Training for Sustainable Agriculture in Indonesia

Summary

This project empowers local communities to secure land tenure rights, protect biodiversity, and improve incomes through sustainable agriculture and formation of forest-protection committees.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Communities located in forested areas with high bio-diversity and critical watersheds have Indonesia's highest poverty, illiteracy and infant mortality rates. Lacking methods to enable people to participate in sustainable forest management, the government sometimes forcibly evicts communities from their traditional lands. The project helps 6,000 families living near 3 critical, protected forests learn to improve food production and income while regenerating forests.

How will this project solve this problem?

The project focuses on sustainable agriculture technologies based on local knowledge. It helps stabilize farm production, thereby reducing dependence on forests. It ensures that all members, including women, have an equal opportunity to participate.

Potential Long Term Impact

The program strives to improve agricultural livelihoods, helping families gain food security in a protected land area without further encroaching on the endangered forest.

Project Message

This program is challenging because it tries to improve the food security of marginal upland communities through improved practices, while protecting forests and water supply for lowland communities.
- Mr. Paul Joicey, area representative, southeast Asia

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).

Resources