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Sustainable Permaculture Project Proposed to Save Bali Tourism & Ecosystem

Summary

A Super-Farmer project has been proposed by THK Bali and Green Warrior Permaculture to preserve Bali’s agriculture whilst ensuring the long-term viability of the island’s tourism industry.

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The proposed project aims to teach farmers sustainable, profitable methods, and establish a training approach that ensures success for all farmers in Bali.

More details can be found at https://greenwarriorpermaculture.wordpress.com

The new project hopes that farmers can earn more profit, retain their land, and preserve the natural beauty of the island and the tourism industry that depends on it.

Rice farmers in Bali typically make just $2.20 per day, or as little as $1.13, due to the high costs of pesticides, herbicides, and other external inputs. By implementing low external input sustainable agriculture (LEISA) techniques and diversifying their crops, farmers can easily triple their incomes within a year.

The project also provides participating farmers with incentives, including a guaranteed price for their crops for 1 year, tools, seeds, and training in organic techniques.

The project is being rolled out in two stages, with the first focusing on training 15 farmers and converting 5 hectares of land to productive polyculture systems. Stage 2 will see the best farmers from Stage 1 becoming trainers, educating the next generation of Super-Farmers.

Some of the produce will be sold to the Super-Farmer collective label, with farmers promising to use organic farming to maintain the soil and ecosystems of Bali for future generations.

The project is expected to result in higher quality produce, and the label will demand higher prices, being marketed to hotels, restaurants, and cafes.

About THK Bali

Tri Hita Karana Bali (THK Bali) is an NGO founded by I Made Chakra Widia to address the negative environmental impact of the Indonesian Government’s “Green Revolution” initiatives in the 1950s and 60s, which used harmful pesticides to increase crop yields.

About Green Warrior Permaculture

Green Warrior Permaculture is an organisation that works on sustainable community development projects in challenging areas around the world. It was founded by Steve Cran, a Permaculture Aid worker with 20 years of experience in the field.

“My current aim is to train the trainer and work with the youth… Given the right skills, it will be the youth who regenerate our planet.” Steve Cran

Additional information about the project is available on the above-mentioned website.