Gaining Independence from Idle Lands
The recognition from the highest ranking police officer in the country will not stop Chief Brig. Munif.
Chief Brig. Munif
Land had stood neglected in Masigit, Jombang district, Cilegon, Banten. In the hands of a policeman and several local youths, however, the overgrown land has now become a productive field.
Chief Brig. Munif, 33, was still in uniform when he arrived at Masigit village recently. Munif, a member of public order agency (Bhabinkamtibmas) in Cilegon, parked his motorcycle. "I just mediated the residents. There were some problems that needed to be settled, "he said.
He then walked across the alley and into the field. Cucumbers, curly red chilis, pare (bitter melon), and sawi (choy sum) were growing very well with dense leaves. Arriving at a modest hut, five young men who were chatting together greeted Munif happily.
"They are the young people who earn an income by working the land and tending to these vegetables," he said.
The father of three then approached the farm he had cultivated with the youths. They examined some plants that had yellowed leaves. "These plants should be replaced soon. They are no longer productive," he said.
As a public order officer in the village, Munif often talks with the residents and asks about their needs. In addition to speaking with them in person, he also communicates with them done by cell phone.
Farmer’s son
Amid his busy activities as a public order officer, Munif works with the youths in cultivating the land. He always takes the time to monitor the field, in the morning before work, on his afternoon break or in the late afternoon before heading home.
Munif\'s began his “side job” after he had visited a number of subdistricts. As a public order officer, it is part of his duties to establish a relationship with the residents. Finally in April 2017, he found a neglected land of 3,000 square meters in Masigit, which was overgrown with weeds.
"Occasionally, a buffalo comes to the land to graze and bathe. It is bad if the land is not cultivated," said Munif.
He then asked for the landowner\'s permission to cultivate the land and proposed his plan to the local community. The residents warmly welcomed the idea. Munif set aside about Rp 16 million from his savings for farming costs.
"Cucumber was chosen because it is not hard to grow, quickly harvested, the risk of pests is low, and demand is also stable," he said.
The overgrowth was cleared, the land was turned and the seeds were planted. His parents’ job as a farmer motivated Munif to cultivate the abandoned land. He found no difficulty in doing so, because he had often helped his parents as a child.
Munif also applied the simple technology of using synthetic mulch. A plastic mat is used to cover soil to retain moisture, prevent weeds from growing and expel pests. "Plastic reflects sunlight onto the leaves so that pests do not feel at home, and weeds also find it difficult to thrive," he said.
Fertilizer can be maximized by boring holes between the plants. The hole is then filled with fertilizer so plants can absorb it easily. Munif harvests about 8 tons of cucumbers in almost a month.
Munif\'s hard work paid off with good profits, which were split in half with the five youths. They each received a share of Rp 6 million. He then used the money to expand their farm into other neglected lands. Today, they cultivate 1 hectare of land.
"In addition to cucumbers, pare (bitter melon) has also been productive at about 6 tons per month. The harvest is sold to local traders," Munif said, adding that the current price of cucumbers and pare was Rp 3,000 per kilogram.
As time went on, Munif and his partners became financially independent. They formed the Bhabinkamtibmas Farmers Group in June 2017.
Thanks to Munif\'s practical hands, the six men can now live independently. Munif not only provides them with jobs, but also encourages them to pursue agriculture. A number of informal workers have also turned to farming for a better income.
Zaenal Arifin, 23, for example, now makes about Rp 1.5 million in a month. Arifin, a resident of Tlaga village in Mancak subdistrict, Serang regency, has worked with Munif since November 2017. Before, Arifin did odd jobs for a monthly income of only Rp 600,000.
"I did anything. As construction worker, a shopkeeper, a cafe attendant," said Arifin.
Kusnadi, 22, who has worked the land in Masigit since December 2017, also said his income had increased from Rp 400,000 to Rp 1.5 million per month. The resident of Terate village in Kramatwatu subdistrict, Serang district, used to be a construction worker. "In the past, I could not save. Now, I can save up to Rp 300,000 per month," Kusnadi said with a smile.
Munif\'s success in empowering the farmers earned him a gold pin from National Police chief General Tito Karnavian. Munif did not expect the award, which was bestowed on him at the National Police headquarters in Jakarta on Oct.13.
"The police chief said it was good and to continue it. I am grateful, although the original motivation to work the idle land was not to get an award," he said.
The recognition from the highest ranking police officer in the country will not stop him. He plans to expand his farming area by cooperating with the Cilegon Food and Agriculture Office. "I have been communicating with the office since last October. There are many other abandoned lands that can be cultivated," he said.
Anybody can change their life, although the key is different from one to another. It only takes the courage to start, turning abandoned land into a new resource for life.
