Resilience through agroforestry in Kalimantan

Dear friends,

In Bukit Batu, Central Kalimantan, monoculture farming is prevalent among vegetable farmers due to long-standing habits, but this practice imposes a severe toll on the environment by making the land more susceptible to pests and diseases, which in turn leads to excessive use of chemical pesticides. These chemicals reduce the soil’s natural fertility, increase production costs, and adversely affect the quality of produce. In response, YUM initiated an Agroforestry project in 2018 to promote sustainable land use. This project, set on 1.5 hectares of sandy acidic soil, transformed the area into a lush, green landscape with increased biodiversity, enhancing soil fertility and creating a balanced ecosystem. The agroforestry model has since proved effective and replicable by smallholder farmers, producing various crops such as oranges, papaya, and pineapple alongside native plant species, thereby raising awareness about sustainable farming practices and improving food security while adapting to climate change.

We are thrilled to announce that 10 smallholder farmers have started on their journey toward sustainable agriculture and increased livelihoods. Our team in Kalimantan is diligently at work in providing support in enabling the farmers to learn everything they need to know about sustainable agriculture and agroforestry so that they can implement the agroforestry method on their own land.

Nonetheless, having 10 smallholder farmers implement the agroforestry model is just the beginning. With over 300 active farmers across 7 villages in the area, it is no small task to reach out to every single one of them and help them become aware of the importance of sustainable farming methods. From awareness campaign activities such as surveys, workshops, seminars, to creation of best practices videos for smallholder farmers in the area, we hope that smallholder farmers in the area can increase their livelihood while contributing to the sustainability of our planet through agroforestry.

Thank you for your continuous support to help smallholder farmers in Central Kalimantan begin their transformative journey toward sustainable agriculture! If you are able, we would appreciate it if you could set up a monthly donation through GlobalGiving as this provides us with a sustainable source of funds.