Latest news with #JauharMahmud
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Farmers in crisis as staple crop becomes increasingly difficult to grow: 'We're actually losing money'
Once a global spice powerhouse, Indonesia's clove industry is now struggling to cope with climate shifts and weather unpredictability. Now, the warm, sweet scent of cloves is a reminder of struggle rather than abundance in the region. A new AFP report highlights that rising global temperatures and related extreme weather events have significantly impacted clove farming in Indonesia, which is historically known for its abundant production. Clove is an aromatic spice used worldwide in medicine, perfumes, cigarettes, and food. In the culinary sector, clove is found in curry, chai, traditional Chinese five-spice, and the beloved pumpkin spice blend. Farmers tell AFP that unpredictable and intense rainfall is disrupting normal growing conditions, disturbing the needed — and delicate — balance of temperature and humidity necessary for clove trees to thrive. Clove trees in the region, which take over a decade to mature, now yield far less than they did years before. Some farmers report harvesting only two to three sacks of clove compared to five or six in previous years. The Food and Agriculture Organization reports that the 2023 clove yield, the most recent data available, was almost a quarter lower than 2010. Indonesia was once the world's leading clove exporter — but it has fallen behind Madagascar since 2020, according to data from the World Bank. This underscores the devastating economic implications of climate-induced agricultural challenges. "We're actually losing money," clove farmer Jauhar Mahmud told AFP. "Cloves do not bear fruit every year. They depend on the season." Drying times for cloves have also increased due to erratic weather, extending from three and a half days to at least five. Due to these factors, many farmers are seeking alternative incomes, such as selling spice-infused drinks or bamboo. Some are considering abandoning clove cultivation altogether. "Farmers are now reluctant to harvest because of the high cost and minimal return," Mahmud told AFP. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. As AFP reports, Indonesia's clove farming challenges are a direct result of climate instability caused by planet-warming pollution. noted that extreme weather events like droughts, floods, and heat waves damage soil health and disrupt planting, causing reduced crop yields. These reduced yields drive up prices for consumers, but the higher retail costs often don't make up the difference for farmers. Farmers are struggling to cope with a diminished return on investment, which can devastate families and communities. That's especially felt in the region as clove farming holds deep cultural significance in Indonesia, where families have relied on it for generations. A decline in yield and a degradation of crops highlight the impact of climate shifts on traditional agriculture. This reality underscores the urgent need for more sustainable and resilient farming practices — and the importance of planet-conscious living overall. For years, various nonprofits and government organizations in the region have been providing support to farmers, including local programs to educate farmers on adapting planting schedules and techniques in response to a changing climate. Indonesian clove farmers are turning to sustainable practices like agroforestry, organic farming, and water conservation to mitigate climate impacts and protect their livelihoods. These methods can help improve soil health, reduce environmental impact, and help manage increasingly erratic weather patterns. Farmers are also diversifying their crops, intercropping clove trees with other crops more resilient to climate shifts. This can help reduce reliance on clove as a sole source of income, mitigating economic risks associated with climate instability. At the same time, more resilient clove varieties are being developed and introduced into the region to better withstand planetary warming and its impacts. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Star
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Production at Indonesia's clove farms under threat from climate change
