Peningkatan Produktivitas dan Kesejahteraan:Kisah Sukses Iwan Marhaba dan Rumah Bibit Kakao

Summary

Iwan Marhaba, a former trader turned cocoa farmer in Mohiolo village, shares his journey of overcoming challenges in cocoa farming. With support from the Cocoa Doctoral program, he developed better techniques, including organic fertilizer and pest control, which boosted his cocoa yields and income. Through collaboration with organizations like Eritsi and PT Mars, his farmer group stabilized cocoa prices, improved productivity, and reduced reliance on middlemen. By building a seedling house, Iwan and his group now provide affordable cocoa seedlings, empowering local farmers to grow their businesses and contribute to community welfare.

Takeaways

• 😀 Iwan Marhaba, a 41-year-old farmer from Mohiolo village, transitioned from trading to farming and participated in the Cocoa Doctoral program to improve his cocoa farming skills.
• 😀 Iwan initially faced difficulties with cocoa farming, including a drop in price and pests, but persisted with patience for over 10 years before seeing improvements in his harvest.
• 😀 In 2019, Eritsi Eritsi's group entered Iwan's village and helped form a farmer group, offering knowledge on farming techniques through field schools.
• 😀 With the support of PT Mars, Iwan learned to make organic fertilizer and improve his farming techniques, leading to more efficient farming practices.
• 😀 Eritsi's assistance in 2023, including access to agricultural machinery, helped farmers like Iwan take care of their cocoa gardens more effectively.
• 😀 Iwan's cocoa yield increased significantly after receiving support from Eritsi, going from 50kg to 150kg, with better care and practices.
• 😀 Through a partnership with PT MAS, the farmer group led by Iwan was able to maintain a stable cocoa selling price and reduce dependence on middlemen.
• 😀 Access to better market information has increased the selling price of cocoa, from 19,000 to 120,000 per kg, and productivity rose from 50kg to 450kg.
• 😀 Iwan started building a seedling house in 2021 and successfully prepared 1,150 cocoa seedlings to be planted on 1.5 hectares of land.
• 😀 The Lilu Berdikari model farmer group aims to reduce reliance on expensive middlemen by selling cocoa seedlings at lower prices and providing joint business opportunities for local farmers.
• 😀 Iwan is committed to ensuring the continuation of the Ritsi program even after funding ends, encouraging the local farmers to stay enthusiastic and united to improve their farming practices.

Q & A

What was Iwan Marhaba's initial profession before becoming a farmer?

Iwan Marhaba was initially a trader before transitioning to farming.

How many cocoa trees did Iwan initially plant on his 1-hectare land?

Iwan initially planted 900,000 cocoa trees on his 1-hectare land.

What major challenges did Iwan face during the early years of cocoa farming?

Iwan faced challenges such as pest infestations and a drop in cocoa prices, which made harvesting difficult.

What year did Eritsi Eritsi enter Iwan's village and start assisting the farmers?

Eritsi Eritsi entered Iwan's village in 2019 and began forming farmer groups to provide support.

How did the Cocoa Doctoral program help Iwan and his fellow farmers?

The Cocoa Doctoral program provided Iwan with knowledge and skills, such as making organic fertilizer and adopting better farming techniques.

What was the impact of the agricultural machinery assistance from Eritsi and the Gorontalo Regency?

The agricultural machinery provided by Eritsi and the Gorontalo Regency made it easier for Iwan and other farmers to care for their cocoa crops more efficiently.

How did Iwan's cocoa yield change after receiving assistance from the program?

Iwan's cocoa yield increased from 50 kilograms to 150 kilograms after receiving assistance from the program.

How did access to wider market information affect the selling price of cocoa?

Access to wider market information helped increase the selling price of cocoa from Rp 19,000 per kg to Rp 120,000 per kg.

What initiative did Iwan take to help other farmers in his community?

Iwan built a seedling house and successfully prepared 1,150 cocoa seedlings to be planted, helping local farmers meet their seedling needs.

What role did the Lilu Berdikari model farmer group play in promoting sustainable farming?

The Lilu Berdikari model farmer group focused on sustainability by offering loans for seedlings, creating a cooperative to avoid middlemen, and promoting the production and sale of seedlings.