Community Participation in the Development of Permaculture in Sukabumi, Indonesia

by Harry Harsono Amir
ISTP, Murdoch University, Australia

Introduction

Permaculture as an Alternative Approach

The History of Sukabumi

Beginnings of the Eco-Friend Project

Questions for Discussion

Photos

Introduction

In the 1970s, during the first Five Year Development Plan, the Indonesian Government undertook a thorough reform of the agricultural sector in order to attain self-sufficiency in food production, particularly rice. The green revolution in agriculture began with initiatives to raise production by encouraging farmers to increase the use of chemical fertilizer and pesticides, and new varieties of paddy. The use of local varieties of paddy was forbidden by law which was enforced by heads of villages with the assistance of BABINSA (village level army personnel). Other changes introduced by the Government included a new variety of hybrid chicken, which is highly productive in a short period of time, and a move from mixed farming to monoculture.

The introduction of green revolution technologies undoubtedly brought Indonesia close to self-sufficiency in food production by 1984. However, a few years later the production of rice levelled off and Indonesia was forced to import grain once again. The fall in production was mainly the result of an outbreak of insects known as brown plant hoppers (Nilapervata sp) which had become resistant to pesticides. The Government acted to ban certain pesticides and implement integrated pest management but there is no question that the environment was already badly affected. Despite regreening and reforestation programs implemented by the Government, there has been widespread poisoning of the land by chemical fertilizers, a reduction in genetic diversity through the loss of local paddy varieties, and pollution of soil and groundwater by pesticides. In up-land areas, soil degradation has resulted from inappropriate farming techniques.

Despite the involvement of experts in the design of integrated pest management and regreening projects, and Government claims to the contrary, they have largely been unsuccessful. Most farmers have not implemented integrated pest management strategies. They have become accustomed to pesticides which have immediate effects, and they perceive integrated techniques as overly time-consuming. Regreening programs have not identified the socio-economic and cultural factors behind soil degradation and have consequently failed to gain the participation of farmers. Rehabilitation of degraded land should be based on the enhancement of synergy, partnership and the active participation of farmers in order to fulfill their needs and aspirations. So far, the success for regreening critical land has never reached more than 70 percent. It can be concluded, then, that the methods currently in use for attaining self-sufficiency in food production and in improving the quality of the environment are neither effective nor sustainable. It is argued that Government roles should be limited in these areas and efforts should be directed at empowering and enabling the local communities. An alternative approach must be sought which is beneficial to the environment, and also takes into consideration the socio-economic and cultural aspects of the local people.

Permaculture as an Alternative Approach

The English term for this alternative approach is 'permaculture' or permanent agriculture as set out by Mollison (1988). This agriculture is intensive, uses a mixture of species and layers of activity similar to a forest, it recycles all waste, uses organic principles of pest-management, and builds up the soil with compost and earthworms. To Sundanese people (from West Java) this approach is well known as kebon talun. In different parts of Indonesia it may have different names, however, the principles are the same: to achieve maximum productivity from a piece of land with minimum inputs of energy and effort. Kebon talun (ortalun) is regarded as a transition stage between shifting cultivation and permanent agriculture. As the Indonesian way of life became more settled than nomadic, species of hardwood, softwood and bamboo were preserved in their gardens. Seeds discarded from fruits such as avocado (Persea americana), mangga (Mangifera indica), rambutan (Nephilium lapaceum), durian (Durio zybethenus), salak (Salaca edulis), sawo (Achras zapota), and kedondong (Spondeas dulchis) germinated beneath the hardwoods. And cassava, corns, taro, vegetables, ornamental and medicinal plants were grown in the lower strata.

The garden is rich in biodiversity and mimics the stratification which naturally occurs in tropical rain forests. The stratification of plant species is efficient in capturing energy from sunlight and is more productive than a monoculture farming system with a high input of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The talun system was also able to maintain pest species populations in balance with their predators in a similar way to that achieved in natural ecosystems. Consequently, they do not require the use of pesticides. The soil in a talun system is continually enriched by fallen leaves and tree-trunks. Natural fertilizers consisting of chicken, goat, cow and buffalo manure, are sometimes added to the soil by farmers.

Through the integration of ecological components in the talun system, the well-being of the farmers is maintained. Produce can be harvested year round and they can sell the surplus to the local market. Hardwood and bamboo is available for furniture and building materials. Cassava (Manihot esculenta), corn (Zea mays), sweet potato (Ipomea batatas) and taro provide carbohydrates. Tropical fruits and vegetables supply vitamins and minerals. Various herbs, such as ganda rusa (justicia gandarussa), cabe jawa (Retrofracti fructus), kapulaga (Amomum kepulaga), asem jawa (Thalinum paniculata), tapak dara (Vinca rosea), and temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza) are used as traditional medicines. It can be concluded, then, that the principles of talun are economically viable, environmentally sustainable and culturally acceptable for most Indonesian farmers. Unfortunately, this eco-sustainable agricultural practice is slowly disappearing, replaced by highly inefficient monoculture farming.

