Riaupulp helps farmers to transform barren land into productive
\nareas<\/p>\n
Farmers in Riau province have transformed barren land into
\nproductive areas, based on an integrated farming system
\nwith zero waste, thanks to technical and financial
\nassistance provided by PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (Riaupulp).<\/p>\n
"More than 2,600 farmers from 71 villages in six
\nregencies -- Pelalawan, Kuantan Singingi, Siak,
\nRokan Hulu, Kampar and Pekanbaru -- have participated in the
\nscheme, which was introduced in April 1999 with the aim of
\nempowering society," said Elyas, the director of Riaupulp's
\nprogram for the empowerment of Riau's society.<\/p>\n
He said that empowering local farmers was very important
\nbecause in realizing that their land was infertile, they had been
\napathetic in cultivating it for agricultural use.<\/p>\n
The land in the province mostly consists of red and yellow
\npodzol or peat soil, any of which are not favorable for food or
\nfruit crops. Podzol is not only poor in minerals and organisms
\nbut also too compacted, so it is difficult for water to permeate
\nit. Meanwhile, peat soil contains too much acid and is
\nstructurally too weak for plantations.<\/p>\n
"Farmers interested in participating in our empowerment
\nprogram must first take an intensive two-week training program,"
\nElyas said. "At the training, the most important part is raising
\ntheir confidence so that they have the capacity to increase their
\nincome and welfare by working hard with systematic procedures."<\/p>\n
The company operates two centers -- with two others still
\nunder construction -- for training the farmers in skills in
\nagricultural farming and animal husbandry. Each center is
\nequipped with dormitories, a lecture hall, farmland, fishponds,
\ncattle sheds, chicken coops and a model of a farmer's home with a
\nyard for farming.<\/p>\n
Elyas said the number of farmers participating in training
\ncourses at the centers had so far reached 905.<\/p>\n
At the training, participating farmers are assisted in
\nevaluating the feasibility of some projects under the integrated
\nfarming system and are invited to determine their own projects.
\nThey are then provided with start-up resources, including access
\nto financial and technical assistance, as well as planting
\nmaterials and fish meal.<\/p>\n
For example, they are given the choice of breeding or
\nfattening cows. Those choosing the breeding program are each
\ngiven one male and two female one-year-old cows, while those
\nchoosing the other program are given two one-year-old male cows.
\nAfter a year, the breeders can return either their male or female
\ncows, which will then be given to new participants. Whereas for
\nthose in the fattening program are asked to sell their two cows
\nand use the cash to buy four one-year-old female cows, out of
\nwhich they have the right to own two. The other two will be
\ngiven to new participants.<\/p>\n
The dung that the cows produce can be made into compost for
\ntheir horticulture and food crops through the natural
\nfermentation of microorganisms. They can also use the dung to
\naccelerate the production of phytoplankton for their
\nfishponds.<\/p>\n
"To date we have distributed more than 2,300 heads of cattle
\nto 900 families who have participated in animal breeding
\ncourses and more than 1,000 farming families have
\nbenefited from horticultural projects," Elyas said,
\nadding that over 150,000 fish spawns had been distributed
\nto 141 participating families.<\/p>\n
As a result of the integrated farming system training,
\nmore than 1,100 hectares of farmland in six regencies had been
\ncultivated with food and fruit crops, such as peanuts, corn,
\nbanana, watermelon, chili, eggplant, string beans and cucumber,
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
To assure the success of the farmers in breeding their
\ncows, cultivating their farmland and developing their
\nfishponds, Riaupulp had sent field officers to supervise their
\nwork and deliver necessary resources, he said.<\/p>\n
Elyas said the integrated farming projects had helped boost
\nthe incomes of their participants, most of whom used to earn a
\nliving from illegal logging.<\/p>\n
"When they are economically independent, we will support them
\nto obtain loans from banks for further development of their
\nbusinesses," he said.<\/p>\n
He said that besides farmers, Riaupulp's concept in the
\nintegrated farming system had also attracted the attention of
\nlocal universities and local offices of the Army and the Air
\nForce.<\/p>\n
He said the Lancang Kuning University had last year invited
\nRiaupulp to assist it in implementing the integrated farming
\nsystem on its 10-hectare land in Pekanbaru, which would be
\ndeveloped as a research and training center for its students.<\/p>\n
The student association of the Riau Islamic University also
\nsigned an agreement with Riaupulp on a cooperation to train
\nfarmers in the integrated farming system, he said.<\/p>\n
Last year also saw the participation of Army and Air Force
\nmembers in Riaupulp's training courses before implementing the
\nintegrated farming system on their land.<\/p>\n
"We hope the expansion of the integrated farming system will
\nhelp empower the local community and accelerate growth in their
\neconomies in line with the growth of Riaupulp's business," Elyas
\nconcluded.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/riaupulp-helps-farmers-to-transform-barren-land-into-productive-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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