Starting something new is never easy. Especially when it is in a field you have never stepped into before. That was the situation for Kaka Maria Melty Dendot, a young woman from Compang Lony Village, Rana Mese, East Manggarai. With cloudy skies and frequent rains, farming in her area often felt uncertain. For Maria, who had no background in agriculture or horticulture, the idea of becoming a farmer seemed almost impossible.

Things began to change when Maria joined a socialization session run by YBTS’ Technical Field Officers (TFOs). Encouraged by the knowledge and support she received, she decided to give it a try and planted Cap Panah Merah’s Rawita F1 chili on her small plot of field. The start was far from smooth; right after transplanting, her chili seedlings were pecked and destroyed by chickens. It could have been a reason to stop, but Maria chose to keep going. With consistent mentoring and her own determination to learn, she continued to care for her crops.

Her persistence paid off. In her very first planting season, Maria harvested 243.5 kilograms of Rawita F1 chili, alongside 172 bundles of mustard greens (caisim and pak choi) as companion crops. Together, the harvest generated an income of Rp8,977,000. Even better, her chili plants remained productive beyond the first harvest, showing strong potential for ongoing yields.

Reflecting on her experience, Maria explained that guidance made all the difference. “At first, I doubted whether I could farm on my own and get good results,” she said. “But after receiving support from YBTS, I became more confident. The instructions were clear, with hands-on practice in the field. Now I can harvest and earn my own income from farming.”

Maria’s journey highlights the impact of knowledge and assistance in agriculture. With the right support, even first-time farmers can overcome obstacles and achieve results that improve both livelihood and confidence.