The History of Sukabumi

Sukabumi is the largest regency in West Java province, and has the lowest income per capita. Except in the volcanic mountainous areas, soils are mostly poor with thin topsoil, suitable only for plantation or forest. The livelihood of the people, particularly in the southern areas, is largely dependent on tea, coffee and rubber plantations which have occupied these areas since Dutch colonisation.

Under the cover of plantation crops, and with good soil management, degradation of the land rarely occurred. However, as the price of tea, coffee and rubber dropped, many of these plantations became bankrupt. The plantation labourers who lost their livelihood occupied much of the land and began to replace the plantations with monoculture cash crops, such as potatoes, vegetables and carrots. The majority of these former labourers lacked the skills and resources to manage the land. The combination of inappropriate land management, topography, soil type and climate caused the land to become degraded in most areas which were formerly plantations.

Beginnings of the Eco-Friend Project

The rehabilitation of degraded land in Sukabumi is imperative to restoring soil productivity and the well-being of local farmers. Government efforts have clearly not been successful. Talun offers an alternative approach for the rehabilitation of land. From an economic perspective, talun is able to produce cash crops with high financial returns, such as traditional varieties of chicken, orchids, medicinal plants, bamboo and fruits. In regards to the environment, a talun system can reduce energy inputs and recycle waste outputs.

It is difficult, however, to convince farmers that the use of talun principles can restore degraded lands, maintain soil productivity, increase biodiversity and keep the population of pests in balance. An Eco-Friend Project (run by the author) was started in Sukabumi in 1990 to demonstrate the value of talun principles. The demonstration project includes at least ten local varieties of chicken, 45 species of medicinal herbs, several types of bamboo (bamboo bitung Dendrocalamus asper, bamboo apus Gigantochloa apus, bamboo gombong Gigantochloa verticillata, bamboo tutul Bambusa vulgaris), softwoods and hardwoods. Vermiculture has also recently been introduced.

Various initiatives have been undertaken to encourage farmers to implement the talun principles, including instruction in talun methods. Informal meetings were held to air the problems, aspirations and hopes of the local farmers. They were informed of the benefits of conserving genetic biodiversity, particularly of local chicken species and medicinal plants. Some practical training in raising a local variety of chicken and in the use of Effective Micro-organism 4 (EM4) to speed the compost process was also provided. Farmers interested in growing medicinal plants were provided with the species they required from the author who grew the plants and bred the chickens in his suburban home. In one initiative, 452 local chickens were distributed amongst 115 households with varying levels of income. The chickens belonged to different varieties, each with its own characteristics but all with a higher economic return than other chickens. They included kedu hitam, kedu putih, pelung, nunukan, cemani, sentul and lamongan. Farmers successful in raising the chickens must, after one year, give a chicken of the same variety to their neighbour.

Achievements

Some participants in the Eco-Friend Project have been very successful. They have been able to diversify their activities to include raising worms, hares and goats. Some have even begun a business initiative, such as the production of compost using the EM4 microorganisms. Around sixty percent of the farmers involved in the project, however, failed even in raising the chickens. The farmers are poor and many sold or ate the chickens, some reported that mongoose, feral cats or dogs ate the chickens, while others stated that there was no market for their product and they were forced to abandon their activities. Few wealthy farmers have attempted to rehabilitate their land using the talun methods.

Looking Forward

Future efforts will be directed towards finding cooperative and business partners to market the products of permaculture. One business partner already established has begun a 'show-room' for such products in Bogor. Credit for poor farmers is also expected to be a result of the cooperative activities.

Communities will be encouraged to develop traditional 'eco-cottages' and offer eco-tourism packages for visitors to create alternative income-generating activities. Landless and poor farmers could participate in the development of a small-scale home industry scheme, such as the production of bamboo carvings and furniture. Employment would also be available for eco-tour guides and home stay managers. These activities will require assistance from a travel bureau, particularly for marketing, as the communities have limited skill or experience in these areas.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the Eco-Friend Project has not as yet been completely successful. More resources for the poor farmers are required. Cooperatives could play a more significant role in providing credit for farmers. Other income-generating activities, such as eco-tourism packages and small-scale home industries, could work to lessen the pressure on the land. Business partnerships need to be developed for the marketing of talun and home industry products, and the promotion of eco-tourism.