Hundreds of LPS Dompet Dhuafa Farmers Had Great Harvest in Brebes

BREBES – Even though in a hot sunny day, hundreds of farmers in Wanoja village, Salem sub-district, Brebes, Central Java looked so happy. It was because they would follow the great rice harvest in their field and the handover of asset reform fund from Dompet Dhuafa.

“Today, the farmers mentored by Dompet Dhuafa through Program Pemberdayaan Petani Sehat (Healthy Farmer Empowerment Program, PPPS) under the Lembaga Pertanian Sehat (Healthy Agriculture Institution, LPS) are happy, since they will have the great harvest,” said the General Manager of Economy Development Program of Dompet Dhuafa, Tendi Satrio, during his activities, Thursday (12/1/2011).

Tendi also said that the program has lasted for two years since April 2009. “And today, besides having great harvest, we also will release a program. There is asset reform fund we will deliver to enable them independent in continuing this program,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the Director of LPS, Jodi H. Iswanto said that the area of great harvest is 57.86 hectares in width. Before following the program, Jodi said, they always had crop failure since they performed traditional land management without having the correct knowledge.

“Rats and other pests often damaged the field. They did not know how to deal with it,” he said.

The number of farmers following the program now is 936 family heads with 940 family members. They are split into 20 groups joining the Gabungan Kelompok Tani (Farmer Group Union, Gapoktan). Total amount of asset reform to deliver is Rp 397 million. The fund is delivered to those farmer groups. “Hence, after this program release, we hope that the farmers can be independent, equipped with guidance and fund from us. The fund comes from zakat of people,” he ended.