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.