Fathulloh, Spreading the Seeds of Food Sufficiency
Fathulloh, 40, spreads the spirit to fulfill food needs independently with his Urban Farmers Community. Community members earn extra income from aquaponics while fulfilling food needs in the form of fish and vegetables. They can use a piece of land at home to use the aquaponic system.
In East Pamulang subdistrict, Pamulang district, South Tangerang City, Banten, Fathulloh shared his knowledge with four aquaponic training participants from Jakarta and Banten. He explained aquaponics or a combination of aquaculture and hydroponics. "Don\'t get sleepy, please. The volume of my voice is already high here," Fathulloh said with a laugh on Sunday (28/4/2019).
Behind them were nine aquaponics. The length of each aquaponic is 4 meters, its width is 1.5 meters and its height 2.5 meters. Aquaponic is a farming method that uses a combination of fish farming and hydroponics.
The bottom part of the aquaponics is a pond with tarpaulin pads containing, among other things, catfish, carp and fat tilapia. The upper part of the aquaponics is fitted with pipes with holes. Swamp cabbage, bok choi and celery looked green.
On that land, there are around 3,500 plants and 10,000 fish. The sound of running water from the pipes that flow into the pool is constantly heard. After explaining the theory, Fathulloh invited the training participants to see the aquaponics.
Pool water is used to fertilize vegetables. The plant also functions as a biofilter so that the water can be used again. "The water is returned to the pond. The remaining food and fish feces meet the nutritional needs of plants. Every catfish, for example, fulfills the nutrition of four trees," he said.
During the training, Fathulloh also served several consumers who had come to buy fish and vegetables. "Just look [the farm] in the back [yard]," Fathulloh told the motorcycle driver, who wanted to buy 1 kilogram of catfish.
Fathulloh employees immediately caught the catfish. In only about five minutes, the catfish was cleaned and fresh fish worth Rp 25,000 was put in plastic.
Fathulloh can get a total of 1 quintal of fish per week. He sells catfish for Rp 25,000 per kilogram and tilapia Rp 30,000 per kilogram. Meanwhile, the quantity of vegetables harvested is around 20 kilograms per month. One of the vegetables produced is bok choi, which is sold for Rp 25,000 per kilogram. Those commodities are more expensive because they are produced organically.
Aquaponic owners can get additional income. If you want, just an area of 1 square meter is enough for small aquaponics
Fathulloh spreads the seeds of food sufficiency by teaching people to implement aquaponics on limited land. "Aquaponic owners can get additional income. If you want, just an area of 1 square meter is enough for small aquaponics," he said.
The training participants learned about Fathulloh’s activity through bosletong.com. This site describes an integrated farming system consisting of fisheries, agriculture and integrated and profitable farming.
The training, held since 2011, is conducted at least twice a month. Each training session runs for four hours. Participation is not only from Greater Jakarta, but also from other countries, such as Germany, Malaysia and Japan. In fact, he was once a consultant for a Taiwanese aquaponics business in Bekasi, West Java.
In 2011, Fathulloh established the Urban Farmers Community. When the community was formed, there were around 20 people. Now, the number of its members stands at 700 people. They are spread in Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, Bali and Bengkulu. To spread various information, he uses Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp.
"We use these media to discuss, convey ideas and solve problems. Many trainees in aquaponics don\'t know where to sell their commodities. So, I established a cooperative in 2017," said Fathulloh.
The Urban Farmers Community producers cooperative helps members of the Urban Farmers Community distribute their crops. The number of cooperative members stands at 53 people. Previously, in 2014, he also established a business unit in Bosletong Agro System. Bosletong is an acronym for the provision of prosperous people, catfish in barrels.
In 2015, Fathulloh completed his book, Harvesting Vegetables with Fish Bonus, which was published by the Penebar Swadaya. The National Library of Indonesia named it the 2016 Best Applicative Book.
Independent life
Fathulloh\'s interest in hydroponics had grown since he was a child. He often helps care for his parents’ garden, rice fields and fish ponds in Jombang regency, East Java. "Fish that are cultivated including carp fish, catfish and tilapia. The garden is planted with kale, mustard greens, corn and cucumber," he said.
I had been in debt for 15 days with the cake seller. I only ate getuk, cassava and banana cake
Fathulloh planned to study at the Shalahuddin Al-Ayyubi State Islamic Institute in Bekasi regency. Sadly, Fathulloh\'s wallet was stolen. "I had been in debt for 15 days with the cake seller. I only ate getuk, cassava and banana cake," he said.
After his parents sent money, Fathulloh paid off his debt. Fathulloh kept his spirits high. He immediately enrolled at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University in Jakarta. All of the costs were paid by his village friend.
"I stayed at his boarding house for a year. He also took care of the university entrance exam," he said. To be independent, he taught privately in the fields of biology, physics, chemistry and mathematics.
"I use the remainder of my pay as a teacher for farming catfish and carp fish on a 1,000 square meter rented land," he said. Fathulloh cultivated fish in Bogor regency, West Java, up to the fifth semester.
In 2008, business had slowed. He returned to the fisheries by cooperating with about 10 farmers. Fathulloh provided capital by buying pickups and renting land in Bogor regency. Unfortunately, the farmers left the land. The land is abandoned and the remaining fish is sold to the vegetable seller. He received money after the fish was sold out. "I put the fish in a barrel. Cultivation is carried out on narrow land. It\'s only 2 meters wide beside the garage," he said.
The water problem created a headache for Fathulloh. Every three days, the water in the barrel becomes smelly because of accumulated fish waste.
Then, Fathulloh met a hydroponic expert, who taught him aquaponics so the water would not dissipate. "I grew kale and spinach but they turned yellow. Then, I practice aquaponics and the vegetables are green," he said.
I invite friends to integrate the cultivation of fish and vegetables. In fact, I forced them
After learning about aquaponics, it turns out that aquaponics must prioritize fish, not plants. Healthy fish will produce quality plants. "I invite friends to integrate the cultivation of fish and vegetables. In fact, I forced them," he said.
Information about Fathulloh\'s success spread so he was invited by several private companies to state-owned enterprises. He was asked to teach retirees about how to earn an income. Some schools also invited Fathulloh to educate their students. "The community that I established became an ambassador for village farmers. I invite people to build food security," he said.
Fathulloh
Born: Jombang, East Java, May 20, 1979
Wife: Anik Rudiyati (38)
Children: Saibil Gifa Al Fath (14); Sabda Umara Al Fath (7); Secha Maulana Al Fath (3)
Education:
- Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Sedati, Jombang, East Java (1991)
- Madrasah Tsanawiyah Filial Tambakberas, Jombang, East Java (1994) - Madrasah Aliyah Bahrul Ulum Tambakberas, Jombang, East Java (Graduated 1997)
- Comparison of Mazhab at the School of Sharia and Law, Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, Jakarta (Graduated 2003)