Astungkara Way Phase two update
After a successful first phase of collaboration with Astungkara Way and reNature, we are thrilled to continue supporting this vibrant rice farming community in Bali.
Year one focused on knowledge sharing and demonstrating the benefits of climate-smart farming and complex rice systems. Year two is about scaling things up. Astungkara Way has contacted other local Subaks to join the movement and is running capacity-building sessions to raise awareness and teach new skills.
Participating farmers, as the key executors, will implement regenerative practices, including biochar, diversity plantations, better planting patterns, natural nitrogen fixers, and more ducks to cultivate more rice sustainably.
We are continuing to see great progress for old and new participating farmers with each rice cycle (4 months):
Since April 2024, CRS has been trialed from 15 to now 80 farmers across 6 subaks (regions).
CRS allows farmers to see a 47% drop in the costs of inputs and a 15% drop in labor costs.
This, along with more diversified revenue sources (from selling ducks), means that farmers who apply the CRS method see a 63% increase in profit versus conventional farming by the second cycle.
Within 3 cycles, farmers experience an average drop in pest intensity of 43% versus conventional farming. This was a surprise as conventional farmers are still using and spending money on pesticides, but such input isn’t enough to tackle the worsening effects of increased pests and diseases aggravated by climate change.
The Astungkara Way team has also been testing out new tools for scaling up. From the map seen below, CRS plots are scattered across the different subaks. These mapped out plots will allow the team to visualize their plan better when reaching out to potential farmers, and will help to improve accuracy and efficiency when it comes to data collection.
We are proud to support this cause and empower more stewards to protect mother earth. Stay tuned for the latest updates.
