Category: News From The Field

The COVID-19 pandemic was first confirmed to have spread to Indonesia early March 2020 in Depok regent, near Jakarta. So far, Indonesia has recorded more than 12 thousand cases, the second highest in Southeast Asia, behind only Singapore. The Corona Virus or Covid-19 attacks anyone, young or old people, male or female, anyone who lives in the city or even in the village.

Up to now, there is no one got infected in Cibening village. But government asked to governors or mayors to apply the PSBB (Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar or Large-Scale Social Restriction) to their areas to stop the outbreaks. Government asked people to stay home; they should work & study from home and worship also at home.

People should wear mouth & nose coverings or masks made of cloth or the like. This is to avoid sparks from falling mouths and sticking to surrounding objects. To wash hands often & avoid to touch face (nose, eyes or mouth) and close mouth when coughing or sneezing. To keep social distance (about 2 meters) and avoid crowds is also necessary if possible also limit the use of public transportation.

If the sick person is not treated at the hospital, the family or the neighbors should help him/her to carry out quarantine or independent isolation at home or in the room. Help them to meet their food needs or family logistical needs, because as long as they are sick, they cannot work and take care of themselves.

For the healthy ones, should be protected not to get sick, because this is also the key to success in preventing transmission of the virus. By doing “Keep Distance” it is expected that the spread and transmission will be immediately interrupted. Everyone will return to their normal activities.

Cibening Village has beautiful nature, fresh air and people work hard. The people plant cassava, rice and banana. Goldteak planted Solomon Teak, Mahogany, Acacia and fruit trees. Cibening village looks green and the air is fresh especially in rainy season. Animal come just to to the plantation because there is no more rubber plantation, it is already substituted by coconut palm plantation.

Rice and cassava harvest has always been the hope of the villagers because the harvest is the main income besides working outside the village as a factory workers in Sukabumi or in other areas.

For the past five years, people have felt that summer is longer and the rainy season is followed by landslides around Cibening village. Compared to ten years ago when the Goldteak plantations were opened, during the rainy season, water came down from the hills and damaged the rice fields and the harvest.

But now when Goldteak’s Teak trees and other hard trees are already big, water is no longer a problem in rainy season . The only problem is when there is a heavy rain and river can not carry the water, it creates the landslide on the river bank. This year two bridges in Cibening village were damaged because the river becomes shallow and rain water broke the bridge foundation.

Goldteak’s workers with the villagers work together fixed the bridge and now the bridge can be used again and the rain becomes a blessing for Cibening village.

Cibening village has two bridges, both are used by the community to enter the village or to reach the main road. The bridges were built with regional government funds, village funds and community funds also from Goldteak’s donation or contribution. When the bridges are broken, people try to repair them step by step because the money collected was not enough to fix in one time.

Since the bridges are very important access for the villagers, when one of the bridge is broken, it will create problems for them. They can not transport their crops to the markets or they can not bring in fertilizer or their daily need in big quantity because they have to use motorcycles to transport their goods.

This time, one of the bridges had just been repaired after several failed attempts due to the landslides during heavy rains. The river was over loaded and eroded the bridge  foundation. People had to stop working when it was raining, so it took longer to finish the bridge. After more than two months, finally the bridge was completely repaired.

Villagers worked hand in hand and Goldteak’s guardians joined them on Fridays (when they are off) to fix the bridge. Every one is happy now because they can do their daily activities in or out of the village.

Teaks plantation looks brownish from the distance, because drought season made Teak leaves dry and fall, and when we come up to the plantation we find the ground covered with dry leaves and the tree trunks look strong.

At the end of December the scene started to change, there was a slight greenish color from the top of the Teak trees, because young leaves began to appear, and when we approach to the land, the air is fresh and soil is wet.

At the end of the year, before the new year, the beautiful scenery will always be beautiful in the Teak plantation, the animals sound loudly welcome the rainy season.  Not only birds, monkeys, crickets, grasshoppers, chickens and goats, but the sound of frogs gives a sign that it is going to rain soon..

