Peatlands, crucial for carbon storage and ecosystem balance, face relentless threats from human activities. Restoring these vital ecosystems holds the promise of quelling fires, preserving biodiversity, and combatting climate change. However, the path to restoration is riddled with complexities, stirring disagreements among stakeholders with conflicting interests, from companies holding concessions to local communities.

In the Philippines, where peat soil is distributed across the archipelago, there is a glaring lack of awareness about peat and its management persists across various sectors. The recent approval of House Bill 8204 signifies a significant stride toward conserving these ecosystems. However, bridging the knowledge gap demands collective efforts. Engaging local communities, NGOs, and government bodies in comprehensive strategies is essential for effective peatland stewardship, bolstering the country's capacity to address climate change through sustainable practices.

Yusuf's Peatland Oasis: Thriving Horticulture for Sustainable Futures

In the sprawling peatlands of Riau, Muhammad Yusuf treads lightly on the fragile ecosystem that he has come to call home. Proudly displaying a massive pumpkin weighing over 9 kilograms, Yusuf symbolizes the agricultural innovation blossoming in these peatlands. As chairman of the Cemerlang Forest Farmers Group in Dayun Village, his journey mirrors the struggle to safeguard these vital ecosystems.

Indonesia's 21 million-hectare peatlands face similar issues, with 7.5 million hectares cleared for unsuitable oil palm and Industrial Forest Plantations (HTI), leading to severe damage, land sinking, and significant global CO2 emissions, surpassing 5%. Immediate action and sustainable alternatives are imperative to address these escalating threats to global ecosystems and climate stability.

Amidst the environmental discord, Muhammad Yusuf and his fellow farmers offer hope. While industrial giants encroach on peatlands, they demonstrate that alternative, profitable livelihoods can exist without compromising the fragile ecosystem. They show that peatlands can thrive, be restored, and sustainably support the surrounding community. "We must endure for the long term, not just for our survival but for the environment as well. It's crucial for us to strive for greater independence and not rely solely on landowners and oil palm plantations," said Yusuf.

Yusuf has transformed his 2-hectare peatland into a thriving oasis that reflects his unwavering dedication. Within this space, he skillfully tends to various crops, including pumpkins, watermelons, eggplants, and cayenne peppers, alongside nurturing timber trees like meranti, punak, sago, matoa, and rubber. His dedication bore fruit last October, yielding an extraordinary 60 tonnes watermelon harvest that surpassed all expectations. This success led him to advocate for his colleagues to embrace watermelon cultivation as well.

Eggplants and cayenne peppers also particularly shine in productivity. One harvest of eggplants can yield up to 200 kilograms in three months, while a cayenne pepper tree produces around 8-9 ounces. These crops not only bring profit but also sustainability, maturing much faster than oil palm.

"We aim to empower the local community economically by promoting the shift to horticultural farming. Beyond fostering self-reliance, horticultural farming offers eco-friendliness. By diversifying, we enhance self-sufficiency and contribute to a more environmentally friendly approach beyond the monoculture of palm oil."

Despite his efforts to persuade the local government to transition to horticulture farming due to its proven success, he has yet to achieve success. However, amidst the dominance of oil palm in Siak's landscape, Yusuf and his peers persist in showcasing that peatlands can support diverse crops beyond the confines of monoculture.

Yusuf believes in cultivating these alternative crops for the future. His group, the Cemerlang Forest Farmers, is dedicated to identifying the best-suited horticultural crops for peatland farming challenges. Farming in peatlands requires unique techniques, including careful soil compaction, water management to prevent rapid water loss, and essential fertilization due to low nutrient content.

"That's why I consistently encourage Siak's farmers to transition towards horticulture. With relatively modest investments, they can own and harvest from their own plots of land. I also frequently motivate and train my workers, emphasizing the importance of them having their own farms in the future, ensuring sustainable utilization of these peatlands."

Despite the challenges, farmers like Yusuf embrace the opportunity these lands offer. Reduced chemical use and easier pest control make this environmentally friendly farming approach appealing.

Collaborative Efforts and Transformation

In this evolving agricultural landscape, initiatives like Perkumpulan Elang step in to bridge gaps. Recognizing the need for policy-level solutions and alternative livelihoods, they advocate for sustainable practices like Paludiculture in peatlands. Alternative crops like pineapple, squash, eggplant, cayenne pepper, and long beans offer economic and environmental benefits, with faster harvest cycles than oil palm.

