Farming has become one of the ways to meet the needs of families who rely solely on their farming skills, as demonstrated by native Papuan women who are members of the Sarwom Women’s Farming Group in Sarwom Village, North Biak District, Biak Numfor Regency. The group, led by Mama Kafiar and consisting of 10 members, was initially only able to cultivate leafy vegetables such as mustard greens and kale.

However, after meeting with the Technical Field Officer (TFO) from Yayasan Bina Tani Sejahtera (YBTS), KWT Sarwom decided to grow shallots from Lokananta variety seeds, marking a new beginning for them. The first attempt at growing shallots was, of course, filled with significant challenges. Apart from their limited knowledge, availability of water was a serious constraint. The water sources are quite distant, making them reliant on rainfall for irrigation. Even when there was no rain, these remarkable women were willing to walk 2 kilometers to fetch water.

Nevertheless, their efforts and struggles were not in vain. By applying the knowledge they gained from mentoring with YBTS, KWT Sarwom eventually achieved an optimal harvest. On a jointly cultivated area of 500 m2, they managed to yield around 500 kg of dried shallot bulbs. The total profit they obtained was IDR 15,000,000. Mama Kafiar, the leader of KWT, considered this a remarkable achievement for their group. “To be honest, we were initially hesitant to grow shallots. Even cultivating water spinach was a challenge for us, let alone planting shallots from seeds, which required time and lengthy care. But it turned out that was just what we thought before trying. After attempting it, we achieved exceptional results! We had a successful harvest, and the Regent bought our shallot. This is a source of pride for us,” proudly exclaimed Mama Kafiar.