29/04/2026
The first session of the Rice Farmer Field School (FFS) under the Sustainable Pesticide Management Framework (SPMF) Program was successfully conducted on April 28, 2026, in Pematang Sijonam, with the participation of 30 local farmers. This Farmer Field School is part of the collaborative initiative between Bayer, as a member of CropLife Indonesia, and HarvestPlus Solutions through the SPMF Program, aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural practices while strengthening farmers’ technical capacity.
In this first meeting, farmers received practical learning sessions on several key topics, including the use of the Paddy Soil Test Kit (PUTS), seed selection, and seed treatment practices. One of the key sessions was the seed treatment presentation delivered by Bayer’s technical partner team, highlighting the importance of proper seed preparation as a critical first step toward achieving healthy crop establishment. Seed treatment offers multiple benefits for rice cultivation. It helps protect seeds from early-stage pests and diseases, improves seed germination and seedling vigor, supports more uniform crop growth, and can significantly reduce potential yield losses.
An equally important practical lesson demonstrated during the session was the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during seed treatment application. Farmers were encouraged to always use appropriate PPE to minimize direct exposure to treatment materials, ensuring their health and safety while handling agricultural inputs.