Perkumpulan Elang collaborates with farmers like Yusuf and government stakeholders, conducting research, campaigns, and community programs. The result is evident in Dayun Village, with reduced oil palm reliance, increased prosperity, and ultimately reduced forest fire risk.

Muhammad Yusuf's story embodies hope in adversity, emphasizing the urgency of protecting Indonesia's peatlands and their potential for sustainable agriculture. By embracing alternative crops and eco-friendly farming practices, these farmers secure livelihoods while safeguarding our planet's delicate ecosystems. The time to act for the peatlands, for Indonesia, and for global climate stability is now.

Magsino Family, Outstanding family-farmer 2013 from Goa, Camarines Norte

We've featured TOFARM here before and again they are honoring farmers. Read what their story is all about.

The best farmers from various parts of the country will be feted in TOFARM AWARDS 2015 – the third consecutive Outstanding Farmers of the Philippines (TOFARM) recognition awards staged by Universal Harvester Inc.

The yearly awards honors the country’s top agricultural groups and individuals who have imparted valuable contributions to their families, communities, provinces, and the country as a whole through best agricultural practices, innovations, initiatives and systems. The recognition awards will be held at the Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La Manila.

“It is an initiative begun in the 1970’s by the then Philippine Jaycees that has been reinvented to recognize the resiliency, ingenuity and strength of our hardworking Filipino farmers. This is open to all Filipino farmers, fisherfolk, animal raisers, cooperatives, farm communities, organizations, education/academe, agriculture scientist, LGUs and public employees, and business entities in rural and urban areas,” said Rommel Cunanan, TOFARM Project Director.

Outstanding Agriculture Initiatives by the Hibiga River Irrigation System Irrigators Association Inc. of Polangui, Albay

Candidates for Best Farmer, Fisherfolk, Woman Farmer, Livestock Farmer, Young Farmer, Agri-Innovator, Urban City Farmer, Agri-Entrepreneur make up the individual awards category, while candidates for Family Farmer, Agri-Cooperative, Agri-Initiative and Local Government Unit make up the group awards category.

Besides the awards to be received in the various categories, Farmer of the Year honors will be given to the most outstanding among the awardees. Winners in each category will receive gold or silver plaques plus cash prizes.
The TOFARM Awards wants to refocus attention on the importance and viability of agriculture as an industry and a lucrative profession, Cunanan added. The program, he said, had grown by leaps and bounds since its re-introduction in 2012. Besides recognizing the achievements and contributions made by farmers to Philippine society and the economy, the program has also extended real help to farmers by providing them with education opportunities, livelihood initiatives, farm inputs assistance, income earning schemes and observation (lakbay-aral) tours abroad.

In 2013, the program went beyond the award system. Several regional and provincial promotions were conducted nationwide, coupled with Family Financial Management seminars for the Farmers. Alongside these promotions are domestic and international lakbay-aral tours in areas with advanced agricultural practices. Expanding further in the last part of 2013 and early 2014 is the implementation of the “Adopt-a-Farmer” program, this was massively initiated in the Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) stricken areas. Agriculture communities were adopted to support their effort “BACK-TO-FARM” (Balik-Saka) and facilitate their early rehabilitation. The program is now in Laguna, spearheading our effort in the Luzon area, further escalating in Mindanao this 2015. These newly revitalized communities are called TOFARM Villages, which are given assistance, from agricultural production to marketing, and personal finance management.

Dr. Milagros Ong-How, Executive Vice President of UHI who has been recognized by academic institutions, local and international award-giving bodies for her contributions to agriculture, echoed the sentiment of TOFARM to help Filipino farmers as a whole, and especially those who have faced challenges, setbacks and oftentimes oppressive realities of their farming livelihoods.

“Through TOFARM we want them to know that they are not alone. Their work is being recognized, their contributions are being acknowledged, and we stand with them in their continuous struggle to obtain their basic needs,” Dr. How said.

Outstanding Farmer 2013 Rodolfo S. Benavidez

Every year, TOFARM tries to create better awareness for the plight of Filipino farmers and seek support for their advancement. In 2013 TOFARM launched a Photo and Video Contest that showcases the ingenuity and resiliency of the farmers. This year TOFARM is launching an Indie Film Festival with the Filipino farmer and Philippine agriculture as its focal point.

For more details about TOFARM, visit www.tofarm.org