A Factory of “Hydroganic” Dreams

KOMPAS/DEFRI WERDIONO

Basiri

Basiri, 47, refuses to stand idly by as farmland continues to shrink. Six years ago, he developed hydroponic and organic, or “hydroganic”, integrated farming. He established Bengkel Mimpi (Factory of Dreams) where others can study hydroganic agriculture.

On Wednesday evening (5/8/2020), Basiri had just returned from Surabaya to his home in Kanigoro village, Pagelaran district, Malang regency, East Java. “I was asked to create a hydroganic demonstration plot on the second floor of the East Java Agriculture Agency office to be introduced to the public. I am working on it right now. I also had a discussion with the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology [ITS] yesterday. It was for synergy. They have the technology, I know how to farm,” Basiri explained.

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Basiri’s house, with its 1,200-square-meter yard, is located near an irrigation culvert. On his yard, he has 15 plots of tiered hydroganic installations made from PVC pipes, plastic cups and Galvalume beams. Each installation is 2 meters by 12 meters.

The upper part is used to grow IR-64 paddy. Some of the plots contain recently-sowed paddies while others have month-old paddies. The lower part of the plots is used for fish ponds to grow catfish, tilapia and koi.

Beside the hydroganic plots are water reservoirs also used to cultivate azolla. Meanwhile, the western yard is used for rice-fish farming (known as minapadi). For freshwater fish cultivation, Basiri uses organic waste to cultivate maggots. Azolla and maggots are highly nutritious and economical to replace factory-made fish feed.

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KOMPAS/DEFRI WERDIONO

Basiri

Basiri said that the hydroganic system is cyclical and all parts benefit from one another. One example is fish waste is pumped through the PVC pipes to the upper part in order to complement the nutritional needs of the paddies.

Among hydroganic agriculture’s superiorities is that it has a higher harvest yield than conventional agriculture. In a year, Basiri can harvest four times whereas farmers relying on conventional agriculture can only harvest three times at most.

The installation can last quite long. Mine is four years old and is still in good condition.

“Conventional agriculture has a longer planting period and must adjust to weather, different from hydroganic agriculture. One plot can produce 40 kilograms of dried unhusked rice,” he said.

Hydroganic agriculture does not require a long gap between planting. Once harvest is completed, the planting medium (the plastic cups placed in the PVC pipes) can be used to grow new plants without having to use special nursery plots.

However, Basiri said, a hydroganic system requires huge initial investment. For each installation measuring 2 meters by 12 meters, the initial investment is between Rp 6 million (US$410.28) and Rp 10 million, depending on the materials used. However, this expense will be covered by sales from harvest yield in the first year. “The installation can last quite long. Mine is four years old and is still in good condition,” he said.

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KOMPAS/DEFRI WERDIONO

Basiri

Another benefit is fish harvest every two weeks. Basiri said that he had just harvested 400 kilograms of catfish from one fish pond.

Basiri was inspired to create the integrated agriculture system using organic materials in 2014. “At the time, I was concerned with the shrinking farmland, as more and more of it is converted to other uses. Young people refuse to manage farms. Even as farmers, it is difficult for us to encourage our children to take care of our land,” he said.

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The graduate of the now-defunct Pagelaran school of agriculture technology then began to create hydroganic installations. He left his job as a building materials shop owner and chose to focus on his dreams.

It is never easy to start something new that has never been done in your neighborhood. Basiri was often taunted and jeered at for what he was trying to do. Many thought his decision was unusual.

Basiri needed two years for research. It was only in 2016 that he could produce grains. The next year, Basiri patented his work. He continued working. Even today, he is still perfecting his methods.

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KOMPAS/DEFRI WERDIONO

Basiri

Bengkel Mimpi was established in 2016. “At Bengkel Mimpi, I [create installations] day and night. I have a dream to plant paddy in a non-conventional way. A paddy cultivation in line with the times and with decreasing farmland. One time, someone asked what this place was called. The name Bengkel Mimpi was a spur-of-the-moment answer,” he said.

Currently, Bengkel Mimpi houses several activities, including organic fertilizer production, paddy and fish cultivation, hydroponic installation production for sales and training for farmers wanting to develop similar farming technique. Poor farmers can join the training for free.

I have a dream to plant paddy in a non-conventional way.

Currently, Bengkel Mimpi has 20 members of various backgrounds, both from Malang and other regions. Most of them are youths around 30 years old. Their duties vary, including managing administration, cooperating with external parties and providing trainings.

Today, many come to Bengkel Mimpi to learn. They are not only farmers but also students, entrepreneurs and youth group members. Furthermore, Basiri is also often invited to events to share his knowledge and experiences.

Basiri

Born : Malang, 5 August 1973

Wife : Novita Kartika Mayasari

Children: 3

Education:

- SD Kanigoro 3 elementary school, Malang (1987)

- SMPN 4 Kepanjen state middle school, Malang (1990)

- Pagelaran school of agriculture technology (SMTP), Malang (1993)