Food security through organic farming in Indonesia

Dear friends,

It’s so nice to reconnect with you, and we’re really excited to share some updates from the farm. As you may remember, 2024 was a big year for us — we successfully expanded into shiitake mushroom cultivation! This was a huge milestone, and it was only possible because of the incredible support from donors like you. Thanks to your help, we were able to purchase 4,000 spawn bags, pay our farmers’ salaries, and cover the day-to-day costs that keep the farm running.

We’re also thrilled to tell you about the next chapter of our growth. Right now, we’re working on building an integrated and sustainable farming system that brings together organic vegetables, poultry, and fish farming. The idea is simple but powerful: instead of letting organic waste go unused, we’re turning leftover vegetables into something valuable by transforming them into added nutrition for our livestock.

Our first integrated farming project was the renovation of our old pond for fish farming. What used to be just a water filtration pond is now a fully functioning 200 m² sustainable fish pond. We drained it, cleaned out all the sediment, and rebuilt it with tiered sections so we can separate fish by age. We also added filtration and sedimentation areas that double as growing spaces for aquatic plants like azolla and duckweed — natural, nutritious feed alternatives.

We’re now cultivating gourami fish and free-range chickens, both of which can thrive on plant-based diets. While leftover vegetables are great, they aren’t enough on their own to help the animals reach healthy, harvest-ready weight. That’s why we’re also growing Azolla and Lemna in the pond — both are fantastic natural sources of added nutrition. With this approach, our fish and chickens will become premium organic products, completely free from harmful chemicals.

Our second integrated farming project will focus on free-range chickens. We’re repurposing an old, unused goat shed and turning it into a proper chicken coop. The new farm will cover 300 m² and will follow a semi–free-range system: the chickens get to roam freely during the day and return safely to their coop at night to avoid predators.

We truly hope that you will continue to support our work to promote sustainable farming methods in the communities of Cipanas, West Java. It just so happens that today is Giving Tuesday, Today, thanks to GlobalGiving's $500,000 matching funds, every gift you make to this project will be boosted. That means your support helps us unlock additional funds to create an even bigger impact. Gifts are only matched for 36 hours - from Dec. 2 at 12 a.m. through Dec. 3 at 12 p.m. EST - so don't wait, and make your gift go even further today!

With gratitude.

The whole team at the YUM Organic Farm