The Cahaya Mentari Women Farmers Group and the HCC Berdikari Farmers Group successfully carried out a rice harvest marked by strong cooperation and efficiency among their members. The activity was a collaborative effort between the Gemawan Association and the Department of Agriculture and Food of Kayong Utara Regency, held from 6 to 9 March 2025 in Dusun Besar Village, Pulau Maya District.
A total of 25 farmers, assisted by a local agricultural extension officer, harvested rice from a one-hectare demonstration plot (demplot).
Although the harvest coincided with the holy month of Ramadan, the farmers’ enthusiasm remained high despite fasting. To optimize efficiency, the group divided into two teams: one team handled the harvesting, while the other immediately performed threshing on-site.
This method allowed farmers to take home the threshed grain (gabah) directly, reducing post-harvest workload and minimizing losses.
Early Harvest and Environmental Constraints
Mahera, Chairperson of the Cahaya Mentari Women Farmers Group, explained that the harvest was carried out earlier than scheduled due to rising seawater levels that began flooding the fields.
This environmental condition affected productivity, with yields estimated at around one ton despite the application of good and environmentally friendly farming practices.
“Our farmlands in Dusun Besar are prone to tidal inundation, which affects yields every planting season,”
Mahera said, highlighting the recurring challenge for coastal farmers.
The situation illustrates the vulnerability of local agriculture to climate change impacts, particularly sea-level rise and irregular rainfall patterns that threaten low-lying coastal farmlands.
Evaluation and Future Adaptation
Welli Arma, Gemawan’s District Coordinator in Kayong Utara, emphasized that this harvest serves as a valuable evaluation for the group’s future strategies.
“These conditions remind us to anticipate environmental changes more seriously.
Adaptation is key to sustaining agriculture in the face of climate change,”
Welli noted.
As a follow-up, the farmer groups plan to diversify into horticultural crops that are more resilient to tidal and waterlogged conditions.
They also aim to strengthen their role as a knowledge-sharing platform, encouraging members to exchange experiences, techniques, and innovations in sustainable farming.
Through continuous collaboration between farmers, government agencies, and civil society, the initiative seeks to enhance food security, women’s leadership in agriculture, and the socioeconomic resilience of coastal communities in Kayong Utara.
Writer: Welli Arma, Gemawan Activist