Mother of Nature Conservation

Around 22 years ago, Partinah, 57, or Emak, was pioneering the planting of Robusta coffee in Cibulao, Bogor regency. Now she is regarded as a mother of nature conservation and mentor of people in the local community.

KOMPAS/CORNELIUS HELMY

Partinah (57)

Emak, or mother, nickname as people usually call Partinah, was again hiking down a valley at the foot of Mount Baeud in Cibulao on Thursday (29/9/2022). Despite her advancing years, her steps remained vigorous. The undulating track amid tea plantations posed no impediment to her. A steep slope with a fast-flowing river beneath was her destination.

The area was formerly scrubland. Not many other trees were growing there.

There, Emak was visibly relieved by her desire to see the hundreds of Robusta coffee plants. She removed old leaves. Then she cleared green waste off part of the floor of the coffee plantation. “I grew all the plants here more than 20 years ago. All of them are already like my own children,” she said.

Emak related that the area was formerly scrubland. Not many other trees were growing there. The area was prone to landslides, especially during the rainy season.

Landslides obviously made Emak worried. If the disasters persisted, masses of earth would spoil the quality of river water. In fact, the river stream was the main source of local residents’ clean water. Furthermore, if left uncontrolled, their settlements and homes would very likely be impacted. Landslides and flash floods were most inclined to occur at any moment.

Emak was racking her brain to minimize the impact. She concluded that the neglected land had to be replanted. However, living from hand to mouth as a tea estate worker limited her creativity.

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Finally, her idea was realized when she returned to Krengseng village, Krengseng district, Temanggung, Central Java, in 2000, known as the center of Robusta coffee. Many residents cultivated seedlings in their homes.

She asked her relatives for a number of coffee seedlings to be replanted in Cibulao. At first, she only carried 50 seedlings. The age of the plants was around one year.

Back in Cibulao, she promptly planted the coffee seedlings with her husband, Nardi. As originally planned, the target was the steep land at the edge of a ravine. At the time, she was not thinking of monetary returns. She was not versed in coffee cultivation methods either.

“We planted at noon or in the afternoon as we finished our work in the tea estate. My husband was removing bushes. I did the planting,” she recalled.

Coffee plant strong roots penetrated the earth to protect large trees that were already there

The result was satisfactory. Coffee plants thrived on the steep slope. Their strong roots penetrated the earth to protect large trees that were already there such as saninten (Castanopsis argentea) and rasamala (Altingia excelsa). Landslides no longer plagued the area.

Partinah and her spouse expanded the regreened area. Hundreds of coffee seedlings were bought from Bogor at Rp 100 per plant. “Some neighbors said our family was wasteful. With less money, we still bought coffee. Yet we kept going as we had good intentions,” said Partinah.

In 2011, it was not her neighbors’ comments that made the Partinah-Nardi duo cease to plant together. Nardi passed away that year following an illness. “After my husband’s demise, I carried on the planting. He once said, never stop planting, for the sake of a better life for future generations.”

KOMPAS/CORNELIUS HELMY

Partinah

Mentors

Emak is a settler from Temanggung. In 1989, she left with her husband and two children for Cibulao. At the time, they were part of a village-relocation group from Kandangan district. “We left aboard three large buses to work in tea estates”

Emak said economic pressure had prompted her to join the relocation hundreds of kilometers away. The wage in Temanggung as a wood hauler was too low to support her family. In a week, she was only paid Rp 750. It was a heavy task as she had to collect the wood herself.

A bigger wage was earned as a tea estate worker in Bogor. She was paid at least Rp 1,200 per week. Tea estate working hours were also more definite. “I still remember, my first task was to replace old tea plants,” she said.

There was nothing special when she planted tea and coffee at the same time. Tea remained her primary source of living. The coffee grown since 2000 was just a sideline. This lasted until one day when Partinah was visited by two researchers from IPB University in 2016. From them, Emak got to know that coffee had equally high conservation and economic values.

Cibulao coffee has further developed and become more valuable.

“The meeting opened many doors. Coffee researchers and mentors were coming. They offered a lot of input to us,” she said.

Emak is fortunate to have three children ready to help her. In their hands, Cibulao coffee has further developed and become more valuable. Jumpono, 39, the second child, is skilled in managing coffee at the upstream end. Kiryono, 42, the oldest, is a reliable marketer. Dasimto. 29, the youngest, is tasked with improving downstream coffee quality.

For a greater impact from their efforts, they have invited other residents to join. It was not easy. In the beginning, there were many rejections as coffee was not yet seen as promising. With the passage of time, the invitations bore fruit. The turning point was when Cibulao Robusta coffee emerged as the best of the nation at the Indonesian Specialty Coffee Contest in 2016. The event was organized by the Indonesian Coffee Exporters and Industries Association (AEKI).

“The champion coffee came from the plants cultivated by Emak,” said Dasimto, who has earned the title of barista with an ASEAN certificate.

The recognition has encouraged many people to learn about coffee planting and processing. Now around 300 residents have joined the Forest Farmers Group (KTH) of North Tugu. They are entrusted with managing the forest zone of Perum Perhutani (state forestry company) in Cisarua with a total area of 610.64 hectares. So far, 250 hectares have been replanted.

Later, with the aid of Bank Indonesia’s West Java office, the North Tugu KTH is preparing three lodging houses for tourists. They are offered activities like exploring coffee and tea estates by bicycle.

“The role of Emak as a pioneer is remarkable. Behind the North Tugu KTH there is an outstanding woman who has become a spirit booster and mother of various conservation activities here,” said West Java Bank Indonesia chief Herawanto.

KOMPAS/CORNELIUS HELMY

Partinah

Partinah

Born: Temanggung, 10 October 1965

Education: State Elementary School of Banjarsari, Temanggung

Children: Three

Grandchildren: Six

This article was translated by Aris Prawira.