The guardians & their family pray for to the new year, they are always eager to welcome this blessed rainy season, because they know that Teak trees and other trees will grow and bring prosperity for their family and the people in Cibening village.

There are two bridges in Cibening village, the two bridges are not wide but the four wheels vehicles & mini trucks can across.

A few months ago, one of the bridges was broken, land slide made the foundation damaged and a crack at the top of the bridge.

Based on the government’s program, the bridge will be fixed next year after National Budget is released about April next year. It does not help the people in Cibening village, they need the bridge urgently, because they need to bring their cassava, banana and padi to the market to sell.

Finally they decided to collect donation from the community to buy materials and Goldteak also participated by donating cement. Every Fridays when the guardians are off they join the community to fix the bridge. It is expected that the bridge will be ready and can be used again early next month.

The end of October is the peak of the dry season, it feels hot during the day and feels cold at night.The river has no water, it is dry and only big stones appear on the riverbed. The well water starts to run out, every day people only get a few buckets of water, they have to go down the hill to get water from water springs.

From a distance, Goldteak plantations looks brown, the leaves are dried and the trees are almost bold. The trunks look strong and healthy because during the hot season, they receive plenty of sun light. The color is bright golden brown, have no marks of decease and the roots are on the ground also look strong.

Since the plantation was opened, Parid and his family live in the bamboo house in the plantation, more than 10 years, now the house needs to be repaired on the floor and roof. After finish working or on Fridays when they do not go to work, his friends come and help him to fix the house.

The height of summer is in October, natural signs are very visible in Teak plantation, we can see the leaves dry and fall out, the ground is covered with dry leaves and the soil is no longer visible. Trees have bare trunks and look brownish, only branches and twigs at the top are still green. Nature makes them strong with much sun light.

During the dry season, the air smells of dry leaves and the wind blows with humid air. Not like in Spring, the air is fresh and the wind blows gently.

We need to bring a bottle of water when we check around the plantation, go up and down the hill makes us thirsty & sweaty.

The Durian tree looks healthy with flower buds clustered. Expecting strong before the rain will knock down lush fruit.

In the rainy or summer season, Goldteak plantations are well maintained and cared for, workers sweep dry leaves and clear weeds that interfere with tree growth.

“One day of rain far surpasses a whole year of drought” (Malawian proverb)

The Dry Season arrives earlier and is predicted to be longer. Water reserves in the wells begin to decrease, and there are some that start to dry.

Workers look for spring points as they clean dry leaves.
Teak plantations will look brown because the leaves cover the ground around the teak trees.

The day feels long with temperatures hotter than usual, each worker always carries a drinking bottle while checking around to clean the dry leaves that are spread throughout the garden.

There are two new water spring found uphill, the water is not much but can be collected for drinking and the other one is new well which has more water.

Until now there are 12 workers who are guarding the Goldteak plantation in Cibening village and one who is guarding in Bumisari village. All workers are married and have children:

1. Zaini Lutvi & his wife Rahmah Sobariah have four sons; Rama, Adli, Abyan & Alvin.
2. Parid & his wife Papa have nine children, some are married, three of whom still live with them, Upi, Fitri & Piras.
3. Budi/Embut & his wife Tati have three sons, Hendrik, Acep & Maulana.
4. Kusnadi & his wife Cucu have four sons; Lukman, Dimas, Putra & Hafis.
5. Ajat & his wife Isam have one daughter, Rena.
6. Aji & his wife Inang have two children, Ela& Ega.
7. Ater & his wife Anis have two children, Dadan, Seni & Yanti.
8. Maman & his wife Yati have only a daughter, Susi.
9. Kudil/Deni & his wife Elas have one daughter, Tina.
10. Caci & his wife Iis have four children, Aryandi, Lisna, Sela & Seli.
11. Bana & his wife Sopi have one daughter, Nabila.
12. Sidem/Beben & his wife Lati have two children, Rita & Akbar.
13. Deni Haryadi & his wife Neng Rosdiana have two daughters, Dini, Delita & Agis.

(pictures based on list)