Colonial powers once sought to wipe out cloves grown by locals on the eastern Indonesian island of Ternate to safeguard their monopoly over the prized crop. Today farmers say the gravest threat to their plants is climate change. 'Today... rainfall is high. It's okay for planting, but it's uncertain for harvesting. It's often unpredictable,' farmer Jauhar Mahmud, 61, said. Nestled on the fertile foothills of Indonesia's Mount Gamalama volcano, Jauhar proudly shows off his favourite clove tree, which once reliably delivered profitable produce. The fragrant flower buds that form the spice can only deliver their prized smell and taste in specific temperature and humidity ranges. In a good season, the best of Jauhar's 150 towering trunks can spurt 30kg of the aromatic spice used for medicine, perfumes, cigarettes and food flavourings. But bad weather is becoming more frequent, causing uncertainty that makes prices fluctuate from US$5.30 (RM22.60) to US$7.40 (RM31.60) per kg and life increasingly tough for farmers. The fragrant flower buds that form the spice can only deliver their prized smell and taste in specific temperature and humidity ranges. Food and Agriculture Organisation data from the past two decades shows Indonesia's clove yields vary significantly, more than rival producers. The yield in 2023, the last year data is available, was almost a quarter lower than a 2010 peak. 'We're actually losing money. Cloves do not bear fruit every year. They depend on the season,' said Jauhar, who represents 36 clove farmers on the island. Many are taking on other jobs as yields that typically arrive in August and September dwindle. Jauhar sells spice-infused drinks and bamboo on the side to make ends meet, and some are considering abandoning the crop altogether. 'Farmers are now reluctant to harvest because of the high cost and minimal return,' he said. Indonesia accounts for more than two-thirds of global clove production, according to the FAO, though the majority is consumed domestically. Since 2020, it has fallen behind Madagascar as the world's top exporter of the spice, World Bank trade data shows. Rainfall rise Centuries ago, Ternate's farmers defied colonial orders to eradicate their clove production by planting out of sight of the Dutch. The island's then-favourable climate kept the crop alive. Clove trees can take more than a decade to mature, and flowers can only be harvested in a small window that depends heavily on weather conditions. But climate change caused mainly by burning fossil fuels like coal has changed global weather patterns. Ternate is drier overall, but when rain does come, it is often in intense, damaging bursts. That is consistent with broader trends linked to climate change. A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, and rain can fall erratically and in large amounts when it comes. Workers putting cloves into a sack at a spice sorting shop in Ternate, North Maluku. Farmers like Lakina, who owns 10 clove trees, say the crop no longer offers the same returns. 'In the past, I could get five to six sacks in one harvest,' said the 52-year-old. Now she fills two to three sacks, she said. The changing weather affects other aspects of the trade. Imba, a 62-year-old clove farmer with 70 trees, says it used to take three-and-a-half days to dry the cloves, but 'because of the rain' it now takes at least five days. Scientific research bears out the farmers' observations. In 2023, researchers at Indonesia's University of Pattimura found clove yields were falling on Haruku island south of Ternate. They said rainfall increased 15% in recent decades, along with extreme weather events that harm crops. It has left clove farmers struggling. 'Communities living in coastal areas and small islands are especially vulnerable,' said Arie Rompas, Greenpeace's forest campaign team leader. 'The productivity of their precious clove and nutmeg trees is dropping, and they are facing post-harvest problems with increased heat and humidity.' For future generations At a spice sorting shop, the pungent warm smell of clove fills the air as workers scoop a pile into bags for weighing. The men send them off to a warehouse where a mechanical sorting tray shakes the cloves, removing dirt and unwanted foliage before exporting to China. Workers riding a truck as they sit on sacks of cloves heading to a warehouse. For these clove sellers, climate change means lower quality and falling prices. 'If it's too hot, the crop is no good. Too much rain, no crop. This year there was too much rain,' said supplier Rumen The. He says prices almost halved from the start of last year from 150,000 rupiah (RM39) per kg to 80,000 (RM21) in the harvest season, but were back up to 115,000 (RM30) today as supply dwindled. Production 'is probably 30% to 40%' down on recent years, he added. Jauhur urges rich spice-importing countries 'to think about global climate issues' that threaten its future. Despite the challenges, he says there are powerful 'historical and emotional reasons' to continue farming. 'Our parents maintained cloves in clove's oldest region in the world,' he said. 'They planted... to bring pride to future generations.' – By JACK MOORE/AFP
Yomiuri Shimbun
22-05-2025
- General
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Climate Change Takes Spice from Eastern Indonesia Clove Farms
