Sowing economic and environmental success

Sowing economic and environmental success

R. Kristiawan, Contributor, Temanggung, Central Java

Economic and environmental concerns are sometimes really hard
to mix. In reality, they should support each other but in too
many cases, the environment is sacrificed for the sake of
economic interests.

Degradation of the soil quality in many areas in Temanggung is
one example among many of poor environmental management.

A 1999 study conducted by Djajadi, a researcher from Fiber
Plant and Tobacco Research Center in Malang, East Java,
discovered a decrease in both the productivity and quality of
Temanggung tobacco. Degradation of soil quality, in this case
soil erosion, was the reason behind the decrease.

Continuous and intensive tobacco planting, from generation to
generation, has been blamed for the soil erosion.
The research discovered that such a planting system damaged the
organic composition of the soil, causing a decrease in the
capacity of the soil to absorb rainwater. As a result, rainwater
washed over the soil, carrying with it the fertile topsoil.

Tobacco farmers here usually till the land in January and
February, the time when rain falls heavily. Since the land has
just being plowed, the soil cannot absorb the rainwater well. A
high concentration of rainwater is left on the surface, causing
erosion.

The magnitude of the problem of erosion in the region needs
urgent attention. A recent research conducted by Yogyakarta-based
Gadjah Mada University's school of geography cited the average
erosion rate here at 53.72 tons per hectare per year on land with
a declivity of 63 degrees.

The level of erosion in areas known as main tobacco producers
like Lamsi, Paksi and Toalo on the slopes of Mt. Sindoro that
have a declivity of 30 degrees, was recorded as "heavy" to "very
heavy". From a distance, one can see the dry, critical condition
of the area, which in fact, contributes 30 percent of the total
tobacco production in Temanggung.

Some farmers, in an effort to increase the organic content of
the soil, add manure to the soil. This results in an increase in
the price of manure. For the farmers, this is an added burden
considering that a hectare of land needs some 20 tons to 30 tons
of buffalo manure -- costing them between Rp 3 million to Rp 4
million.

The local government had tried to do something about the
matter by introducing policies that will gradually limit the
tobacco plantation area and by introducing new varieties of
agricultural plants.

Temanggung Regent Sardjono, for example, decided in 1998 that
the total area of tobacco plantation in the region should not
exceed 10,000 hectares. The policy was aimed mainly at
encouraging farmers not to plant tobacco only.

So far, the policy seems to be working. The tobacco plantation
area has decreased from 17,727 hectares in 1998 to 11,645
hectares in 1999.

"Since we know that we cannot rely solely on tobacco due to
environmental problems, we have started to introduce new plant
varieties including Arabic coffee. We chose plants that are
harvested annually in order to protect the soil from further
erosion," said Untung Prabowo of the local plantation office.

However, he realized it was difficult to change the habit of
local farmers to plant tobacco, something they have done for
centuries, within a short period.

"But there has been a good progress," Untung added.

In Joho, for example, farmers have started to plant
watermelon, while in Pringsurat farmers chose to plant Zalacca or
salak as the fruit is locally known. Economically high-value crop
Arabic coffee has also started to grow in Tlilir village.

"Those plants are good, both economically and ecologically.
They do not damage the soil," said Untung, adding that the
farmers might also plant vanilla for its high returns, Rp 110,000
per kilogram.

"But we're still waiting for a genetic engineering study
conducted by Gadjah Mada University to create disease-resistant
vanilla plants," Untung said.

Previously, Temanggung farmers had produced vanilla but they
stopped it after finding it was susceptible to disease. Until
now, tobacco is still Temanggung's number one agricultural
product.