation crops like coffee or asparagus since it grows well in the weather here. These are easier crops to be organic.

“The agro-facilities were built in 2005. The agro-center, the greenhouses were started to build in 2012. So, all of these projects, the hotel, the agriculture are sub-financed by the investors because we are looking forwards to the long term and we do not really want to get bankrupt. We are motivated by profit and we know that in agriculture it takes time to be profitable. It may take more than 10 years, more than 50 years to be profitable.”

Investing in the young: Part I

“We have an initiative to work with the students. We try to educate the local farmers’ kids. We sponsor them, about 60 students for every four months. So, one year we sponsor more than 120 students.

“Initially, about three years ago before the government started the initiative education programme that school fees were free, we subsidised their school fees. But, since now the government pays for the school fees that it is free for the education, we change to supporting pocket money for them. And, every week we have to observe them. I spend one hour myself talking with them. The fruits of this after we are doing it for three and a half years since 2012. We start to reap some benefits. One day, they will go back and learn to use more compost. Some try to do organic farming in their own farm.

“It is difficult to change the people’s mindset. The only way to change their mindset is from the young. When I came back from Singapore in 2005, we tried to approach the farmers. We tried to talk to the farmers that they supposed to plant this way, but they still refused to change. They said that they had been planting this since my grandfather, my grandmother time and they were enjoying it. Even we told them that they could increase their productivity two times, they still refused.

Investing in the young: Part II

“We have to start with the young generation. There are school kids that have graduated from the school and come to work with us before they further their studies. We always encourage them to further their study and become a leader. To have enough funds to further their studies they can work with us for one year and after that they continue their studies. What we want from these school children is that they can educate the others like we educate them and become leader of farmers’ groups.

“[At TSR] On the supervisor’s level, they are all university graduates. On the lower level, we use a lot of school students. After they graduate, they want to have work experience for one year and we encourage them to go to school instead of being labors. Since they are graduated, they should go to the university. This is how we ensure the quality of workforce as well. So, we make sure that after graduation, they will come and work with us for one year before they continue their study.

Organic: Losing or winning?

“In 2013, we received a local Indonesian organic standard. Organic leafy vegetables although do not last very long, they do not have a bitter-after-taste compared to the one with chemical spray. Because those use a lot of Urea and that causes a bitter taste especially the spinach. Second is the carrot. Our organic carrots are sweeter compared to those with chemical spray. The guests are aware on that.

“The demand for organic products has increased. In terms of the supply chain, we also supply our organic products to the supermarket every three months as well. I have my people over there standing inside the stores to tell the consumers the benefits of organic and give them flyers [every three months].

“That is also the cause of the increasing demand. We can see that the supermarkets are ordering more from us. There comes a lot of motivation although we are still at loss. We still cannot educate people from the supermarkets yet. They still want to see something very nice. But at least, we manage to educate the consumers that if you see holes in the vegetable, it means they are very pure organic. The insects are not running away from the vegetables [because of the chemical]. We overspend about 5 years since we go organic. But, our loss is cut about 25,000 USD to 15,000 USD. So, that motivates us to continue with this programme.

“The loss is subsidized by the rooms and the meals. So, the tourists subsidize the agriculture. But, if there is no agriculture, there is no tourism. They are related. If you only start a hotel with no agriculture, people will be bored. They are not going to see the scenery for three hours. So, we have to start these agro-activities. At least, take a look around the greenhouse and then appreciate the food better. You know that the vegetables are from the farm. We just want to show this feeling to the guests.

“We show most of our guests that visit us the organic farming and provide them activities that relate to organic farming. One is the coffee processing, tea processing and agro-tour. There is also agro-trekking as well. From 6 am they can trek around our agro-farm and then we also tell them our farm-to-kitchen concept. They can harvest the vegetable in organic farm. They can eat the vegetable they harvest themselves to be served on their plate.

“In term of benefits, because we are certified organic, our food gets more appreciation than before that we sprayed chemical. In term of indirect result, we get impressive feedback and that motivates others to come and see and enjoy the food as well as Lake Toba.

“One thing is that there should be a concern or awareness in this kind of eco-tourism industry. We should not serve bad breakfast or other bad meals to the guests. There should be a revolution that tourism must have education activities. The guests spend more time doing activities. So, we provide eco-activities for them like the jungle trekking, mountain bike and dinner at bonfire. We also have a handicraft center, a shopping mall with local culture.

