Edufarmers And Indramayu Rice Farmers Learn The Importance Of Soil Health At Big Farmers Field School Bertani

Indramayu, August 28, 2025 – Edufarmers Foundation, through its Bertani program, successfully held the Big Farmers Field School at the Gabuskulon Village Hall, Indramayu. The event brought together agricultural experts in soil health and Pelopor Tani (Farmer Pioneers), focusing on enhancing farmers’ understanding of soil health and the practice of producing liquid organic fertilizer as a foundation for national food security. 

Soil Health for Sustainable Food 

According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 69% of Indonesia’s agricultural land is degraded due to poor soil management practices. This condition has now become a serious challenge in realizing sustainable food security. 

Indra Permana, S.P., M.P., Head of the Soil Science Laboratory and Lecturer at Siliwangi University, who also served as the keynote speaker, delivered a session titled “Soil as the Key to Productivity and Sustainability.” He emphasized that soil health is determined by nutrient and water productivity, physical stability, chemical balance, and biological activity. Healthy soil provides significant benefits such as efficient use of nutrients and water, stronger crop resilience, and erosion prevention. 

“There is a saying, ‘No Soil, No Food,’ meaning that to produce food, we must have healthy soil. Farmers actually know their soil conditions but often take the wrong steps in trying to improve them. Soil monitoring can be done simply. The most important thing is not to fall into excessive dependence on chemical fertilizers or pesticides,” Indra stressed. 

Learning from Experts and Practitioners 

The Big Farmers Field School, attended by farmers in Indramayu, featured both learning sessions and discussions on soil health, as well as a workshop on producing Paini Bacillus liquid organic fertilizer. 

Keynote speaker Indra Permana presented “A Practical Guide to Monitoring and Improving Soil Health” using the Soil Sense method, a simple tool for farmers to analyze soil conditions. He also highlighted case studies from local farmland, such as Sukendi’s plot with low C-organic levels and Wartim’s with low N and C-organic levels. He provided environmentally friendly recommendations to restore soil conditions. 

To offer practical solutions, the event continued with a workshop led by Sakum, a Pelopor Tani and local farmer from Indramayu, who demonstrated how to make Paini Bacillus liquid organic fertilizer — an eco-friendly solution to directly improve soil health. 

The activity received strong appreciation from farmers and was proven to bring real positive impacts. 

“Before, I only knew about fertile soil, but now I understand the difference between fertile and healthy soil. The knowledge I gained can be directly applied in my field. I hope Edufarmers Foundation will continue to collaborate with various agricultural sectors,” said Alwi, a rice farmer from Rancahan Village. 

Echoing this sentiment, Nurdin, a Pelopor Tani from the same village, added: 

 “This event is not only about gaining knowledge, but also about building connections among farmers. I learned a lot about always paying attention to soil health. The topics presented are very relevant to the needs of farmers in Indramayu.” 

Collaboration for Sustainable Agriculture 

This event was made possible through the collaboration of Edufarmers Foundation’s Bertani program with the full support of sponsors Benih Berkah Berseri (BBB) and AquaBloom. Through the Big Farmers Field School, Edufarmers Foundation remains committed to empowering farmers with knowledge and best agricultural practices, while ensuring the sustainability of Indonesia’s agricultural sector. 

With applicable knowledge, eco-friendly practices, and cross-sector collaboration, it is hoped that farmers in Indramayu and across Indonesia will be able to produce high-quality food without damaging the fundamental foundation of agriculture: healthy soil. 

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