More Family Income by Implementing Drip Irrigation Technique

Being an honorarium staff for more than eight years in the Kupang Regency Government office does not make George Yakobus Nenobesi (44) and his family proud. With an income of approximately Rp750,000-Rp. 800,000/month, the man who is known as Om Kobus hard to meet family’s basic needs.

This situation made Om Kobus's determination to become a horticultural farmer even more determined. Especially after seeing the success that has been felt by his relatives and neighbors in cultivating horticultural crops.

Through the horticultural demo plot (demonstration plot) Moringa project by Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI) supported by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) with the application of drip irrigation with Power Agro as a partner, Om Kobus, and his siblings joined forces to try using a drip irrigation system.

At first, Om Kobus and his siblings did not want to try drip irrigation again because they had a bad experience, at which time the production they got was not satisfactory.

However, through a process of discussion and sharing of experiences and agreements made together, the drip irrigation application developed by Power Agro will be carried out on land owned by Sakarias Nenobesi and Om Kobus.

With this drip irrigation, Om Kobus and his family feel very helpful because all work runs very efficiently, especially in water use.

To further streamline water use at the horticultural demonstration plot locations, WVI collaborated with partners (Power Agro and Politani Undana) to test the use of water sensors, which will have an impact on reducing expenses as production costs.

“In addition, we can work on more than one garden in one planting season,” said Om Kobus’s wife.

The results obtained from the use of drip irrigation technology also make him happy. He is grateful because it can give more benefits to his family.

“My family and friends who are engaged in horticultural farming around the demonstration plot are very grateful to the Moringa project by WVI which has brought a new change for us for the development and progress of horticultural farming in our village,” he revealed.

Now, many farmers have decided to apply drip irrigation. The Moringa project in NTT helps farmers to gain knowledge in applying good agricultural practices techniques. This will help farmers increase agricultural yields that can be useful for the needs of children and households.
 

Written by: Matheos Dima, External Consultant of Moringa Project Wahana Visi Indonesia.
Translated by: Klaudia Mawuntu, Intern Wahana Visi Indonesi