Strong and healthy from the within

“We sell our organic vegetables to five big supermarkets in Medan. Almost every supermarket in Medan orders from us. Currently, even lower income supermarkets start thinking of us. So, the awareness of organic products is being raised. We export our organic products to another two provinces, Batang and Riau. We tried to export to Singapore but the transport cost is too huge.

“One of our visions is that we plant something healthy and we should promote it to the people nearby first. That means we should encourage people in Medan, our own place, to eat organic vegetable before we spread them to Singapore, Malaysia, or any other countries. We have to make our own people healthier first.

“We are the biggest certified organic veggie producer in Medan, in North Sumatra. There are a lot of vegetable producers that claim that they are organic but they are not certified. We are the only one organic producer in the Sumatra. We claim we are, because actually in other provinces, they are looking for the organic producers and they only call us. But, because of the low production, we cannot supply them. We send them about 100 kg per time, which is not much.

“One of the things we are doing is trying to develop our own website so that people in Medan or in nearby regions can send order to us through the website. So, this is one of the initiatives that we want to start maybe this year or early next year.

“We have a plan [in an oversea market]. We are looking for the serious customers. I mean a joint partnership. They are also willing to invest and want us to supply seeds. They are willing to make contract with us. That is a kind of partner that we want because we are worried that if we make contract with the farmers, after that, they just cut off the supply. It will not be able to be accountable to the farmers.”

Taman Simalem Resort, the Islamic University of North Sumatra, and the German supported ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (ASEAN SAS) worked jointly together in a project ‘Empowerment of Farmer’s Communities for Sustainable Eco-friendly Practices on Growing Horticultural Crops in the North Sumatra’ from 2013-2015. The objective was to promote sustainable production of horticultural in the Karo Highlands.

The interview was conducted during the ‘In-house Workshop on Market Linkages’ organised by Better Rice Initiative Asia (BRIA) Regional Secretariat at Taman Simalem Resort in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The Workshop was attended by 30 participants from BRIA, ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (ASEAN SAS) and private sector during 30 August to 2 September 2016. The objective was to exchange experiences and discuss lessons learnt to better develop the market linkage strategies. BRIA is a sister project of ASEAN SAS.

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By Giri Arnawa, Napaporn Rattanametta, Thitirat Uraisin and Rojana Manowalailao, ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems and Kamol Taukitphaisarn, Better Rice Initiative Asia

17/08/201607/08/2017

Channelling climate information services to rice farmers in Indonesia

By: Shinta Purnama Sarie

Climate change challenges among rice farmers in Indonesia

Rice has been feeding the Southeast Asian region’s population for well over 4,000 years. In Indonesia alone, it is the staple food of its 557 million inhabitants. The country is endowed with a tropical climate which provides ideal conditions for rice cultivation. Despite the steady increase in rice production and productivity, the likewise increase in extreme weather events and other climate change-related threats make rice cultivation increasingly risky for the 37.75 million smallholder rice farmers in Indonesia. According to the survey to 251 farmers in Indonesia, sixty nine percent (69%) farmers agree that the main challenge in cultivating rice is pests and diseases, followed by extreme and unpredictable weather, thirty one percent (31%). According to various published studies, climate change also participates in spreading or changing the life cycle of pest and diseases. 1

Therefore, climate information and related agronomic advisory services are needed as an approach to support rice farmers in making the best management decisions on their farms and increase their adaptive capacities to climate change.

How farmers make farming decisions to address climate change

As early as 3000 BCE, rice has already been being cultivated. In Indonesia, the seedling calendar based on weather information is the main consideration before planting due to the country’s dependence on rainfall. With regard to their use of the seedling calendar, 56% of farmers said that it has been recommended by their farmer friend; 21% farmers said that it’s through government intervention; and 10% said they base it on current weather forecast. After the planting time is set, farmers begin to cultivate with several steps to follow, starting from choosing seed varieties and quality, land preparation, seedling.

To grow rice, farmers have to know when to grow it by selecting the seed varieties and quality that will suit their condition. According to the survey, forty two percent (42%) farmers select their seeds based on the information that their older generation passed; while thirty four percent (34%) select their seeds based on their farmer friend’s recommendation.
After the seed is selected, farmers prepare the land, which involves plowing and harrowing to ‘till’ or dig-up, mix and level the soil. There are two choices on how farmers plant once the land is well prepared – transplanting and direct seedling.3 Eighty one percent (81%) of farmers plant the rice by transplanting while the remaining nineteen percent (19%) plant by direct seedling.

