West Sumbawa, 25 September 2025 – Agriculture is one of the lifebloods of the Maluk, Benete, and Sekongkang Districts in West Sumbawa. However, in recent decades, the reliance on synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides has reduced soil fertility and land productivity.
In response to this condition, PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara (AMMAN) launched the ‘Organic Farming Development Program to Strengthen Local Household Livelihoods.’ This initiative is designed to address the fundamental challenges of conventional farming while introducing healthier, environmentally friendly, and sustainable cultivation practices for farmers around its operational areas.
Training as the Starting Point of Change
A total of 35 farmers from Maluk Village and Benete Village—30% of whom are women—participated in the ‘Soil Ecology and Healthy, Environmentally Friendly, Sustainable Agricultural Management Training’ organized by AMMAN in collaboration with Aliksa Organik SRI.
The training encourages a shift in mindset from dependency on chemical fertilizers to practices prioritizing soil ecology. Participants were introduced to the role of microbes and the ecosystem as the foundation for healthy organic farming. The material covered soil ecology, the impact of pesticides, and organic cultivation techniques to reduce production costs and promote economic self-reliance.
“Before, we thought we always had to buy chemical fertilizers. Now, we've learned to make our own fertilizers from materials available around us,” said Syamsudin Majid, one of the participating farmers from Maluk Village. “This training isn't just about farming methods; it's also about nurturing hope that we can be more independent,” he added.
Expected Impact: Healthy, Empowered, and Sustainable
The program focuses not only on increasing knowledge but also on tangible results. In the short term, AMMAN hopes the program will be more environmentally friendly, increase farmers' income, and improve their health through better harvests and safer cultivation practices.
“The Organic Farming Program is expected to provide various positive benefits to the community, not only in terms of improving the economy but also enhancing community health and the food produced, as well as providing the latest information on environmentally friendly farming practices,” stated Priyo Pramono, Vice President of Social Impact AMMAN.
This initiative has received high praise from various parties, including the local government. "We see that AMMAN has made real efforts, and this soil ecology training is very fundamental," said Jamilatun, Head of the West Sumbawa Regency Agriculture Office. "This is very expensive and important knowledge. We hope the farmers can follow this training diligently, because we believe that by implementing this knowledge, their agricultural production will increase and boost food security in our area."
By educating and empowering farmers, AMMAN strives to create a strong foundation for food and economic resilience in West Sumbawa Regency and its surroundings, benefiting current farmers and future generations.
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