Ordianus Kolo, a 30-year-old from Weihura village in Sumba Barat, transformed from a struggling fisherman to a successful farmer with the help of Yayasan Bina Tani Sejahtera (YBTS). After a stint in Bali, Ordianus returned home and initially tried his hand at tomato farming. Facing a severe drought and early failures that killed 1.200 of his plants, he nearly gave up and went back to fishing.  

Motivated by YBTS staff, Ordianus decided to give farming another shot. Despite skepticism from neighbors and little family support, he meticulously cared for the remaining 600 tomato plants. His perseverance paid off with a harvest of 1,189 kg of tomatoes, earning him IDR 23,988,650 (USD 1,654) in the first season. His success story turned him into a local inspiration. Neighbors and youths visited his farm to learn about his methods and the potential of agriculture. Ordianus is passionate about sharing his knowledge, saying, “I spent years migrating and switching jobs, but being a farmer means being your own boss on your own land.”  

Now firmly established, Ordianus is broadening his agricultural operations to 20 are and is further diversifying his crop selection. He has chosen tomatoes as his primary crop, complemented by caisim and cucumbers, from which he garnered IDR 26,287,400 (USD 1,846) in the second season. In the third season, he ventured into growing shallots as his main crop, alongside cucumbers and watermelons, earning IDR 9,547,540 (USD 658). With these earnings, Ordianus diversified his investments, buying livestocks, stocking up on rice, expanding his land, and even building a house for his family. 

Grateful for the support he received, Ordianus credits YBTS for his turnaround, “I am incredibly thankful to YBTS. The Let’s Grow project, supported by Ganesha Foundation, is an extraordinary program that supports us and guides us, novice farmers. I am truly grateful.”