AFP-Jiji Cloves being sifted and impurities being removed by a machine at a warehouse in Ternate, Indonesia, on April 11 TERNATE, Indonesia (AFP-Jiji) — Colonial powers once sought to wipe out cloves grown by locals on the eastern Indonesian island of Ternate to safeguard their monopoly over the prized crop. Today farmers say the gravest threat to their plants is climate change. 'Today … rainfall is high. It's okay for planting, but it's uncertain for harvesting. It's often unpredictable,' farmer Jauhar Mahmud, 61, told AFP. Nestled on the fertile foothills of Indonesia's Mt. Gamalama volcano, Jauhar proudly shows off his favorite clove tree, which once reliably delivered profitable produce. The fragrant flower buds that form the spice can only deliver their prized smell and taste in specific temperature and humidity ranges. In a good season, the best of Jauhar's 150 towering trunks can spurt 30 kilograms of the aromatic spice used for medicine, perfumes, cigarettes and food flavorings. But bad weather is becoming more frequent, causing uncertainty that makes prices fluctuate from $5.30 to $7.40 per kilogram and life increasingly tough for farmers. Food and Agriculture Organization data from the past two decades shows Indonesia's clove yields vary significantly, more than rival producers. The yield in 2023, the last year data is available, was almost a quarter lower than a 2010 peak. 'We're actually losing money. Cloves do not bear fruit every year. They depend on the season,' said Jauhar, who represents 36 clove farmers on the island. Many are taking on other jobs as yields that typically arrive in August and September dwindle. Jauhar sells spice-infused drinks and bamboo on the side to make ends meet, and some are considering abandoning the crop altogether. 'Farmers are now reluctant to harvest because of the high cost and minimal return,' he said. Indonesia accounts for more than two-thirds of global clove production, according to the FAO, though the majority is consumed domestically. Since 2020, it has fallen behind Madagascar as the world's top exporter of the spice, World Bank trade data shows. Rainfall rise Centuries ago, Ternate's farmers defied colonial orders to eradicate their clove production by planting out of sight of the Dutch. The island's then-favorable climate kept the crop alive. AFP-Jiji One of the world's oldest clove trees Clove trees can take more than a decade to mature, and flowers can only be harvested in a small window that depends heavily on weather conditions. But climate change caused mainly by burning fossil fuels like coal has changed global weather patterns. Ternate is drier overall, but when rain does come, it is often in intense, damaging bursts. That is consistent with broader trends linked to climate change. A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, and rain can fall erratically and in large amounts when it comes. Farmers like Lakina, who owns 10 clove trees, say the crop no longer offers the same returns. 'In the past, I could get five to six sacks in one harvest,' said the 52-year-old. Now she fills two to three sacks, she said. The changing weather affects other aspects of the trade. Imba, a 62-year-old clove farmer with 70 trees, says it used to take 3½ days to dry the cloves, but 'because of the rain' it now takes at least five days. Scientific research bears out the farmers' observations. In 2023, researchers at Indonesia's University of Pattimura found clove yields were falling on Haruku island south of Ternate. They said rainfall increased 15% in recent decades, along with extreme weather events that harm crops. It has left clove farmers struggling. 'Communities living in coastal areas and small islands are especially vulnerable,' said Arie Rompas, Greenpeace's forest campaign team leader. 'The productivity of their precious clove and nutmeg trees is dropping, and they are facing post-harvest problems with increased heat and humidity.' 'Pride to future generations' At a spice sorting shop, the pungent, warm smell of clove fills the air as workers scoop a pile into bags for weighing. The men send them off to a warehouse where a mechanical sorting tray shakes the cloves, removing dirt and unwanted foliage before export to China. For these clove sellers, climate change means lower quality and falling prices. 'If it's too hot, the crop is no good. Too much rain, no crop. This year there was too much rain,' said supplier Rumen The. He says prices almost halved from the start of last year from 150,000 rupiah per kilogram to 80,000 in the harvest season, but were back up to 115,000 today as supply dwindled. Production 'is probably 30% to 40%' down on recent years, he added. Jauhur urges rich spice-importing countries 'to think about global climate issues' that threaten its future. Despite the challenges, he says there are powerful 'historical and emotional reasons' to continue farming. 'Our parents maintained cloves in clove's oldest region in the world,' he said. 'They planted … to bring pride to future generations.'
