East Lampung, August 23, 2024 – Widya Erti Indonesia (WEI) is committed to the well-being and sustainability of coconut sugar farmers’ businesses by holding a Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) in East Lampung. The FGDs were held in four subdistricts in East Lampung from August 19–23, 2024. To strengthen the impact and effectiveness of its programs, the FGDs focused on identifying challenges, solutions, potential, and expectations regarding coconut sugar production. Widya Erti Indonesia (WEI), through its Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Officer, Melinda Lastri, interacted directly with the program’s beneficiaries, listened to their stories, understood the challenges they face, and gathered feedback to guide future program improvements.
Melinda Lastri, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Officer at Widya Erti Indonesia, is leading a focus group discussion with women farmers at a resident’s home in East Lampung.
Since 2021, WEI has been collaborating with PT Unilever Tbk. (Unilever) to provide comprehensive training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to coconut sugar farmers in Sukabumi and East Lampung. The Coconut Sugar (CoSu) II program is a continuation of the successful collaboration between WEI and Unilever that began in Pangandaran (2021–2023). With a focus on sustainable agricultural practices, this program aims to improve the quality and quantity of environmentally friendly coconut sugar production and drive long-term change.
Empowering Farmers in East Lampung: Reflections from the Field
Focus Group Discussion involving farmers, sap tappers, women farmers, and local facilitators. Each participant shared their reflections on the challenges they face in the field. Four major challenges emerged: 1) Increasing alternative income; 2) Controlling longhorn beetle infestations; 3) Access to irrigation; 4) Price stability for coconut commodities.
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The Important Role of Women in Generating Alternative Income
Women play a vital role in coconut sugar production. Most of them—who are primarily farmers’ wives—are involved not only in tapping and boiling the sap but also in farm management activities such as fertilization. At the same time, they have expressed concerns based on their past experiences. Although they are enthusiastic about participating in coconut sugar processing training, the training sessions they have attended so far have not included support for market access, resulting in their processed products remaining unsold. This highlights the need for a more integrated approach that combines skills training with market development to boost their confidence. It is important to ensure the sustainability of their livelihoods so they can increase their income and well-being. Opportunities for new product and market development present potential for future empowerment programs.
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Integrated Pest Management for Controlling the Rhinoceros Beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros)
Coconut farmers in East Lampung after holding a focus group discussion with the WEI Team at a local resident’s home
The rhinoceros beetle, or Oryctes rhinoceros has been a constant threat to farmers’ productivity. Several pest control efforts have been implemented, and farmers are now encouraged to adopt an integrated approach that combines biological and chemical control methods that are more environmentally friendly. Farmers remain undeterred in their efforts to move forward. With ongoing innovations, hopes for more effective and sustainable pest control are growing stronger, opening up significant opportunities for increased agricultural productivity in the future.
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Irrigation Access to Support Crop Growth
Climate change poses a major challenge for farmers. Limited access to water forces communities to rely heavily on rainwater, which is not a sustainable source during the dry season. During this discussion, farmers in East Lampung expressed their difficulties in dealing with this issue. They hope that one possible solution is to improve irrigation infrastructure in the region. That way, the challenges related to access to irrigation can be overcome.
Farmers have also demonstrated resilience by diversifying their crops. Many of them have begun growing intercrops such as cacao, cassava, bananas, and papaya. This diversification not only provides an additional source of income when coconut sugar prices are low but also helps ensure optimal land use.
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Support for Farmers’ Sustainability in the Economic Supply Chain
FGD participants expressed a clear desire for coconut sugar prices to remain stable and competitive with the prices of staple commodities such as rice. They hope that ongoing support for pest control to protect their crops and livelihoods will be provided. This is accompanied by a strong desire to strengthen marketing networks so that their products can be sold at profitable prices, thereby creating a tangible impact on their lives.
The focus group discussion (FGD) was the result of reflections on and hopes for coconut sugar products. By aligning training with market realities and providing consistent support, farmers’ potential can be maximized. In this way, WEI and Unilever’s goal of creating a resilient and empowered community of coconut farmers in East Lampung can be realized.