Figure 1. Water system in rice farming

Beyond rice harvest, farmers need to pay attention to pests and diseases and water shortage in their field. Fifty five percent (55%) of farmers have access to the local irrigation system; while thirty one percent (31%) fully depend on rainfall for irrigating their farms. This conveys that most of the farmers who participated in the survey are smallholder rice farmers that have well-developed irrigation. There is no denying that farmers who depend on rainfall are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

The role of rice as a main food staple has now extended to issues concerning food security, society, and economy in Indonesia due to the effects of climate change. Only seventeen point five percent (17,5%) farmers plant alternative crops, mainly tomatoes and corn. Alternative plants will give substitutive income when weather is unreliable or even additional income to farmers. The need of a new technique in rice cultivation related to dealing with such is emerging. However, some farmers still have not embraced this change and continuously rely on traditional practices. While some of these are still useful, farmers need new and up-to-date information in making farming decisions as the problem now is getting more complex with climate change

Recommendations in channeling climate information to rice farmers

Since awareness to climate change is present, channeling climate information to farmers on how to cultivate rice while at the same time adapting to climate change has been less difficult. The survey reveals that farmers are aware of the importance of climate or weather information but are having difficulties accessing it. Moreover, fifty eight percent (58%) of the farmers believe weather information is important; fifty three (53%) of farmers do not have the access; sixty nine percent (69%) farmers do not have access to knowledge in dealing with extreme weather or climate change; and ninety eight percent (98%) agree that the knowledge on how to deal with it is important.

Table 1 shows existing modes of communication in disseminating climate information such as weather forecast as well as agriculture knowledge on how to adapt to climate change. In terms of weather forecast, most farmers twenty eight percent (28%) easily get access such information both from Indonesian Agency for Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysics (BMKG) and TV; followed by through farmer friends, twenty seven percent (27%). When it comes obtaining information related to extreme weather events, twenty eight percent (28%) majority of farmers trust extension agents. As previously mentioned, knowledge from farmers friend is the main consideration of thirty four percent (34%) of farmers in making farming decisions. For adapting new agriculture knowledge, farmers also trust information from farmer friend. From this background, the survey suggests maximizing the role of farmer-to-farmer extension in circulating climate information and knowledge to influence farming decision, particularly in tackling climate change.

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The survey was taken by BASF and ASEAN-German Programme on Response to Climate Change in Agriculture and Forestry (GAP-CC). GAP-CC is comprised of two projects designed to improve the framework conditions for sustainable agriculture and forestry in ASEAN Member States: FOR-CC project that promoting increased resilience to climate change in ASEAN Member States through the dissemination of climate smart agriculture practices and the ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems project (ASEAN SAS), through the Better Rice Initiative Asia (BRIA) that developing and disseminating best practices in rice production to improve farmer’s incomes and nutrition while reducing externalities on the environment. Total of farmers who participate is 251 farmers. 61% farmers participating in the survey are from Java islands, which is the main rice growing region of the country. The majority of them is male farmers aged between 31—50 years old. 50% farmers have a piece of rice field as much as 0.1—1 hectares. 57% farmers are able to yield as much as 7—10 ton/hectares.

1 D. O. Manzanilla, T. R. Paris, G. V. Vergara, A. M. Ismail, S. Pandey, R. V. Labios, G. T. Tatlonghari, R. D. Acda and T. T. N. Chi, “Submergence Risks and Farmers’ Preferences: Implications for Breeding Sub1 Rice in Southeast Asia,” Agricultural Systems, Vol. 104, 2011, pp. 335- 347. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2010.12.005

16/06/201610/07/2017

Increasing the use of climate information services to manage climate related risks in rice farming

The ASEAN Forestry and Climate Change Project (FOR-CC) joined hands with the ‘Better Rice Initiative Asia’ (BRIA) to organize a training of trainers on ‘Using Climate Information for Decision Making in Rice Farming’. The event was held in Grand Serela Hotel, Medan on May 5—7, 2016 and aims to develop an effective approach to support farmers in making better informed decisions about their crop and management options. To do so, a training module to improve farmers’ access to climate information as well as capacities to use this information and develop response strategies will be developed based on the training.

