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| Some girls (santri) in Pesantren Ekologi Kebon Sawah, Garut disrict, West Jawa looking at blossom sun flower in the Pesantren yard. |
Some
day I read an article in Yusran Darmawan's blog titled "Malu Aku Jadi Petani Indonesia" that
describe the dark side of peasant in Indonesia. Years ago, Soekarno as founding
father stated that farmer is foundation of the nation. But, based on data from
Central Statistic Bureu or Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) shows that number of
farmer in Indonesia will decrease to 34 million in 2019 from 37 million in
2011.
Where is the 3 million people go? land conversion from farming area to
another land use and the young generation who prefer became public officer or
Pegawai Negeri Sipil (PNS) than farmer are the main reason of the issue.
Then I
remember the similar issue in my hometown. For several years farming area was
converted to another land use such as for housing and DAM for support
electricity. I remember that most of parents warned their children to be
success person and never became poor and unlucky farmer like them. They want
their descendant became a doctor, pilot, banker, teacher, lecturer, celebrity
and business person.
They also have their own definition about success that is
when their children became public officer and works in government office in the
city. No one desires that their children became success farmer (petani berdasi)
because in their bones written that the word 'farmer' means poor, hopeless,
unlucky and misery. As well as my family who wish for me became a banker. But,
yeah, I never want to be a banker.
Eventhough, I see the light of hope everywhere. For some years, many young and educated people who aware about agriculture issue in this country started to establishing and developing "food sovereignty" initiative. They learnt with farmer in the village, produced their own product and created local seeds bank. They plant for their own family and community, which is imitated by their neighbor and another community.
Nissa Wargadipura, a young mother who manage an Islamic Boarding School named Pesantren At-Thariq or most popular as Pesantren Ekologi Kebon Sawah" is model for a success farmer. Nissa and her husband manage farming area that with "Acak Kadut" or "Messy garden" concept just several meters from their home.
They also involves their children
and student. They plant many type of vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers and
rice. If they want cook something, just walk to the garden and collect what
they want for some minutes. Fresh and organic ingredient are available in 24
hours.
Nissa promote their initiative and program in her Facebook. She share photos about their activity in Pesantren like children who playing happy with their rice field, flower, fish and their messy garden of course. Nissa and her husband learning together with their kids and student how to produce organic fertilizer, plant seeds, cultivate the baby plant, harvest, and share their happiness to more people.
Their daily activity just tell us about happiness, cheerfulness and hope. They embrace their freedom and never worried about being starved. Just like they tell us "Hi, come here play with us the happy farmer". When the price of oil increase and its was affected to food price, or when the value of Indonesian rupiah depressed under American dollar, it never affect to their live. Since everything stocked in their garden for 24 hours, all is well.
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| Activities in Pesantren Ekologi At-Thariq, Garut, West Java. |
Later on, this pesantren
became popular. Many visitors as individual or communities come and learn the
local initiative that Nissa and her husband develop. As local activist, Nissa
also connected to some other local activists who spread similar initiative and
movement. Visited this pesantren is like having vacation since its surround by
green mountainous. The scenery is beautiful and fresh with bird song and blue
sky.
Due to her initiative, Nissa became spoke person for local and national
forum related to food sovereignty and local initiative issues. For example, in
a local Organic Food Festival in Kediri district, East Java, Nissa met with Dr.
Vandana Shiva, a philosopher, eco-feminism, and writer who lead environment,
nonviolent and food sovereignty movement in India.
Dr. Vandana was received The
Right Livelihood Award or Nobel Alternative in 1993 for her idea and
persistence to spread a movement about local seeds. She also help 54
communities in 18 states in India to establish bank of seeds. She also trains
for more than 500.000 farmers to know about sustainable agriculture development
and food sovereignty. This movement conducted to combat a genetic engineering
company which was controlled the spreading of seeds in the whole word and make
farmer suffer.
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| An example of seeds that Nissa have been sell for public |
"We have to support the alumni of this Pesantren to stay in the village and establish new initiative. We have to detain them to work in the city," said Nissa. Some of alumni this Pesantren have been establishing new community in their hometown such as Organic Farmer Group and spread the initiative that they learned in Pesantren.
Activity of Nissa and her family give us hope about the young
generation who will became educated and modern farmer in Indonesia who will
spread local initiative and local wisdom. We wish for those young generation
who will lead the country to get our pride as agrarian country and save us from
starving and eat cheap and poisonous food. We also wish that another Pesantren
in Indonesia will imitate this initiative as basic learning process and
foundation for their freedom.
The last, lets support Nissa and her family initiative just by spread this article, buy their product, and visit their Pesantren. I hope this article will inspire us to create similar movement in our hometown and school.
The last, lets support Nissa and her family initiative just by spread this article, buy their product, and visit their Pesantren. I hope this article will inspire us to create similar movement in our hometown and school.
Depok, August 2015
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