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Women in Temiang Develop Farming Without Burning
The Makmur Jaya Women Farmers' Group is growing red ginger without burning in Temiang, with seedlings supported by Yayasan Gambut.
The Makmur Jaya Farmers’ Group in Temiang, Bandar Laksamana District, comprises 11 women. During a discussion with Yayasan Gambut on Friday, 27/11/2020, members agreed to develop farming without burning and selected red ginger as their crop.
The group began planting 1000 red ginger seedlings in Merambai Hamlet 2. Members worked together, with Yayasan Gambut providing seedlings and the group supplying peat soil and growing sacks.
Red ginger planted in sacks using peat soil
“We urgently need water hoses and training to improve our skills. A few months ago, the Peatland Restoration Agency (BRG) trained us in red ginger cultivation. Regular watering is essential, which is why we need hoses,” a group member told Yayasan Gambut.
The group also plans to develop a Liberica coffee nursery. Yayasan Gambut was seeking to provide 1000 seeds from Kepulauan Meranti Regency, where the crop has demonstrated adaptability and productivity on peatland.
Sorting red ginger planting material
Following coordination with Samsul Komar, WWF Riau’s Fire Monitoring and Restoration Specialist for Sumatra Peatlands, additional support was planned: 4000 coffee seeds, a forest tree nursery and another 1000 ginger seedlings for Makmur Jaya. This coordination sought to bring partners together to promote sustainable peatland management and prevent agricultural burning from causing forest and land fires.
The original article also highlighted legal sanctions related to forest and land fires. It cited the Criminal Code, Law No. 41 of 1999, Law No. 32 of 2009, Law No. 39 of 2004 and Riau Provincial Regulation No. 1 of 2019 on technical guidelines for forest and land fire management, and referred to minimum penalties of 1 year of imprisonment and Rp 1 billion in fines.