Antonius Awek, a farmer from Anggaduber Village, Oridek District, Biak Numfor Regency, initially worked as a fisherman and had absolutely no knowledge of agriculture, and he had not even seen fertilizer in physical form before. The transformation began in 2020 when the Technical Field Officer (TFO) of YBTS started providing assistance. Antonius began learning to cultivate various types of vegetables. He and his family have formed a farmer’s group with the local community.

Antonius and his family attempted to grow shallots from seeds on a land area of around 300 m2. The results were highly satisfying, with a successful harvest of up to 400 kg of shallots and a profit of approximately IDR 10,000 per kg. Planting shallots from seeds was a first-time experience for Antonius; in fact, he was even the first farmer to attempt to plant shallots from seeds in the Oridek District. The success of his initial experiment led him and his family to choose farming as their main profession.

Antonius Awek, as a native Papuan, proves that nothing is in vain if we are willing to try and learn. What initially seemed very challenging became easier when we were all willing to put in the effort. Of course, with dedication and determination throughout the process, it’s certain to yield good results.