At 52, Kursiyah is not only a farmer, but also a key driver of change in Kedemungan Village, East Java. Her journey began 14 years ago when she faced a mass layoff from the livestock company where she had worked. Since then, she chose to pursue farming and rebuild her life through the land she owns.

Starting with staple crops such as rice and maize, Kursiyah later shifted her focus to horticulture, particularly shallots as her main commodity. On her 2,000 m² plot, she applies Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to improve productivity. She also utilizes her home garden by growing vegetables in polybags, including eggplant, chili, celery, and spring onions, which are sold both as produce and as ready-to-plant units.

As the treasurer of the Harapan Jaya farmer group, Kursiyah plays an active role in managing the group’s finances transparently while encouraging regular meetings among farmers to share knowledge. She also provides smallholder farmers with access to agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilizers through a pay-after-harvest system, helping to address limited capital constraints.

In her farming practices, Kursiyah adopts innovative approaches through the use of biochar combined with humic acid and biofertilizers. This method has proven effective in enhancing plant growth while reducing dependence on chemical inputs. Through her involvement in partnership programs, she has successfully encouraged around 60 farmers in Kedemungan Village to adopt biochar, despite initial skepticism toward new agricultural technologies.

In addition, Kursiyah actively mobilizes community efforts to clean irrigation channels affected by plastic waste pollution, a common issue in many areas of Pasuruan. She also empowers women agricultural workers by involving them in various farming activities. Her farm has become a reference point, frequently visited by agronomists and stakeholders interested in observing field-level agricultural practices.

Amid her roles as a farmer and community leader, Kursiyah has also become the backbone of her family since her husband suffered a permanent stroke over the past three years.

“We farm not only to harvest, but also to learn together and help other farmers grow,” said Kursiyah.

Through her efforts, various partnership programs from companies and other stakeholders have been introduced to the village, bringing tangible benefits to farmers, including improved access to agricultural inputs and better livelihoods.