On a rainy morning in Ternate, Pak Rahmat sat relaxing with a warm cup of coffee at his cafe, Hangout Cafe. Although the cafe was bustling with visitors, his mind was constantly on his hometown across the island. His degree in urban planning was often questioned, but it never shook his decision. “I chose to return to the village and develop agriculture. Being a farmer means I work on land that God has blessed,” said Pak Rahmat, affirming his choice to pursue farming in West Halmahera.

In 2020, he began working on his land with a simple yet effective principle, “the important thing is that it can be planted.” His efforts were not in vain, as over two years, the produce sold online and directly from his farm continued to increase. The one-hectare farm became not just a place for farming but also a gathering place to learn about agriculture with the local community. However, the situation became difficult when a disaster struck his farm in 2022-2023, leading to a period of dormancy.

This hardship turned into hope when Pak Rahmat met with YBTS staff in West Halmahera. The mentoring program provided by YBTS was warmly received by him and Pak Muslim, the head of Taba Cempaka Village. “The presence of YBTS was an unexpected blessing; they helped us start again with a more structured approach,” said Pak Rahmat. The farming training program attracted many enthusiastic participants, and Pak Rahmat’s garden was revitalized.

Now, Pak Rahmat’s land is filled with various types of high-quality vegetables. Vegetable traders began coming to his farm, and often, the harvest was sold out before the actual harvesting time. This success motivated Pak Rahmat to turn his farm into an educational center for farmers in West Halmahera. “Switching to agriculture was the most beautiful decision I’ve made. The land in West Halmahera is very fertile, and the majority of the population works in agriculture, which opens up great opportunities for agribusiness development,” he revealed.

Pak Rahmat hopes that with the great potential of natural and human resources, along with support from YBTS and the Hangout Farming as a farmer education center, farmers in West Halmahera can grow, increase productivity, and achieve independence.