Organic Rice: A Step Toward Healthier Land and Healthier Lives

West Sumba's farmers are turning from chemical fertilizers to organic solutions, with striking results.

In West Sumba, a growing number of rice farmers are replacing chemical fertilizer with organic inputs. The motivation is partly economic — synthetic fertilizer prices have been volatile — and partly about the long-term condition of their land.

Farmers working with Rotenia report firmer soil structure, better water retention, and paddy that stands up well through the season. Lower input costs mean more of the harvest value stays with the household that grew it.

The change is not instant. Soil that has depended on synthetic nitrogen for years needs a transition period, and results improve over successive seasons as organic matter builds back up.

For the farmers involved, the trade is worth it: healthier land to pass on, and rice they are comfortable feeding their own families.