SH Lintang Field Update – May 7, 2025: Farm Assessment of Mr. Syahroni, a Civil Servant-Turned-Innovative Farmer
On May 7, 2025, the SH Lintang team conducted a field assessment at the farm of Mr. Syahroni, a member of the Mitra Tani Farmers Group in Dusun Langkang. As he approaches retirement from his career as a civil servant, Mr. Syahroni is preparing to fully transition into the world of farming, with a special focus on pepper cultivation.
He is widely recognized as an active, enthusiastic, and innovative farmer. Having initially practiced conventional pepper farming, Mr. Syahroni has now adopted the pepper grafting method to enhance plant resistance against diseases and extend productivity. He currently manages around 3,000 pepper vines planted within a village forest area, cultivating top varieties such as Nyelungkup leaf pepper, Lampung broadleaf pepper, Indian pepper, and Merapin.
For trellising, he employs a combination of juluk hantu (local live trellis tree), Gamal trees, and deadwood like hardwood posts. Additionally, the pruned Gamal leaves are reused as natural green manure, showcasing his commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices.
Beyond pepper, Mr. Syahroni is also cultivating a range of fruit trees including durian, sapodilla, rambutan, petai, saingon, and banana, creating a diverse and rich agroforestry landscape around his farm.
Soil assessment revealed that the soil is dark brownish-black, with a fresh earthy smell, a topsoil depth of around 5 cm, and a soil pH of 5.0. Leaf brix readings reached 3.5%, suggesting room for improvement in nutrient management to optimize plant health and growth.
