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Growing Ginger in Peatland Home Gardens
Home gardens planted with ginger form part of community farming practices on peatland.
Wahyu, aged 29, lives in Sumber Harum hamlet, Harapan Jaya Village, Tempuling District, Indragiri Hilir Regency. Since 2017, he has promoted Gerakan Palawija, a local crop-growing initiative abbreviated as Ganja. Its 11 members grow crops including bird’s-eye chilli, sweetcorn, lime, aubergine, galangal, pepper, cassava and mahang.
In recent years, Wahyu and 4 other members have developed red ginger nurseries. They reported producing at least 15,000 seedlings by the year of publication, purchased by farmers from villages across Indragiri Hilir and Indragiri Hulu.
Wahyu explained that ginger planting material should be at least 3 months old. The growing medium combines peat soil with oil palm fibre, which their field experience suggests helps retain moisture.
Canal block construction in Harapan Jaya to help keep peatland wet
Most of Harapan Jaya lies on peatland and is vulnerable to fire. Canals cut across the peat contours, contributing to drying during the dry season and flooding during the rainy season.
Wahyu’s initiatives aim to improve community income and conserve local peatland by exploring farming methods that avoid burning. He emphasised that the village remained vulnerable during dry periods and needed further efforts to maintain peat moisture.