Hivos would like to take this opportunity to invite you to participate in the Stakeholder Feedback Round of the Indonesia Domestic Biogas Programme.

The Domestic Biogas programme (BIRU) has been championing an alternative approach to renewable energy. The programme was set up back in 2009 with the help of SNV and Hivos, two experienced development organisations from the Netherlands. Robert de Groot, Green Energy Coordinator at Hivos Regional office South East Asia, says that, “development is often successful during the time of its intervention, but soon the project is closed, it is evaluated, everyone is happy, two years later though nobody is using the digester anymore.”

One cold afternoon greeted us when we visited Lebo Hamlet, Madiredo Village, Pujon Subdistrict, Malang District, East Java. Lebo Hamlet is situated at the South Side of the foot of Raden Soeryo Forest Park. The site is situated at 1,200 meter above the sea level, this area has a cold temperature with an inclination to cool temperature. Drizzles and mists are experienced daily by these village inhabitants.

It looks like that there are many of us who are not aware that we celebrate the Earth Day every April 22nd. Earth Day is a reminder to us all, that we have to save our natural environment, we love our earth, for the earth has been generous to us, provide us a foothold and a living space.

Mohammad Makruf, 50 years old, is a natural farming activist. He is a member of Sri Lestari Organic Farming Group and is known to be a dilligent and tenacious man. Together with his six other farmers, he became the pioneer of natural farming in DAM KB VI Region, Pekalongan, East Lampung. Since its establishment back in 2004, Sri Lestri Organic Farming Group has partnered with Yayasan Lembaga Pembinaan Masyarakat Desa (YLPMD) in Lampung to educate farmers in the rural areas.

“Welcome to the Pemenang Barat Village and Puasalaba Greeting,” said the Head of Village, Mr. M. Sukri, in a welcome speech and at the same time opening the Bio-Slurry Utilisation and Duckweed Development Training. The training was organised on January 14, 2016. The venue was at the Secretariat of Montong Bae Farmers’ Group, Montong Bae Hamlet, Pemenang Barat Village, Pemenang Sub District, Lombok Utara District. The attendees include users, members of farmer/cattle farmer groups, women farmer groups, and youth elements.