The training was attended by BRIA champion farmers, BRIA’s field facilitators, education institutions (University of North Sumatera (USU), Islam University of North Sumatera (UISU), College for Agriculture Extension (STPP) Medan), Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technology(BPTP) North Sumatera, Food Crops and Horticulture Plant Protection Service (BPTPH) North Sumatera. They are expected to use the learning and integrate it into their services provided to farmers and related organizations. Lectures were provided by key experts on the topic in Indonesia like the Indonesian Agroclimate and Hydrology Research Institute (IAHRI), the Indonesian Center for Rice Research (ICRR), the Center for Pest Forecasting (BBPOPT), the Indonesian Agency for Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysics (BMKG), University of Indonesia and the Indramayu Rainfall Observers Club. They covered topics ranging from the basic concepts of climatology and climate change to the Integrated Cropping Calendar of the IAHRI, new and improved rice varieties as well as the relationship between climatic factors and pest control.

The training was complemented by a field trip to Suka Makmur village, Binjai, Langkat, North Sumatera to observe a BMKG rainfall monitoring station and discuss the possible uses of climate information. On this occasion, Rhino Ariefiansyah an anthropologist from the University of Indonesia, together with one ofIndramayu Rainfall Observers Club member, Nurkillah demonstrated how the club collects rainfall and agro-ecological information and utilized to improve farm management decisions.

“I feel lucky to be able to join the training. It gave me an insight how actually we can use climate information to be well prepared of climate change. Nurkillah inspired me a lot on how to manage rice field. I am also happy that I have new friends to discuss about my rice fields and new knowledge. I just learnt that we actually have many types of rice varieties,” told Suhaimin, a farmer in Langkat, Medan, North Sumatera.

In the future, BRIA will keep updating its training modules by taking climate issues into account for extension activity. Furthermore, BRIA plans to integrate the CFT for rice within its database as well as to seek a cooperation with BMKG Sumatera Utara in term of addressing climate information services.

ASEAN-German Programme on Response to Climate Change in Agriculture and Forestry (GAP-CC) is comprised of two projects designed to improve the framework conditions for sustainable agriculture and forestry in ASEAN Member States: FOR-CC project that promoting increased resilience to climate change in ASEAN Member States through the dissemination of climate smart agriculture practices and the Sustainable Agrifoods System project (SAS), through the Better Rice Initiative Asia (BRIA) that developing and disseminating best practices in rice production to improve farmer’s incomes and nutrition while reducing externalities on the environment.

Article contributed by ASEAN Forestry and Climate Change (FOR-CC)/ Photos by Theopilus Sitepu

11/04/201610/07/2017

Public-private partnership cooperation boosts biocontrol market in ASEAN

When Cambodian biocontrol supply agent met Indonesian biocontrol producers and suppliers, cash will flow, and Cambodian farmers will earn benefits from the use of Indonesian made biocontrol products.

Eco-Agri Centre representatives visits the HETTS Biolestari which produces biological rodent control.

A recent trip of Eco-Agri Centre (EAC) representatives from Cambodia to Indonesia promised a bright future of biocontrol market between the two countries. The EAC representatives spent a half day with delegates from Indonesia Bio-Agro Input Association (ABI) in Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia on 22 March 2016 at a know-how workshop on “Cambodia-Indonesia Market Initiation for Bio Agro Input Products” to discuss possibilities for further collaboration to promote sustainable agriculture practice through biocontrol products as a solution for long-term food security.

Biological control input suppliers from Cambodia are having discussion with biocontrol input producers from Indonesia to seek future collaboration to support sustainable agriculture practice.

Vice Director of EAC Cambodia, Ms. Mao Canady, said: “The Eco-Agri Centre (EAC) is looking to build a network of bio-agro input producers and suppliers in Indonesia, and strengthen the value chain needed to provide and promote such products in Cambodia. The EAC will go a step further to sell the chemical-free pesticides to farmers to support the growing trend of organic products and farming techniques.”

Opened in March 2016 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the EAC is a joint initiative of GIZ Cambodia through ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (ASEAN SAS) project, and the Khmer Organic Cooperative. The centre provides complete services to link organic farmers to markets by training farmers on organic farming at no cost, making chemical-free products available for sales, and creating market channels for the healthy products.

