West Sumbawa, 29 October 2026 – In the yard of a house in Tatar Village, Sekongkang, West Sumbawa, a group of women carefully process rice and locally available natural ingredients into a Local Microorganism (MOL) solution, one of the inputs used to support organic farming.
The activity is part of the expansion of the Organic Agriculture Development Program initiated by PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara (AMMAN) in collaboration with Aliksa Organik SRI Consultant. Following its implementation in Maluk and Benete Villages in Maluk District, the program has now been expanded to Tatar Village, with the Mawar Merah Women Farmers Group (KWT) and millennial farmers serving as its main driving forces.
The expansion follows the positive results achieved through the implementation of the Organic System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method in Maluk and Benete Villages. During the first phase in both villages, average rice productivity reached 7.34 metric tons per hectare, up from 4 metric tons per hectare under the conventional farming methods previously used. This achievement demonstrates the potential of organic agriculture to increase productivity while also supporting the restoration of soil quality.
In Tatar Village, the program will be implemented on 142 ares, equivalent to 1.42 hectares, during the cultivation period from December 2026 to March 2027. The land will be used to develop Organic SRI Rice, Family Organic Vegetable Gardens, locally known as SORGA, and Family Medicinal Plant Gardens, known as TOGA.
AMMAN Senior Manager of Social Impact, Aji Suryanto, explained that the program focuses not only on transforming cultivation methods but also on strengthening the economic resilience of farming households through the implementation of Healthy, Environmentally Friendly, and Sustainable Agriculture, known as PSRLB.
“This program does not only introduce organic farming techniques, but also encourages farmers to become more confident in their own capabilities and the resources available to them. When communities are able to independently produce compost and MOL, they can not only reduce production costs, but also begin building a healthier and more sustainable agricultural system. We hope this knowledge will continue to grow and benefit more farming families in Tatar Village,” said Aji.
To develop these capabilities, 84 participants attended Soil Ecology Training from October 4 to 10, 2026. The knowledge gained during the training has begun to be put into practice through the construction of a communal MOL Production Facility and Composting Facility, which serve as shared spaces where community members can independently produce organic fertilizers and plant nutrients.
Women’s participation has become one of the program’s key strengths in Tatar Village. Nikmah, Chair of the Tatar Village Organic Agriculture Presidium, said that simple practices, such as making use of leftover rice, have opened new perspectives on the potential of resources that have long been readily available around the home.
“In the past, we saw leftover rice and other materials around our homes simply as things that were no longer useful. Now, we have learned that these materials can be processed and used to benefit our crops. This knowledge has made us even more enthusiastic because it shows that women can also learn, create something valuable, and bring positive change to agriculture in our village,” said Nikmah.
In addition to strengthening farmers’ capacity, the program in Tatar Village also involves the Agricultural Extension Center (BPP), while Maluk Ecopiles is expected to support market access for organic agricultural products. The program is also open to engaging academics to strengthen the scientific validation of the practices being implemented.
With the involvement of women farmers, young farmers, government institutions, and local partners, the development of organic agriculture in Tatar Village is intended to achieve more than successful harvests. More broadly, the program is expected to strengthen the community’s ability to manage its own resources, reduce its dependence on external inputs, and enhance the sustainability of local agriculture.
