Since returning to his home village in Neglasari Village a few years ago, Iju (60) has decided to manage his family’s land. His home village is located in Ibun District, Bandung Regency. Before, he had worked in a rubber and oil palm plantation in Sumatera Island for years. However, his longing for his home village made him decide to return home.  

After returning from Sumatra, Iju began to plant bamboo trees. Unfortunately, the results were not good and the price was not favorable. Meanwhile, he had to support his family. His four children were married, while one of the youngest was still in senior high school and he needed income to meet his family’s daily needs. 

Switching From Growing Bamboo to Polyculture Planting System 

In the midst of his struggle in planting bamboo trees, he was offered to join planting trees program which initiated by Astra Zeneca and collaborates with Trees4Trees and One Tree Planted. He was excited to join the program and received support and training in agriculture from the Trees4Trees team. He did not only receive trees for free, but also obtained trainings and more knowledge of agriculture he needed from the team. 

Iju also got a suggestion and assistance from the team to manage his land by applying a polyculture or intercropping system. Indonesian called the system as tumpang sari. This system works by planting several types of trees and crops in a field. It allows farmers to reap short-term and long-term yields from several different trees and crops. Through this system, he potentially can get greater results than planting just one type of tree.

Based on the suggestion, Iju then decided to plant several food crops on his land whose results could be harvested in short term, such as onions, cassava, sweet potatoes, and chilies. Meanwhile, from the tree planting program with Trees4Trees, Iju received burflower-tree, gmelina, durian, and avocado trees. He can reap the long-term benefit from those types of trees.

Planting Trees to Restore the Former Forest in the Village

According to Iju, he intended to dedicate the long term-harvested trees he planted for his next generation. He said those trees will be his legacy for them. “I will not harvest or cut down these trees. I will pass them to my children and my grandchildren, so they will be able to enjoy the result and the benefit of trees I planted,” Iju said.  

For Iju, planting trees is beyond harvesting and using the result to meet his family daily needs. He believes that trees have much bigger role than that. Trees provide clean air to breathe, water, shelter, and preserve the life to all of living creature on earth. He realizes clean air and water are the most essential needs of human beings, including for the next generations. 

“I plant trees because it provides great benefits not only for myself and my family. But also for the environment. They also produce oxygen and store water that keeps us alive. I want my children and grandchildren will have a good life in the future, so I plant trees,” he added.

Iju’s strong will to plant trees was also fueled by the disappearance of the former forest around her village years ago.  

“In the past, this village had a dense and natural forest. But the forest is lost and now it becomes a critical land due to excessive use. I have a dream to return the forest back. Who knows, if I keep planting trees, I may see the forest return to the way it was before,” said Iju optimistic.