From Chemical Pesticides to Organic Farming: The Inspiring Journey of Sri Jati Farmers

Written by Zahtamal

Picture: Rice field in Kulon progo, Yogyakarta

Meet Yayuk, a skilled farmer from the Sri Jati community in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. She is one of a group of farmers who have been producing rice through organic farming, a collaboration with the local Department of Agriculture, for over a decade.

In 2008, Sri Jati was selected to participate in a pilot on sustainable farming program in Yogyakarta, supported by the Indonesian Department of Agriculture. It was part of an effort to help address longstanding problems of pest attacks and excessive use of chemical pesticides.

"Although progress was slow at first, it remained steady, and soon, farmers started to reduce their use of chemical pesticides. This was the beginning of our journey to implement organic rice farming," Yayuk said.

The farmers started experimenting with new techniques to improve their farming practices, including using biopesticides and bioagents from the local Department of Agriculture, which included Beauveria bassiana and Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) made using rice washing water and a product called Korin, which is made using boiled potato water as one of the primary ingredients.

In 2013, the farmers of Sri Jati achieved a milestone by significantly reducing their use of chemical pesticides. In 2014, the Indonesian government recognized this farming community as one of the most sustainable in Indonesia. This recognition further encouraged the farmers to continue their efforts.

In 2019, the Sri Jati community made a complete transition from traditional farming to organic methods, successfully eliminating the use of chemical pesticides. A significant part of this step involved a strong focus on prevention, including the use of high-quality seeds treated with bioagents, as well as regular, careful monitoring and the application of biopesticides when necessary to keep pest populations under control.

The support of the local government has been crucial by offering access to biocontrol products while also discontinuing subsidies for chemical pesticides, which led to farmers no longer using chemical pesticides as they were no longer cost-effective.

Furthermore, the government established production areas for PGPR, and Korin, simplifying the process for farmers to obtain these essential inputs.

Yayuk explains that transitioning to organic farming was challenging.

"Initially, our crop production was slightly decreased, and navigating the fragmented organic rice market required considerable effort. Furthermore, obtaining the green/organic certificate from the authorities was time-consuming and expensive" Yayuk.

The dedication of Sri Jati farmers, with substantial assistance from the Government, shows that farmers can make changes to the way they farm. For instance, when the demand for organic rice decreases, the local Government pledges to purchase it - to maintain selling stability within the community. This collaboration demonstrates how effective partnerships between local farmers and the Government can lead to a successful initiative.