Fostering Independence among Disabled Farmers through Collaborative Acts of Kindness

Cimahi, West Java – On March 16th, the Disability Farmers Group, with the support of Human Initiative, received training on crystal guava cultivation and fruit tree grafting techniques in Cigugur Tengah Village, Cimahi City, West Java. This collaboration also formalized the agricultural assistance provided by JNE and Mutif Corp, who are donors of the Family Food Security program aimed at promoting the independence of persons with disabilities in the West Java region. Over 30 people participated in this empowerment activity, including representatives from the West Java Province Social Service, JNE Human Capital, Human Initiative of West Java, the Indonesian Association of Persons with Disabilities (PPDI) of West Java, and the Disabled Farmers Group.

Achmad Ade, the Head of the Rehabilitation Division at the West Java Province Social Service, provided full support for this program. In his remarks, he invited everyone to care for and pay attention to the environment, plants, and trees.

“I hope that this assistance can be useful and sustainable for farmer groups, particularly the Disabled Farmers Group. Our aim is to help them become economically independent,” said Achmad Ade.

A Good Collaboration from Multi-Stakeholders

The Disabled Farmers Group showed great enthusiasm for this multi-stakeholder collaboration. They received direct training from Wahyu, a crystal guava farming practitioner from Karawang, who taught them various techniques, including how to graft crystal guava with coconut stem powder as the medium. To share their newfound knowledge, the Farmers with Disabilities utilized 3,015 meters of land belonging to the West Java Social Service for agriculture and plantation purposes.

Aden, a representative from PPDI in West Java, expressed hope that this program would bring benefits to people with disabilities. He also wished that good collaborations like this would continue to flourish for the disabled community in Indonesia. Similarly, Sudrajat Teguh, the representative from the main Bandung branch of JNE Human Capital, hopes that this program will contribute to the welfare of the community and prove to be useful.

Since Human Initiative is a humanitarian organization that has a core program of the Initiative for Empowerment, it has a Disabled Farmers Group as its fostering activity. Some of them are Disabilitas Pratama Mandiri and Tumbuh Mandiri with various disabilities who are participants in this activity.

Through the empowerment program, it is hoped that the independence of the beneficiaries will be realized. This is done in order to achieve community welfare, especially for persons with disabilities in the West Java region.

“The Human Initiative is committed to community empowerment, one of which is the disability group. Hopefully, this knowledge can be put into practice directly on their plantations,” said Bustanul Aripin Nasir, Head of the Programs Division at Human Initiative of West Java Program.

Reporter: Rofik Nursahid – Human Initiative of West Java