My name is Lisefah Refi, a 41-year-old farmer from Pulau Jumat Village, Riau Province. I used to burn rice straw and weeds to clear my field, believing it improved soil fertility, but over time, my yields declined, and pests and diseases became more frequent. I spent more on fertilizers and pesticides.
In December 2022, I joined the Clean Air Farming Field School held by FIELD Indonesia Foundation. As part of the Putri Mandiri Woman Farmer Group, I observed side-by-side comparison trials. We learned that burning depletes soil nutrients and leads to compaction. On our quarter-hectare study plot, the no-burn method yielded 8 tons per hectare, compared to 6.8 tons from the conventional method.
After the training, I switched to no-burn regenerative methods on my own land. My rice plants became more vigorous, with minimal damage from pests. Remarkably, while neighbouring fields suffered from yellow disease, my crop thrived.
I will continue using this method and encourage other farmers in my District to adopt it for cleaner air and better yields. Insya Allah, let us work together for a healthier Indonesia.
