Healing the Matrix, Indonesia
- DefinitionDevising project idea, defining the aim and main components
- DesignSpecifying details such as time-frame, budget, target indicators, project partners and relevant steps to reach the project objectives
- Open to FinancingSearching and securing funding and investment, setting up relevant financing partnerships, and discussing payment modalities
- ImplementationExecution of feasibility studies, context analysis, plot design, planting and setting up facilities and starting with potential capacity-building
- MaintenanceOperational phase (monitoring and evaluation, impact assessments and adjustments, execution of educational programmes and long-term capacity building)
- Scaling UpScaling up phase is when the project it has already shown success by obtaining impact as well as economic results and it's ready to become replicable.
Formed as part of the Cikananga Wildlife Centre (YCKT), in association with Wanicare, this project aims to improve the ecological, economic and social stability of the local rural landscape, specifically small-scale farmers. It will support local small -scale farmers to transition towards regenerative practices, conduct habitat restoration and foster local business creation through a coffee agroforestry program.
reNature andYCKT will work together to set up a Model Farm to demonstrate the efficacy of a coffee agroforestry program, before scaling to a Model School, which will provide education both on regenerative agriculture and conservation, as well as field training programs for the community participants to implement regenerative practices.
Around 500 farmers will be involved in the project initially. The total population covering the 4 villages is estimated at 5,062 people.
This project is open to financing
support this projectReducing agrochemical dependency in farmers
Farmers in the local area are dependent on agroindustrial inputs which contaminate soil and aquatic ecosystems, whilst being toxic to a host of organisms. Therefore, the ability of species to migrate these landscapes is drastically reduced, severely impacting biodiversity and potentially causing regional extinctions. Additionally, due to consistent agricultural expansion, there has been a noticeable increase in landslides, water soil sedimentation and a visual decline in available intact habitat (deforestation).
Wildlife poaching is also an existing threat, especially for birds. From a social perspective, unemployment is especially high in this area, currently estimated at 30%. The inclusion of coffee agroforestry is intended to help alleviate unemployment whilst improving the area’s biological complexity and economic reliance.
Using an already existing 8 hectare plot currently cultivating 3 types of organic coffee, the project will convert this into a regenerative coffee system. The plot already has some coffee drying and roasting facilities on site. In the first year, this will be used to demonstrate the efficacy of a coffee agroforestry system. Following this, we will set up a Model School inviting the 428 farmers who have already registered interest to participate, using this Model farm as the basis for capacity building and workshops.
Regenerative Coffee System
The project will use the 8 ha model farm to demonstrate the efficacy of a regenerative coffee system. Then, it will provide conservation education and training opportunities to around 500 local farmers. Educational and technical classes will cover the economic, ecological and practical benefits/techniques of regenerative farming and coffee agroforestry practices.
As determined from local in-person interviews, all farmers surveyed utilize agro-industrial chemicals, which kills pests but also all microorganisms in the soil. The transition from an agro-industrial system to a regenerative one will allow the agroenvironment and associated ecosystems to heal, and over time sustain and support the species that inhabit and rely on these ecosystems to survive and reproduce. Additionally, the planting of trees beyond food production will help connect fragmented habitats, improve carbon sequestration, and provide additional food sources and breeding habitats for wildlife.
Focusing on farmers’ livelihoods
The majority of people living within the project area are subsistence farmers. The project will educate these farmers on the benefits of alternative agricultural practices that not only improve the health of the environment but also the farmers livelihood. Financial benefits will also help participating farmers to transition, which include removing the financial burden of agroindustrial chemicals, the increased market value of their products and the potential profit earned from the community coffee agroforestry project.
As mentioned, unemployment is high in the area at around 30%. If successful, the potential economic capital associated with international coffee sales could greatly increase the household income of the participants of the project. This income is more secure due to an established off-taker, a coffee processing facility called Manba in Bandung, Java Indonesia.
Additionally, the price premium for regeneratively grown coffee and the reduction of farmer external costs e.g., agroindustrial chemicals will also improve household incomes. Looking ahead, the potential of job creation associated with the coffee production facilities should improve the economic situation of the 4 surrounding villages.
This project is open to financing
support this projectJournal
Insights on Indonesia
A definition of Regenerative Agroforestry
