Promoting sustainable and inclusive rice value chain in Indonesia

Challenges

• Regeneration of future farmers. Indonesian rice farmers are ageing. The involvement of young generation in the agricultural sector is declining due to limited farmland and because it is perceived to have little (financial) reward.
• Gender gap. Women make essential contributions to rice farming. However, they have limited decision-making capacity within the household or the farmers' organisation. Most of the cultivation process, from planting to harvesting, is done by women, while men take the decisions for selecting what rice varieties to plant and harvest.

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• Climate change. The quantity and quality of rice are negatively impacted by climate change. Droughts have in the past years led to a lack of water and reduced production, and unexpected heavy rainfall affects the rice's quality. Climate change also increases the loss caused by pests and diseases.

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Results

Farmers organisations have become more advanced in doing their businesses through creative marketing methods. Therefore farmers organisations can absorb their members' products to the fullest. The growing business also is shown to attract non-member farmers to get involved in the organisations, as well as lures young people and women to participate in the business and capacity-building activities.

Youth as an essential part of the rice programme has been receiving various training from rice cultivation to marketing. From some discussions conducted with young people, they shared positive experience after attending the organic youth camp. The youth camp aims to introduce sustainable agriculture system and agribusiness to young people.

Boyolali Organic Rice Association (APOB)

• APOB succeeded in getting government assistance in the form of rice mill unit in March 2019. This facility has improved APOB's business considerably. The ownership of a rice-milling unit helps APOB in full control of stock management, product development, and anticipating market needs. Rikolto facilitated APOB's access support program from the Ministry.
• In addition to having certified organic rice, APOB also sells healthy rice purchased from members who are already involved in the Internal Control System (ICS) unit. APOB recorded increased quality rice sales from 81.83 tons (2018) to 128.33 tons (2019) after activating the RMU.

Alliance of Boyolali Organic Rice Farmers (KOPAPPOLI)

• KOPAPPOLI has a broad domestic organic rice market. Buyers believe in KOPAPPOLI because it commits to producing good quality rice and timely delivery. KOPAPPOLI is also a member of the Farmers Economy Institution formed by the Boyolali District Agriculture Agency.
• In 2018, KOPAPPOLI successfully exported directly to Australia thanks to the KOPAPPOLI's close relationship with an Australian buyer.
• Due to a solid ICS owned by this organisation, KEHATI-a national NGO in Jakarta-contracted KOPAPPOLI to support setting up certification system, including ICS, for farmers in Sangihe Talaud in North Sulawesi Province.
• In addition to increasing their on-farm capacity, women also received capacity building in micro-business management. KOPAPPOLI established a business unit of rice cracker production by utilising damaged rice that is not sold by the organisation.

Figures

In 2020, around 2,684 farmers received benefits from our interventions. We work together with two associations: Boyolali Organic Rice Association (APOB) and Alliance of Boyolali Organic Rice Farmers (KOPAPPOLI).

Boyolali Organic Rice Association (APOB)

Alliance of Boyolali Organic Rice Farmers (KOPAPPOLI)

Certified Farmers

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