Japan Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Climate change takes spice from Indonesia clove farms
Colonial powers once sought to wipe out cloves grown by locals on the eastern Indonesian island of Ternate to safeguard their monopoly over the prized crop. Today, farmers say the gravest threat to their plants is climate change. "Today ... rainfall is high. It's okay for planting, but it's uncertain for harvesting. It's often unpredictable," farmer Jauhar Mahmud, 61, said. Nestled on the fertile foothills of Indonesia's Mount Gamalama volcano, Jauhar proudly shows off his favorite clove tree, which once reliably delivered profitable produce. The fragrant flower buds that form the spice can only deliver their prized smell and taste in specific temperature and humidity ranges. In a good season, the best of Jauhar's 150 towering trunks can spurt 30 kilograms of the aromatic spice used for medicine, perfumes, cigarettes and food flavorings. But bad weather is becoming more frequent, causing uncertainty that makes prices fluctuate from $5.30 to $7.40 per kilogram and life increasingly tough for farmers. Food and Agriculture Organization data from the past two decades shows Indonesia's clove yields vary significantly, more than rival producers. The yield in 2023, the last year data is available, was almost a quarter lower than a 2010 peak. "We're actually losing money. Cloves do not bear fruit every year. They depend on the season," said Jauhar, who represents 36 clove farmers on the island. Many are taking on other jobs as yields that typically arrive in August and September dwindle. A worker shovels cloves into a sifting machine to remove impurities at a warehouse in Ternate, North Maluku, Indonesia | AFP-JIJI Jauhar sells spice-infused drinks and bamboo on the side to make ends meet, and some are considering abandoning the crop altogether. "Farmers are now reluctant to harvest because of the high cost and minimal return," he said. Indonesia accounts for more than two-thirds of global clove production, according to the FAO, though the majority is consumed domestically. Since 2020, it has fallen behind Madagascar as the world's top exporter of the spice, World Bank trade data shows. Rainfall rise Centuries ago, Ternate's farmers defied colonial orders to eradicate their clove production by planting out of sight of the Dutch. The island's then-favorable climate kept the crop alive. Clove trees can take more than a decade to mature, and flowers can only be harvested in a small window that depends heavily on weather conditions. But climate change caused mainly by burning fossil fuels like coal has changed global weather patterns. Ternate is drier overall, but when rain does come, it is often in intense, damaging bursts. That is consistent with broader trends linked to climate change. A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, and rain can fall erratically and in large amounts when it comes. Farmers like Lakina, who owns 10 clove trees, say the crop no longer offers the same returns. "In the past, I could get five to six sacks in one harvest," said the 52-year-old. Now she fills two to three sacks, she said. The changing weather affects other aspects of the trade. Imba, a 62-year-old clove farmer with 70 trees, says it used to take three-and-a-half days to dry the cloves, but "because of the rain" it now takes at least five days. Scientific research bears out the farmers' observations. In 2023, researchers at Indonesia's University of Pattimura found clove yields were falling on Haruku island south of Ternate. Clove pods brought by a farmer to a spice sorting shop in Ternate, North Maluku, Indonesia | AFP-JIJI They said rainfall increased 15% in recent decades, along with extreme weather events that harm crops. It has left clove farmers struggling. "Communities living in coastal areas and small islands are especially vulnerable," said Arie Rompas, Greenpeace's forest campaign team leader. "The productivity of their precious clove and nutmeg trees is dropping, and they are facing post-harvest problems with increased heat and humidity." 'Pride to future generations' At a spice sorting shop, the pungent warm smell of clove fills the air as workers scoop a pile into bags for weighing. The men send them off to a warehouse where a mechanical sorting tray shakes the cloves, removing dirt and unwanted foliage before export to China. For these clove sellers, climate change means lower quality and falling prices. "If it's too hot, the crop is no good. Too much rain, no crop. This year there was too much rain," said supplier Rumen The. He says prices almost halved from the start of last year from 150,000 rupiah per kilogram to 80,000 in the harvest season, but were back up to 115,000 today as supply dwindled. Production "is probably 30% to 40%" down on recent years, he added. Jauhur urges rich spice-importing countries "to think about global climate issues" that threaten its future. Despite the challenges, he says there are powerful "historical and emotional reasons" to continue farming. "Our parents maintained cloves in clove's oldest region in the world," he said. "They planted ... to bring pride to future generations."
South China Morning Post
04-05-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Indonesian clove farmers' hopes wither as climate change hits hard
Colonial powers once sought to wipe out cloves grown by locals on the eastern Indonesian island of Ternate to safeguard their monopoly over the prized crop. Today farmers say the gravest threat to their plants is climate change. Advertisement 'Today … rainfall is high. It's OK for planting, but it's uncertain for harvesting. It's often unpredictable,' farmer Jauhar Mahmud, 61, said. In his orchard, nestled on the fertile foothills of Indonesia's Mount Gamalama volcano, Jauhar proudly shows off his favourite clove tree, which once reliably delivered profitable produce. The fragrant flower buds that form the spice can deliver their prized smell and taste only in specific temperature and humidity ranges. In a good season, the best of Jauhar's 150 towering trunks can spurt 30kg (66lbs) of the aromatic spice used for medicine, perfumes, cigarettes and food flavourings. Jauhar Mahmud, a clove farmer and community leader, in front of his favourite 60-year-old clove tree, one of 150 he owns, in Ternate. Photo: AFP But bad weather is becoming more frequent, causing uncertainty that makes prices fluctuate from US$5.30 to US$7.40 per kilogram and life increasingly tough for farmers.
