Hasna, a 53-year-old mother of five from Omu Village, is no stranger to hard work. Each day, she balances household responsibilities with the demands of being a corn farmer. Despite her efforts, years of farming brought little reward—her yields remained stagnant, far from what she hoped.
“I’ve been farming corn for years,” she said, “but my yields have always been the same. The best harvest I ever had was around 3 tons—and that was back in 2021.”
Everything began to change in September 2023. That’s when Hasna heard that ADRA Indonesia was returning to her village to launch the REAF II project—complete with a farmer field school. Without hesitation, she signed up. What she didn’t know then was that this step would transform more than just her fields.
Through the REAF II project, Hasna learned about Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)—including the use of hybrid seeds (F1), precise planting with 30×70 cm spacing, reducing pesticide reliance, and maintaining cleaner fields through timely weeding. Though the new seeds cost more, she understood their long-term value.
Her financial limitations meant she could only fertilize once during the season—about 30–35 days after planting. She applied 200 kg each of Phonska and urea. Despite the constraints, she began to see results.
Her journey hasn’t been easy. The village faced an earthquake, followed by a flash flood. “No one dared return to the fields,” she recalled. “We lived off donated food—noodles, rice, sardines. It took a year before we could farm again. Even then, harvests were poor.”
But ADRA’s training reignited her hope. Hasna knows there’s more work ahead. Her yields still fall short of national averages, but she’s committed to going further—planning to apply compost or lime to improve soil quality in the next season.
“Thank you to ADRA Indonesia,” she said. “I hope ADRA continues to support Omu Village so more farmers can benefit like I did.”
In Hasna’s story, we see what happens when support meets determination. It’s not just about crops—it’s about confidence, recovery, and believing that better is possible.
This is what ADRA does. We don’t just offer training—we invest in transformation. By equipping farmers like Hasna with the right tools, knowledge, and support, we’re helping communities move from survival to sustainability. One woman’s determination, backed by practical support and hope, becomes a ripple of change—reaching families, fields, and futures. This is the heart of ADRA: standing beside people, planting resilience, and watching lives grow stronger, season after season.
