Collaborating for low-carbon, healthy rice: Low Carbon Rice Project celebrates successful harvest with partner farmers in Madiun

Collaborating for low-carbon, healthy rice: Low Carbon Rice Project celebrates successful harvest with partner farmers in Madiun

As a part of a collaborative effort to promote low-carbon, healthy rice production, the Low Carbon Rice Project hosted a partner farmers' harvest celebration in Klumutan Village, Madiun Regency, on Tuesday (20/08). The event took place in the rice fields of the Tani Rejo farmer group (poktan), which partners with UD Sri Langgeng, a small rice mill assisted by the Low Carbon Rice Project. Covering a total of 54 hectares, the Tani Rejo farmer group's paddy fields have the potential to yield approximately 378 tons of rice grain.

"I see this partnership as a right step towards protecting our environment. By synergising through partnerships, we can produce healthy rice in a low carbon manner," said Acting Regional Secretary of Madiun regency, Sodik Hery Purnomo, opening the event.

The European Union (EU) as the funder of the Low Carbon Rice Project also welcomed the rice harvest event of partner farmers in Madiun. "We see this collaboration between farmers and rice millers as strategic and a positive signal that complements various project achievements in Madiun Regency area. We appreciate the support of the local government and stakeholders in Madiun so that this project can run smoothly and provide benefits for farmers and rice millers in Madiun," said the EU Ambassador to Indonesia, H.E. Denis Chaibi.

The event commenced with the traditional "wiwitan" ceremony, a customary expression of gratitude for a bountiful rice harvest. Following the ceremony, participants engaged in a collaborative discussion session focused on advancing partnership models and exploring policies to further develop a sustainable rice value chain.

The harvest is a concrete step for the project in strengthening the rice sector in Indonesia. "This collaboration model also emphasises the importance of implementing climate-friendly and socially responsible rice production practices, such as switching from diesel to electric engines for the rice mills and supply chain efficiency that has the potential to increase income for farmers and small rice millers," said Lead Project Manager of the Low Carbon Rice project, Angga Maulana.

At the post-harvest level, the Low Carbon Rice Project has successfully assisted 34 small rice millers to switch from diesel to electric engines, in addition to other rice mills that are in the process of doing so. Activities at these small rice mills include technical assistance by local facilitators, advocacy to National Electricity Company (PLN), and capacity-building for rice mill owners.

"The switch to electricity has also proven to be very beneficial for rice millers with the potential for production cost efficiency reaching 40% and the potential of reducing emissions at rice mill level by 80%," said Sutarto Alimoeso, Chairman of the Indonesian Rice Milling and Rice Entrepreneurs Association (PERPADI).

Support for more sustainable rice production practices in the Madiun area was also shown by the Village Community Empowerment Agency (Dinas PMD). The PMD Agency collaborated with the Low Carbon Rice Project rice mills through a partnership scheme to support rice production that can maintain land quality, climate, and food supply stability in the Madiun area.

These positive responses from various stakeholders are also the result of the sustainable rice forum initiated by the People's Coalition for Food Sovereignty (KRKP) for the Low Carbon Rice Project. This forum is the driving force that pushes various parties, especially the Madiun Regency Government representatives, to continuously support the project.

"This is the beginning of a long road ahead. However, with the harvest results from this production partnership, it shows that Indonesian rice actors are increasingly ready to welcome the sustainable rice," concluded Angga Maulana.

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About the project

The Low Carbon Rice project aims to reduce carbon emissions from rice production practices in Indonesia. Funded by the EU's SWITCH-Asia Grants Programme, the project is run in Central and East Java by Preferred by Nature in collaboration with the People's Coalition for Food Sovereignty (KRKP) and the Indonesian Rice Milling and Rice Entrepreneurs Association (PERPADI).

Find us on Instagram and Facebook @lowcarbonrice

About EU SWITCH-Asia

Launched in 2007, SWITCH-Asia is the largest EU funded programme promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in 42 countries in Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific. Through the EU Green Deal and Global Gateway, the EU is committed to supporting the transition of countries to a low-carbon, resource-efficient and circular economy while promoting sustainable production and consumption (SCP) patterns within Asia and greener supply chains between Asia and Europe.

Learn more at www.switch-asia.eu

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