Mr. Elianor Sembiring from Bio-Agro Input Association, Indonesia (left) and Ms. Mao Canady, Vice Director of Eco-Agro Centre, Cambodia (right)

The half day bio-agro input market initiation workshop was participated by bio-input producers and suppliers who are members of ABI Indonesia, and two Malaysia’s bio-input producers who produce Electronic Fertilizer and Slow Release Fertilizer Product. ABI was established in 2008 with support from a Commercialization of Biopesticides in Southeast Asia project in promoting biocontrol products for crop protection. ABI provides assistance to small-and-medium-size bio fertilizer and bio pesticide producers and suppliers on registration and legal consultation and promotes the use of bio-agro input products to farmers. To date there are 51 registered bio-agro input products from 18 companies under ABI.

The workshop tied a good cooperation between the two parties in jointly promoting cross-border value chains of bio-agro input products.

On behalf of ABI Indonesia’s members, Secretary General of ABI, Mr. Elianor Sembiring expressed his gratitude to the EAC delegates upon the visit and a business opportunity and cooperation in the future in the field of biological farming input products.

Chief Operation Officer of PT. Indo Acidatama Tbk, Mr. Hartanto who expressed his willingness to invest and expanding his factory in Central Java to produce bio-organic fertilizers in Cambodia said: “I hope this mutual partnership initiation will provide relevant benefits and develop the economies of both countries between Indonesia and Cambodia in particular, and in ASEAN countries in terms of keeping in view the environment aspect.”

A visit to the biocontrol producer in Medan, Agro Tani Marisi that produces granule and liquid organic fertilizer

After the half-day workshop, the EAC representatives visited a bio-fertilizer factory of PT. Agro Tani Marisi in Medan that produces granule and liquid organic fertilizer. Owner, Mr.Tulus Sitorus introduced a chain process of production including sourcing of raw material from coffee waste, sugarcane waste, manure of cows, and magnesium from mining. The EAC representatives expressed interests for the future cooperation and offered to supply these biocontrol products to Cambodia.

“I will provide a good quality product with competitive price, as well as samples of product to be tested and demonstrated to organic vegetable farmers in Cambodia.” said Mr. Sitorus.

The EAC representatives also visited PT HETTS Biolestari which produces biological rodent control. The product is rat bait that contains living stages of the single celled parasites Sarcocystis singaporensis. Naturally, the parasite lives in certain snakes and rodents and is harmless for its hosts.

The “Cambodia-Indonesia Market Initiation for Bio Agro Input Products” trip was facilitated and supported by GIZ’s ASEAN SAS Indonesia and Cambodia.

“It was a great experience indeed what we have gained from the trip to Indonesia for the market initiation on bio-agro input products with members of ABI Indonesia,” said Ms. Canady from the EAC.

By Giri Arnawa, ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems Indonesia

05/11/201508/08/2017

Farmers greet Indonesia’s DG for food crops with pest discussion

When Indonesian Agriculture Ministry’s Director General for Food Crops visits a Farmer Field School in North Sumatra’s Nagur Village, Indonesia, farmers are discussing about pest and diseases they regularly spot in their rice fields among their farmer classmates. The class is part of the Better Rice Initiative Asia (BRIA), a cooperation of public private partnership and a sister project of German ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (ASEAN SAS).

Dr. Hasil Sembiring, Director General for Food Crops (right) and Mr. Isnaini, BRIA Deputy Manager for Agriculture Component (left) at the Farmer Field School in Nagur Village, North Sumatra.

“Coming to learn about the BRIA activities today is very important for both the Indonesian government and farmers,” said Dr. Hasil Sembiring at the Farmer Field School in Sedang Bedagai District. “The government encourages farmers to adopt innovative agriculture technology to increase productivity to fulfil food security for our population and the BRIA training helps us to be able to achieve the goal.”

Dr. Sembiring’s visit to the Farmer Field School is part of the monitoring activities from Indonesian government to BRIA activities as part of MOU signed between Ministry of Agriculture and GIZ Indonesia.

There are 15 Farmer Field Schools in North Sumatra and East Java under BRIA currently. Participated leader farmers exchange their traditional farming practices and experiences with BRIA Field Facilitators and in the mean time learn about innovative and environmentally friendly agriculture technology for better and higher yields to increase their profits for a long term solution for food security. The 14-topic module consists of, for instance, land preparation, seed technology, soil and nutrient management, pest management, post harvest, farmers organization strengthening as well as market access.

Farmers draw pictures of pest and diseases that they spot in their rice paddies and present to their classmates.

