The objective of the aGROWforests for Sustainable Spices project is to contribute to a Sustainable, Bio-Diverse, Climate Resilient and Responsible Spices Sector In Indonesia. We do this by increasing farm productivity and income of pepper farmers, through climate smart agriculture and agroforestry, which also removes or reduces greenhouse gas emissions attributed to pepper farming and agriculture in general. The 3-year project targets 2,300 farmers (of which 30% are women, and 15% youth) in the provinces Bangka Belitung and Lampung in Indonesia.
About Spice Hub
Spice Hub serves as an agricultural empowerment hub for pepper farmers in Bangka Belitung, with a primary focus on adopting a regenerative agroforestry approach and upholding climate-smart agriculture principles. Alongside its role as a knowledge transfer hub, Spice Hub also streamlines direct access for farmers to exporters (markets), ensuring they receive just and equitable prices for their produce. During its initial phase of operation, Spice Hub will be overseen by a Changemaker (Farmers’ Friend) who actively engages in delivering comprehensive and consistent support to pepper farmers.
Main Services
- Providing active knowledge transfer to farmers, utilizing diverse methods such as casual discussions, training sessions, and workshops. This is where farmers can engage in conversations with experts, and Change Makers, and exchange knowledge and experiences among fellow farmers.
- Facilitating farmers for easy direct transactions with PT CAN (exporter) in order to obtain fair and reasonable prices.
- Providing consultation services, survey and monitoring, soil and plant health checks in integrated laboratories, intensive mentoring, and product and technical support for farmers to overcome problems faced in cultivation practices.
Support Objective
- Providing facilities needed by farmers, sharing knowledge, experience and skills in providing seeds and compost.
- Transforming farmers from passive farming to active farming in providing seeds and compost for pepper farmers.
Distribution Target
Over the period of the project, several input products will be produced in the form of seeds and fertilizer which can be used as support for farmers, because the quantity is limited, these input products will be distributed on priority to:
- Ring 1 Farmer
- Need for new embroidery/replanting (especially pepper)
- Needs and quantities will be adjusted to the conditions and needs of farmers.
- Change Maker will record and decide the amount for each farmer.
Spice Hub Development
Spice Hubs (Rumah Tani) will be built in 9 locations in Bangka Belitung. Eight Spice Hub locations are in Bangka and two Spice Hubs in Belitung. The locations that will be targeted as Spice Hub points are :
- Spice Hub 1 – Center – Namang
- Spice Hub 2 – Pasir Putih
- Spice Hub 3 – Bencah
- Spice Hub 4 – Tiram
- Spice Hub 5 – Penutuk
- Spice Hub 6 – Belitung I Bantan
- Spice Hub 7 – Belitung II Lintang
- Spice Hub 8 – Nyelanding
- Spice Hub 9 – Tanjung Labu
Of the ten Spice Hub locations, they will be targeted three locations that are considered potential for developing support facilities in the form of compost facilities & nursery facilities. Currently the candidate locations are SH Pasir Putih, SH Lepar, and SH Belitung. The location selection will be evaluated after the Spice Hub is running so that we can assess whether Spice Hub is suitable or not if provided with support facilities. In the future, this support facility will be managed by farmer groups together with Changemakers at the Spice Hub. Support Facilities will be provided on village-owned land or on land owned by farmers who own its strong desire and ability to carry out composting & nursery activities. Specifically at the Namang spice hub center, the existing compost facility, nursery facility and post-harvest facility will continue to be developed to make them even better so that they can become good examples and can support our assisted farmers more optimally.
