This is some background about the EcoSolutions Lombok Demonstration plot at Tanjung Ringgit, East Lombok.
(Please excuse any errors, ill tidy this up tomorrow and incorporate your questions)
We are located 2 km from the famous tourism area of Pink beach / Pantai pink in Sekaroh, East Lombok. And 500m from the beach camp resort, Jeeva Beloam.
We are in the far left of this map at the 9:00 position
The site in February
The Tanjung Ringgit demplot was concieved as part of the ASGPP project. It was intended to be the first thing that we got done in the two year project, however due to unfortunate circumstances, we only got to install this right at the middle of the second season, January 2017
Why?
It consists of a 2 Hectare (5 acre) plot of cleared forest. Its been previously cut down by slash and burn corn croppers and then razed again by buffalo and goat herders, then illegal firewood collectors selling to the Tobacco kilns. It was a mess.
The demonstration plot is designed to incorporate all the technologies that were to be transferred to the farmers in local villages, on a site representative in size and condition to local farms. Therefore we had to choose a wrecked site that represents all the other damaged areas, and the methods used to fix it all have to be achievable by any other farmer with a minimum of investment.
The Program
The Program that i wrote to be implemented over 27 months for 80 farmers went along these lines..
Part 1A stabilise existing production systems
Permaculture training for 80 Farmers
Vetiver grass technology for local farms
Living fencing for farmland protection
Fodder banks for dry season fodder
Erosion control training and practical
Water tanks construction training and installation
Reforestation methods training and contracted employment to plant trees
Part 1B
Trial Wastewater gardens technology
Workshops in more Advanced topics in horticulture such as grafting, pruning and agroforestry
100 Fruit trees of > 30 species to each farmer
Workshops in Animal husbandry incl. Cut and carry, poultry health and feeding, bees, other livestock
Trial projects for Bioenergy crops like Jatropha, firewood lots, biogas
Farmer field trip to see production and Agrotourism venues in other regencies
Farmer exhibitìon and peer to peer communication to show successes to govt and peers
Unfortunately we had to pull funding from the project however, the Demplot will continue to be developed over the next 3 years along the same trajectory as was originally planned.
Current focus and what we are doing
Living fencing is critical to excluding free ranging goats, pigs and buffalo which damage young plants and annual crops. This technique is well known in Lombok but using just a few species. With around 700 linear metres of living fence to do, we plan to demonstrate the use of the 50 species of plant we've observed across Indonesia used for Living fences, and maybe find some new ones. So far most of the poles using local species are in anr growing
We are waiting for september/october as the best months to continue this work.
The use of Vetiver grass is a fundamental intervention to slow and reverse soil erosion, feed animals and enrich the soil with carbon. We have established hedgrows on contour to slow waters movement downhill after rain and increase infiltration.
Water tanks are critical to success. In this area there is no surface water and the well water is saline. People used unsanitary methods to capture and store water. We have trained 30 people in the methods to create above and belowground ferro cement water tanks
Our fodder bank tests have started and will focus on fast growing legume trees and grasses that provide green food for animals during the long dry season. We are looking to integrate this among crops and existing trees in a beneficial way. We are at the beginning of exploring the many different foods for animals that we can grow here.
More than 150 trees of 33 species of fruiting plants have been planted, and many varieties with many more to come. For just one Species, the Mango, we have a plan for 30 varieties. So far we have just 6 types but more are planned for this rainy season.
The fruits we are testing fall under 4 main categories
A. Local or Indigenous
B. Commercial for local markets
C. Export to premium markets
D. Experimental
Reforestation methods applied in the demplot are Fmnr techniques, conservation of indigenous trees within the orchard, enrichment planting of indigenous trees.
It is crucial this model respects the indigenous flora and grows up anongst the forest
Not replacing it. ! 20170620_144729.jpg
The Wastewater garden for the toilet is being built, a modification on the "Tiger toilet". It will provide safe sanitation and integrated reuse of wastewater to produce more food, fodder and mulch.
Animal husbandry is an key part of lifting people from poverty, if done in a profitable way that uses underutilised resources. Quail, Geese and sheep will add to existing chickens at the demplot
We are adding New crops such as Rosella, pumpkin, bambara nut and Jicama bean to see how they yield and if there are local or tourist markets.
Old crops will be revived in place of the export yellow corn, instead local Sorghum, jagung ketan, Forest Rice and sesame for better nutrition and not for export.
Biofuel will play a role later with biogas trials.
For now we are installing efficient wood stoves, rocket stoves and simple solar electricity.
Education at the demplot will be ongoing.
Previously we taught farmers with NGO's Emas Hitam indonesisa and BATI.
Reforestation training has been and will be held again at the demplot
Visitors are welcome and soon we will make the area available as a campsite for visitors to nearby Pink Beach.
The demplot is to be a Hub where farmers, government officials and visitors can meet and see things that have been trialled for the area to see for themselves how and if they wish to also try it.
We hope we can make funds extra to our budget to expand using funds from site visits and Steemit posts
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smart phone