Each school consists of 25 farmers including female farmers, young generation farmers and community leaders. They meet approximately once a week for half a day learning one topic each time. For example, in the topic of pest and disease control and management, the day of Dr. Sembiring’s visit, farmers are assigned to work in groups to identify pests and diseases they regularly spots in the rice fields and draw pictures and make presentation to their classmates. The class discusses about the causes and symptoms and how to effectively treat them with safety.

The participated farmers do not receive any financial supports or any incentives to attend BRIA’s Farmer Field School, but the attendance rate is up to 80 to 90 per cent.

Abdul Aziz Hasibuan, 34-year-old farmer at Nagur Village says he wants to learn about the best farming practices in this BRIA School. “I want to increase the productivity in the rice field. But I don’t have knowledge and skill. So I am interested although there is no cash incentive.”

Another farmer participant, Sugiati, 42, adds: “Knowledge is an incentive. When you have knowledge to increase productivity, cash will come later.”

Dr. Sembiring visited the BRIA Farmer Field School in Nagur Village, North Sumatra on 14 June 2015.

Story and photos by Rojana Manowalailao, ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems

Field Facilitator tells about pest and diseases to her student farmers at the Farmer Field School.

13/10/201508/08/2017

Winding road trip with the Indonesian Director-General for Food Crops

Left and right and right and left… Traveling from Kabanjahe to Perbulan Village of Karo Regency of Indonesia requires a lot of concentration and attention. While many several curves in this long and winding road can be exhausting and tiring but for the Indonesian Agriculture Ministry’s Director-General for Food Crops, Dr. Hasil Sembiring, this three-hour trip is tiny.

Mr. Sulaiman Ginting, a Regional Project Coordinator of ASEAN SAS, travels with Dr. Hasil Sembiring to meet farmers at Perbulan Village in the North Sumatra.

About a hundred of farmers are waiting for his arrival at the village. This is the first visit of the Indonesian Agriculture Ministry’s Director-General for Food Crops to this rice and maize production area.

“I am very happy that the Director-General for Food Crops comes to our village,” says one of the farmers. “Our village is not a core area, neither in terms of political nor economic influence, but he makes it here today.”

District of Karo’s local government invites Mr. Sembiring to the village to meet the farmers and learn about their challenges and difficulties and he agrees. He says Karo is his hometown.

Here at the village, challenges and difficulties include poor irrigation system, flooding, minimal use of land for its optimal output, and low quality of rice seed for planting.

Farmers at Perbulan Village of Karo Regency comes to meet and greet Dr. Hasil Sembiring, the Director General for Food Crops

Mr. Sembiring says that the Indonesian government encourages farmers to adopt innovative farming practices and technologies to increase rice production and reduce labor cost. He urges the local government of Karo District and farmers at Perbulan Village to request for national budgets to improve the situation.

He also extends his warm welcome to a GIZ representative who joins him in this trip and expresses his wishes to further develop cooperation with GIZ in improving the situation.

Regional Project Coordinator of German-ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (ASEAN SAS), based in Medan, Mr. Sulaiman Ginting, accompanies the Director General on the day. The ASEAN SAS is the only development agencies invited by the District of Karo’s local government to join this field trip.

Mr. Ginting says the field visit gives a great opportunity for the ASEAN SAS to look for possibilities for further future cooperation to support the national and local governments as well as the farmers.

“We are thinking about a capacity development project to help farmers in this area to produce their own quality rice seed for planting,” says Mr. Ginting.

And now back to the three-hour bumpy winding road but smiles are on the face.

The field visit was organized by District of Karo on 13 June 2015.

Story and photos by Rojana Manowalailao, ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems

Dr. Hasil Sembiring watches a planting machine demonstration at Perbulan Village of Kabanjahe District.

20/08/201508/08/2017

MoU signed in Indonesia highlighting environmentally friendly production to meet increasing food demands

ASEAN-German Programme on Response to Climate Change in Indonesia (GAP-CC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding between GIZ Indonesia and Indonesia Agency for Agriculture Research and Development (IAARD), Ministry of Agriculture Republic of Indonesia on 14 July 2015 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Left to Right: Mr.Peter Palesch, Dr.Agung Hendriadi, and Thomas Heindrichs

“Through GAP-CC, GIZ has ambitious plans to contribute to environmentally friendly agricultural development in Indonesia and the region. To put those plans into practice, we have to work in partnership and bring different stakeholders from the public and private sector together,” said Mr. Peter Palesch, GIZ Country Director Indonesia, Timor-Leste and ASEAN.

