PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - Changing economic behavior among farmers in villages requires a continuous training process. Changes in behavior in farmer work must be patient and painstaking. If an organization wants to carry out empowerment, it needs to do it repeatedly until farmers feel the benefits.

This was stated by Irmawati, as the Coordinator of the Home Farming Program for the Association of Farmers and Commercial People (Hotani).

“Farmers here used to leave empty yards for planting. "Even though they usually plant in the fields, they don't think about planting the empty land around their house," said Irma, on the sidelines of the Harvesting with Housewives' Yards from Tareptep Village, Mekarmanik Village, Cimenyan District, Bandung Regency, Tuesday (12/12/2023).

"When they were invited to complain, they felt that there were many problems, such as problems with chickens, water and so on. "But if we are diligent, in the end the problem can be resolved," he added.

According to Irma, backyard farming activities carried out with housewives provide many benefits. Those who are used to being idle in the morning and afternoon get activities that include planting and selling.

“Vacant land becomes better maintained with plants in polybags. Economically it is also good because mothers don't have to shop for vegetables. If you have your own plants, kitchen expenses will be saved. Usually for vegetables every day you can spend IDR 10,000. This means saving IDR 300,000 every month and selling excess vegetables. "Some people made a profit of IDR 200,000," he said.

Irma added that the advantage of farming in the yard is that it can be carried out even in long dry conditions. Meanwhile, farming in the fields can only be done during the rainy season. Home gardeners can harvest 7-8 times a year. Meanwhile, vegetable farming in the fields can only harvest 2 or 3 times a year.

The backyard farming movement carried out by the Odesa Indonesia Foundation in Mekarmanik Village and Cikadut Village, Cimenyan District currently reaches 400 assisted residents. For the 2023 program, Odesa Indonesia is collaborating with Bayan Tree Global Foundation from Bintan. \

According to Odesa Indonesia's Agricultural Economics Assistant, Basuki Suhardiman, the spirit of the backyard farming program is to overcome poverty by fostering a new work ethic while providing nutrition.

“Yard farming is very concrete, with the caveat that it has to go through a long period of assistance. "We can't do socialization once the activities are running straight away," said Basuki.

According to Basuki, farmers in Cimenyan District, Bandung Regency, have been working with a farming tradition that is very dependent on the arrival of rain. They work controlled by external factors. Farming in the fields requires a lot of capital so very few farm workers have jobs. In addition, due to climate change, planting time is currently very limited.

“We think they should get something extra beyond that, and backyard farming could be a solution,” he said.

Basuki added that homestead farming has added value as an economic movement for the poor because poor people still have capital even if it is only a plot of land. Their "skills" in planting are also good. What is often lacking in villages according to Basuki is knowledge and leadership.

“Leadership at the RT level is needed. "We use the instrument of people who have initiative and want to carry it out with enthusiasm like Irma," explained Basuki.

With a serious local driver, activities can run well. Farm workers with limited land can at least plant between 100 and 200 vegetables in polybags.

“That's very good because it saves IDR 300,000 every month. What's even better is if you can plant 400 to 500 vegetables in polybags. "Apart from saving on kitchen expenses, farmers can get sales worth IDR 300,000 to IDR 400,000," said Basuki.

Basuki added that such a backyard farming scheme is clearly very appropriate for overcoming poverty in rural areas. Because so far the government's social assistance has been equivalent to the income from homestead farming.

"The difference with the social assistance program, the homestead farmer empowerment program is able to foster an entrepreneurial ethos. "Meanwhile, the social assistance compensation program encourages people to become passive, spoiled and can even lead them to become beggars," concluded Basuki.