Sefnat Ora, (45) who works daily as a farmer, cultivates green bean in Nekmese village, Sub-district of South Amarasi, Kupang Regency.

Now he starts learning agriculture cultivation based on Standard Operating Procedure and applies it on the plants he has never planted before such greens, cabbage, chili and bitter melon.

Previously, this man with 4 kids visited Nekmese Productive Garden, TLM Foundation assisted village to buy vegetables.

In the garden, he saw that vegetable beds that were 1 meter width, 10 meter length and 40 cm height with 50 cm drainage were neatly lined up and planted with greens, fruits, tubers and they were grown organically.

Based on his interest in land processing and cultivation technique in Nekmese productive garden, Sefnat then asked TLM Foundation facilitator to assist him to cultivate plants in a 40x80m land that he owns.

“in the past, I didn’t plant green bean in beds, I only grew plants like corn and they usually damaged because I used hose to water, many of them broke.” Said Sefnat

Moreover, the man usually called Om Sef (Uncle Sef) told his experience of farming using chemical fertilize that was quite expensive for his operating cost

“I grew my plants using chemical fertilizer (urea fertilizer) and it made me went through financial difficulty because I had to increase the dose every year otherwise the plants would not grow fertile and my garden would damage (drought land) and to sell my vegetables, I had to go to Oesao Market because most of farmer here grow green bean so mine would likely unsold” explained Sefnat when talking to Umbu Sabarua, agriculture facilitator of TLM Foundation in Nekmese.

That is where Sefnat got motivated to adopt new technique that is different from what he has done before; organic agriculture system.

Seftnat said that his garden now is distinct with what it was before because now he plants on beds, using organic fertilizer (liquid organic fertilizer, Bokasi), applies plant rotation system and more effective and easy marketing technique because costumers tend to prefer organic product.

“After making the beds, the hose no longer press the plants because there is drainage now. I also using organic fertilizer where the material to make is easy to find because there are so much animal waste around. I just need to mix it with EM4 and leaves. I grow vegetables like water spinach and Chinese mustard green and not only green bean like before”, explained Sefnat excitedly.

To sell his garden product, he consulted with TLM Foundation facilitator so when harvest season comes, his crops not only sold in Oesao and Kupang but also sold to his neighbor and community around Nekmese because many people look for organic vegetable./p>

Sefnat Ora who is now being assisted by TLM Foundation outside Assisted productive garden group expressed his gratitude to God because through TLM Foundation he is introduced to integrated horticultural technique with organic system which is more productive and the products are easy to sell.

“So personally my family and I are thankful for getting assistance and I hope this will continue because I still need so much to learn.” Said Sefnat. (Umbu Sabarua)

There are 30 members of Modopedak group who live in Kolobolon Village, Lobalain Sub-district, Rote Ndao District, assisted by TLM Foundation, got lesson on how to raise broiler properly and correctly in the beginning of February to the end of March 2019.

The activity began with theory training provided from TLM Facilitator on developing cages and handling DOC (Day Old Chick) until the chicken are ready to be sold at age 3 – 4 weeks. In the training, the members also taught on the preparation of cage facility before the chick came such as equipment for baby chick feeder and drinker, electrical installations to warm the chicks.

In the training the group members actively asked the question to the facilitator. In addition, the group members also learn on the marketing strategy and how to calculate and analyze the profits during running the broiler business.

After doing theory training, the facilitator and the members made discussion to ensure how far the group members understand the training material given.

The group members were very enthusiastic in joining the training as during the time all the members did not have experience in raising broiler.

As implementation of the theory training, 30 members then divided into 7 small groups where every day each group was assisted by the facilitator to feed and give water to the chick in the morning and evening. In addition, the groups also learn about how to inject vaccine, expanding the cage, adding more rice husk and other tasks related to raising the broiler

By the third week, all group members became more aware of how to take care of chickens so they could handle it themselves without the supervision of the facilitator. In the fourth week the broiler is ready to be marketed with an average weight of 1 kilo gram and it was sold amounting to 50,000 / head.

The facilitator and group members promoted the broiler businesses in food stalls and chicken vendors around Ba’a. This method was quite effective because broilers can be sold quickly. Now they get enough orders.

Hanna Mbuik, one of group member was grateful for the knowledge both the theory and practice training. She has planned to initiate own business if the group have high demand.

“I am happy for learning and have knew on how to raise broiler, I will make this as own business” said Hana after 1 month following 1 period of raising broiler in March 2019.

Different from Hanna, Silva (26) said she does not expect profits from this first period, the important thing for her was experience that will never run out all her life. (Defrid Banu)

Infirmus Abi is a resident of Benlutu village, Batu Putih Sub-district, South Middle Timor District.

In addition to being a farmer he is a government offial as well which is sub-village Head in Benlutu village.

The man was born in Benlutu 31 December 1974 has a hobby and unique skill that is not owned by other people in the village, which is assembling peanut peeler machine.

Infirmus is so care to the environment, he was taught by his father to always preserve the nature around the village where he lives. As told by Infirmus when he shared his experiences with the TLM Foundation village facilitator.

In 1982, the location around this spring was quite arid and barren so it was used by Infirmus’ family to farm as the location was quite close to spring.

After 3 years farming Infirmus made decision not to farm anymore in the location near to spring so it was moved to another location.

Reforestation is done in the old garden by planting lots of trees to protect water sources that have existed since their ancestors.

Now the communities are forbidden to cut down trees or take firewood in the reforestation area. In order to maintain the sustainability and condition of springs, there is a tradition that has been done for generations; they make a ritual by slaughtering a goat every year as a form of gratitude to nature which has provided an abundant source of spring water.

Infirmus also told that now they have additional income from planting betel in that location and have harvested. Even they have planned to flow water to other sub-village that lack of water where this sub-village is going to be one of Foundation assisted village.

Due to hard work and concern in preserving the environment, in 2018 InInfirmus won 1st place at TTS Regency KALPATARU from the TTS Regency Forestry Environment Service. (Kalpataru is one of the awards given to individuals or groups for their services in preserving the environment in Indonesia).

This year Infirmus has got recommendation from TTS Regency Forestry Environment Service to take part in the competition at the NTT Province level and if he is successful it will continue to the national level. (Adiyanto Baitanu)