The ASEAN-German Programme on Response to Climate Change in Agriculture and Forestry or GAP-CC, aims at enhancing food security in ASEAN in the face of climate change and the increasing global demand for food. On the ASEAN level, the programme promotes regional cooperation by advancing the ASEAN policy framework and strengthening networks of ASEAN Member States.

Mr. Palesch has confirmed that the programme also works on the national level on the one hand, and put regional policies and guidelines into practice on the ground, to generate lessons learned that can contribute to regional exchange, collaboration and policy making.

“As a major agricultural producer as well as a large market for food crops, Indonesia plays a crucial role with regards to food security in ASEAN,” Mr. Palesch said during the MoU signing event at IAARD Office Jakarta.

In addition, Head of Programme GAP-CC, Mr. Thomas Heindrichs has mentioned during the signing event that while we are to formalize the collaboration between the IAARD and GIZ, we have already been working together on the GAP-CC programme for quite some times. On the national level, IAARD, through the Indonesia Center for Rice Research, has been playing an important role in the development of training modules on sustainable rice production. The training are now disseminated to rice farmers in Indonesia through a public private partnership initiative called the Better Rice Initiative Asia (BRIA). On the regional level, IAARD has been involved in the formation of the ASEAN Climate Resilience Network and contributed to related activities like the Study on the Promotion of Climate Resilience for Food Security in ASEAN.

Executive Secretary of Indonesian Agency for Agriculture Research and Development (IAARD), Ministry of Agriculture Republic of Indonesia, Dr. Agung Hendriadi has appreciated the cooperation, and hoped the results of the environmentally friendly innovation can be shared and implemented at local, national, regional or global level.

“Establishing a network in the scheme of dissemination of agricultural technology will certainly strengthen the collective efforts to improve agricultural production and to achieve food security” said Dr. Hendriadi.

As a country with 250 million of population, and to reach food self-sufficiency, Indonesia will escalate the efforts to achieve 82.09 million tons paddy, 24.7 million tons of Maize, 2.9 million tons of Soybean, 3.8 million tons of Sugar, and 0.58 million tons of Beef by year 2019.
“These targets will be achieved if an average annual production of each commodity reaches 3.06 percent for paddy, 5.25% for maize, 28.23% for soybeans, 7.81% for sugar and 9.85% for beef,” Dr. Hendriadi said.

Besides agriculture research institutes at national level, the IAARD also have 33 Assessment Institute of Agricultural Technology (AIAT) in every province in Indonesia. These institutes are responsible for assessment, development as well as promotion of local specific technology.

Left to Right: Executive Secretary of IAARD (Dr. Agung Hendriadi) Representative ASEAN SAS Indonesia (Giri Arnawa) and Country Director GIZ, (Mr.Peter Palesch) discussed an important of cooperation for sustainable agriculture through an exchange and transfer of technologies

“The IAARD welcomes the cooperation with GIZ under GAP-CC programme particularly on ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems Project (ASEAN SAS) which include the Better Rice Initiative Asia (BRIA), Forestry and Climate Change (FOR-CC) that are in line with the goal and expectation of the IAARD,” said Dr. Hendriadi in his speech during the MoU signing in Jakart. The event has been attended by representatives of agriculture research institutes in Indonesia, and representatives of ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems, as well as Forestry and Climate Change team in Indonesia.

By Giri Arnawa, ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems

20/11/201211/08/2017

2nd Project Partner Meeting in Bali, Indonesia from 20-22 November 2012

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The ASEAN Biocontrol for Sustainable Agrifood Systems Project organized its second project partner meeting in Indonesia from November 20-22, 2012. The meeting was hosted by Directorate General of Horticulture, Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesia. The objective of the meeting were to provide an update of what the been achieved over the last six month, establish two regional Expert Group ( for regulation and application of biocontrol agents or BCAs ) and develop regional guidelines on BCA application, use and trade as well as to seek strategic guidance in the 2^nd Streeting Committee Meeting.

Participants were treated to a special field trip organized and supported by the Indonesian Directorate General of Horticulture. The group visited the Jatiluwih Organic red rice, which has received “Organik Indonesia” certification. The red rice plants are claimed to be naturally resistant to infestations of disease and parasites can grow up to 1.6 metres in height . The Jatiluwih red rice is rich in vitamins, minerals, folate and dietary fibre.