One of the recipients pilot project (pilot project) Nusantara Fund Direct Funding grant is a program "Organic Rice Plant Demonstration Plot with Planting Pattern System of Rice Intensification (SRI)”. The local community involved and the beneficiary of this program is the Tri Tunggal Tani Sejahtera Association (PT3S) with assistance from the Batang Farmers Struggle Forum (FPPB).
System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is an approach in rice cultivation practices that emphasizes the management of land, plants and water through group empowerment and local wisdom based on environmentally friendly activities (Anugrah, IS, Sumedi, S., & Wardana, IP (2016). Ideas and Implementation of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Ecological Rice Cultivation Activities (BPE). Agricultural Policy Analysis, 6(1), 75–99.) Apart from that, the difference between SRI and conventional rice cultivation is seen from the need for fertilizer and the nutrient sources obtained (Jumar et al., 2021). For the nutrient requirements of the SRI method, it is recommended to use organic fertilizer, so that the costs incurred are relatively cheap and efficient.
In line with the explanation above, the approach used in the implementation of this program is the creation of a demonstration plot for Organic Rice plants with an SRI planting pattern with an emphasis on group empowerment and local wisdom based on environmentally friendly activities. At the land processing stage, the land is prepared first by cleaning the land from straw and grass (tripe galeng). Land processing up to planting is carried out by 10 farmers through mutual cooperation, the tradition of mutual cooperation between farmers during the rice planting season in Batang, Central Java is known as group. Likewise at the planting stage (planting), the SRI planting technique applied is carried out in a mutual cooperation manner. At the fertilization stage, both during land preparation & processing and post-planting care, homemade compost fertilizer is used.
Some of the achievements in implementing this program are:
- The community has a demonstration plot of organic rice plants with the SRI planting pattern. The area of the demonstration plot is 4000 meters and the harvest yield is 2,5 tons of GKP.
- Growing togetherness and cohesiveness, member farmers become more routine and carry out a spirit of mutual cooperation (group) to help each other.
- Farmers' enthusiasm for using organic fertilizer is growing again.
- There is a new understanding for women farmers in particular and the SRI planting technique which can use seeds easily and that the use of 1 stem does not reduce the number of shoots when the plant is mature.
- Farmers understand the SRI planting technique, about the benefits of planting with young seedlings and planting distance in rice plants. A total of 10 FPPB members studied in depth and practiced directly planting rice with the SRI planting pattern.
In implementing the program, several challenges faced were as follows: Firstly, in the pilot demonstration plot in the first planting season (MT1) the rice fields contained too much water, while the SRI method only required a little water. Second, farmers are not used to using young seeds, so there is concern that the young seeds will be eaten by snails.
Third, farmers are quite overwhelmed in preventing and controlling pests and diseases that attack during the rice maintenance phase, because they do not yet have adequate knowledge and complete understanding. During the implementation of the program, farmers independently learned the prevention of pests and diseases in rice plants naturally using the internet. In the future, further training is needed for farmers, especially regarding how to make natural medicines for rice pests and diseases.
After implementing the demonstration plot program, 10 farmers will then apply the SRI planting pattern on their respective fields in the second planting season (MT2), as well as building a mutual cooperation farming system group.
In the future, the rice harvest can be marketed through the Nusantara Agrarian Barn (LANUSA) KPA, local market networks (traditional, supermarkets), and online marketing (long-term goals and results).
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Our program will include: | Organic Rice Plant Demonstration Plot with Planting Pattern System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Batang, Central Java |
Activity: | Development of Demonstration Plots, Training System of Rice Intensification (IRS) |
Region: | Sengon Village, Gondang Village, Kuripan Village, Batang Regency, Central Java |
Implementation: | 01 – 31 December 2022 |
Companion: | Batang Farmers Struggle Forum (FPPB). |
Indigenous Peoples & Local Communities: | Tri Tunggal Tani Prosperous Association (PT3S) |
keyword: | Farmer; Farming Community; Rice Demonstration Plot; System of Rice Intensification; Organic Rice |
Direct Funding: | IDR 50.500.000,- |
Nusantara Fund Long Term Targets: | Development of fair and sustainable production, distribution and consumption models in accordance with IPLC principles. |