 ![Marijan, a silvofishery guard who is currently focusing on the production of Nypa sugar.](https://petani.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/ourstoryentity/98e8dbbc-12b6-4922-82ce-11f2e0b25ee6.jpg)

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Marijan, a resident of [Sabuai](https://kaleka.id/village/sebuai) Village, shows his commitment to conserving the remaining forests in his village while making a fortune from the Nypa palm *(Nypa fruticans Wurmb.)*, a type of palm that thrives in brackish forests along rivers. As forests are converted to oil palm plantations, Marijan chose a different pathway of utilizing the standing forests by harvesting Nypa palm, a non-timber forest product, to produce sugar.

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Marijan (41) had lived a life of struggle in Lampung with his wife and two children. Day in and day out, he worked very hard to turn coconut sap into sugar, hoping to provide a better future for his family. But after three long years of effort, the income he earned barely covered their basic needs. Despite his hard work, the weight of financial pressure was growing heavier, and his dream for his children seemed to slip further out of reach.

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Feeling trapped for change, Marijan confided in a relative, who urged him to seek a new beginning on another island. Though leaving his previous life behind was daunting, Marijan, driven by hope for a better life, made the hardest decision of his life. In 2015, with both hope and fear in his heart, he took his family to Sabuai in Central Kalimantan, ready to embrace whatever the future held.

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As a new resident of Sabuai, Marijan immersed himself in activities that positively impacted both the community and the environment. It shows by how excited he is to actively participate in the **[Gawi Bahaum](https://kaleka.id/our-research/gawi-bahaum-bringing-sustainability-to-the-vi)** program, which focused on conserving 616 hectares of the village’s Nypa forests. His commitment to the environment helped the village secure a silvofishery pond as a reward for their conservation efforts. Marijan took responsibility for maintaining and guarding the pond, which became a key part of his life.

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Besides guarding the pond, Marijan also learned to utilize its sap as a key ingredient for sugar production through training provided by Kaleka, along with Universitas Jenderal Soedirman and Universitas Gadjah Mada. Through their training, he learned effective techniques for tapping Nypa sap and processing it into sugar, enabling him to produce high-quality sugar in substantial quantities.

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“Even after participating in the training session, I still have to figure out many things by myself. For example, we did not get to harvest much due to natural attacks by animals such as monkeys, squirrels, and crabs.” Marijan said.

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Later Marijan explained that after learning the cycle, he was finally able to maximize their production in December through March 2023 where he is going to harvest up to 8 liters of sap per day. Pak Marijan sells Nypa sugar at US$3 per kg and produces as much as 150 kg monthly.

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 ![](https://petani.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/ourstoryentity/dcbcd72b-44cc-43ad-9cb3-896a3b0cfe01.jpg)

Marijan now involves women from the Family Empowerment and Welfare (PKK) unit, an organization of housewives in his village, to help promote and distribute his Nypa sugar. Moreover, he also obtained licenses from the Food and Drug Authority so that he could sell his sugar products in gift shops. He also introduced his product at many exhibitions. Marijan said he would never stop introducing Seruyan nypa sugar, as it is one part of his dream to reach a wider range of markets in the future.

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 ![Marijan sharing the techniques of Nypa sugar production.](https://petani.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/ourstoryentity/16e100ad-a2e9-4792-b51d-c72ab63c786a.png)

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"I hope that other villagers will join the production, too, so they won't miss out on tasting the sweetness that comes from the sugar palms," Marijan said with high hope. He has been trying to gather villagers who wish to join the production with the dream of providing a new source of income for others.

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Marijan’s journey exemplifies the harmony that can exist between economic prosperity and environmental conservation. By embracing the potential of Nypa palms, he not only transformed his family's fortunes but also became a beacon of hope for the community in his village. His story demonstrates that sustainable practices can lead to both personal success and the preservation of vital ecosystems. Through his commitment to producing Nypa sugar and protecting the forests of Sabuai, Marijan shows us that it is possible to forge a brighter future while nurturing the land that sustains us.

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