BaKTI Holds Ecological Farming System Training in South Sulawesi

BaKTI held an Ecological Farming System Training in Salassae Village, South Sulawesi from October 31 to November 2, 2016. Armin Salassa, a well-known ecological farming practitioner from South Sulawesi, was invited to share his knowledge on this. The training aims to be one of the solutions taken to answer the challenge in increasing income from farming.

Prior to this, Armin has successfully implemented the system in Komunitas Swabina Pedesaan Salassae (KSPS). BaKTI hoped that this system could also be implemented in a MAMPU supported Constituency Group (KK) of Kombongan Situru Foundation (YKS) to increase their income from farming.

Ecological farming method, which applied by Komunitas Swabina Pedesaan Salassae (KSPS), can be more economically resilient, healthy and rewarding for farmers. Farmers have more control over the operational cost and produce better quality of organic products by using the method.

The three-day event aims to introduce sustainable and environmental friendly method in creating natural and organic farming products. It began with an introduction to ecological farming and its principles. On the second and the third days, Constituency Group (KK) practiced the taught theories. KK members were trained to apply sustainable land management system by using natural ingredients such as fresh fish, raw fruits, banana stems, kale, ginger, garlic and brown sugar to nourish the soil.

A participant, Yoseph Mangguali stated that the workshop has equiped him with important organic production techniques.

“I think the workshop brings an important knowledge in farming method. I enjoyed the whole session,” said Yoseph.

Edita Upa, another participant said, “I have just found out an effective way to use nitrogen in nourishing soil. We don’t have to fertilize the soil with urea in the beginning of the season. Now, we’ll do it correctly”.

There is a high hope that subsistence farmers would no longer use synthetic chemical fertilizers. Through the growing innovations such as Ecological Farming method, the community expects to not only increase their agricultural productions but also their income.

Reported by: Matias Tanan and M. Ghufran H. Kordi K (BaKTI)