Jakarta. A group of young farmers in Buton Village, Obi district, South Halmahera, North Maluku, has recorded its first rice harvest, yielding at least 8.3 tons per hectare from 12.5 hectares of farmland, following months of weather challenges and support from local authorities and the private sector.

The harvest, held on Sept. 7, 2026, was conducted by the Sinergi Pembangunan Negeri Millennial Farmers Group, with productivity figures based on crop sampling by its agricultural assistance team. The harvest marked the results of collaboration between the farmers, the South Halmahera administration and businesses, including nickel producer Harita Nickel.

“Thank God, we can finally harvest. With the support of the local government and Harita Nickel, which has consistently assisted us, we have finally been able to harvest,” said Ruslan Kasman, head of the Sinergi Pembangunan Negeri Millennial Farmers Group.

The harvest came after a difficult growing season. Just three to four days after the initial planting, heavy rainfall flooded the farmland, killing the newly planted rice and forcing farmers to start over.

“During the initial planting, around three or four days after we planted, heavy rain suddenly came, and our farmland was flooded,” Ruslan said.

After replanting, the farmers faced another challenge when rainfall stopped for approximately two months, leaving water availability a major concern for the growing crops.

To keep the fields irrigated, the local government provided two water pumps. Farmers also worked on the ground to manage water flows and ensure their crops received sufficient water through to harvest.

The successive setbacks had left Ruslan and his fellow farmers disappointed at times. However, they chose to continue cultivating the land until they could finally reap the results.

Ruslan hopes the South Halmahera administration and Harita Nickel will continue providing assistance, allowing the developing farmers' group to strengthen its capacity and gradually manage agricultural activities independently.

“I hope the local government and Harita Nickel will never get tired of visiting and assisting us in the future. Our millennial farmers' group is like a young corn plant that has only just started growing,” Ruslan said.

For Darwan Aduhasan, head of the Obi Island Food Sovereignty Pioneers Community (Pelangi), the experience of the millennial farmers in Buton Village demonstrates the potential for agriculture to continue developing on Obi Island.

Darwan also wants to change the perception that farming is synonymous with economic hardship. He said farmers on Obi Island have opportunities to build their future through agriculture while helping ensure food availability for generations to come.

“We believe that farmers are not what many people think of as poor. We are farmers with a future ahead of us. Today, we are farming not just for ourselves or the older generation, but for future generations, even our children and grandchildren,” he said.

From the local government's perspective, the first harvest demonstrates the results of collaboration between farmers, the administration and the private sector.

South Halmahera Agriculture and Food Security Agency head Suryatmi Aldjokja expressed appreciation for Harita Nickel's continued assistance to farmers in the field.

“We would like to thank Harita Nickel for continuing to stand by and assist our farmers in the field through its CSR programs. We hope this collaboration and synergy will continue until our farmers see a real improvement in their economic well-being,” Suryatmi said.

Agricultural development in Buton Village is part of the Obi Food Security Center (SENTANI), a community empowerment program initiated by Harita Nickel to strengthen food security and economic capacity on Obi Island.

In addition to the Sinergi Pembangunan Negeri Millennial Farmers Group, SENTANI supports the Ake Moriri and Putih Putih Farmers Groups. Together, the three groups manage approximately 30 hectares of rice fields.

Through the program, farmers receive assistance ranging from technical guidance on cultivation and agricultural production inputs to institutional development and market access.

The program also seeks to expand market opportunities for agricultural products by involving village-owned enterprises (BUMDes) as buyers, including to meet Harita Nickel's food supply needs.

The first harvest provides a foundation for the millennial farmers in Buton Village to continue into the next planting season. After overcoming flooding, replanting and a prolonged period without rain, the harvest highlights the outcomes of cooperation between farmers, local authorities and the private sector in developing agriculture on Obi Island.

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