***“If this can truly be advocated for, I am ready to be the voice of the community, reaching out to farmers wherever they may be.”***

– Sudjarwo (Mbah Jarwo), Patchouli Farmer, Rungau Raya–Seruyan

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At an age when most people choose to slow down, Sudjarwo—affectionately known as *Mbah Jarwo*—can still be seen walking along narrow footpaths toward his fields, carrying a spirit as youthful as his stride. Moving from one plot to another, he observes his patchouli plants and repeats the conviction he has held for years: that patchouli is not merely about planting and harvesting, but about safeguarding the dignity of farmers. To him, patchouli is more than a high-value essential oil crop; it is a symbol of resilience and solidarity.

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In Kalimantan, oil palm has long dominated the landscape of plantations. Nearly all farmers have tied their livelihoods to this commodity because it is considered the safest choice—its market is stable and has supported rural communities for decades. Yet behind this dominance lies another crop whose value quietly rivals it: patchouli (*Pogostemon cablin* Benth), the plant that produces the highly sought-after patchouli oil.

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For Mbah Jarwo, patchouli is not a new story. More than two decades ago, he experienced firsthand the risks of cultivating it without market certainty. That experience once made him hesitant to return to patchouli farming. But when a new opportunity emerged—with a clearer and more reliable scheme—he chose to step forward, leaving the past behind.

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Mbah Jarwo’s long journey began long before patchouli reappeared in his village of Rungau Raya, Danau Seluluk Subdistrict, Central Kalimantan. A graduate of the *Hollandsch Inlandsche Kweekschool* (HIK), a teacher training school from the Dutch colonial era, and a former student of a puppetry school in Surakarta, he once pursued a path as both an artist and a teacher. Fate, however, brought him to Kalimantan in 2001, where he worked in the contracting sector before eventually turning to farming. “I used to plant rubber, but when it wasn’t selling, I cut it all down. Then I became a vegetable farmer,” he recalled.

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In 2004, he incurred losses while cultivating patchouli. At the time, the price of patchouli oil fluctuated drastically, dependent entirely on international markets. So when a new program introduced patchouli cultivation in his village in 2023, Mbah Jarwo initially refused. “I had once been a victim of patchouli,” he admitted frankly.

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However, the explanation from the program team eventually changed his mind. When he saw that a distillation facility had been established in Rungau Raya Village, along with a patchouli nursery, his eyes lit up—he sensed a new opportunity. As an elder in the village, he took the initiative to encourage landowners to try planting patchouli together. “If no one is willing to try, nothing will ever move forward,” he said.

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The decision, however, was far from easy. The first batch of 450 seedlings he received in polybags died almost entirely. “They grew well at first, but eventually wilted and died,” he explained. The next batch arrived in larger quantities, but packaging issues during transport meant they were not in optimal condition for planting. Even so, Mbah Jarwo did not give up. He replanted, improved his cultivation methods, and learned to propagate patchouli cuttings on his own to multiply the seedlings. In time, test distillations showed that patchouli oil from Seruyan had remarkably high quality. “It turns out Kalimantan soil is suitable for patchouli,” he said with optimism.

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He emphasized the importance of patience. Mbah Jarwo knows all too well that patchouli farming is not an instant endeavor with immediate returns. He urges that seedlings must be managed properly and farmers must receive continuous guidance. Patchouli can only be harvested for the first time six months after planting, and then every three months for up to three years before the plants need to be rejuvenated. While waiting, he recommends planting corn between the patchouli rows. “Corn can be harvested quickly, the yield is good, and farmers can still earn income while waiting for the patchouli,” he explained.

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He also stressed that what farmers need is not merely incentive assistance, but real, tangible support: quality seedlings, adequate fertilizer, and clear market access. He even proposed maintaining cattle to ensure a steady supply of manure. For Mbah Jarwo, all of these are essential requirements before talking about profits. “If the price is around Rp3,500–5,000 per kilogram of young leaves, farmers can already benefit,” he said, with one clear condition: that the cultivation and distillation processes are properly supported.

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But for Mbah Jarwo, profit and loss are not everything. He understands that companies can also suffer losses when seedlings and production fail to meet required standards. For that reason, he has never demanded compensation. “I’m a small entrepreneur myself. If the company loses money, I feel it too. What matters is how this effort can continue and how the community can be involved,” he said.

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Today, Mbah Jarwo has formed a farmer group called *Nilam Sari Jaya*, although he refuses to serve as its leader. “I don’t want that—people might think I’m acting as a broker. I only want to advise and encourage the community to take part,” he said humbly.

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Despite his age, Mbah Jarwo’s spirit remains unwavering. He willingly goes back and forth, meeting farmers, offering motivation, and is even ready to act as a bridge between the community and the company. “I mean it—I’m ready to help. If this initiative is transparent and mutually beneficial, then we can move forward together,” he said with conviction.

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Behind his simple words lies a profound determination: to ensure farmers are not underestimated, to make patchouli a viable source of livelihood, and to keep the spirit of *gawi bapakat* (working together) alive in Seruyan.

***“Kalau ini bisa diperjuangkan, saya siap jadi penyambung lidah masyarakat untuk mencari petani di mana saja.”***

**–** Sudjarwo (Mbah Jarwo), Petani Nilam Rungau Raya-Seruyan

 \n Di usianya yang tak lagi muda, Sudjarwo—atau akrab disapa Mbah Jarwo—masih saja tampak menyusuri jalan setapak menuju kebun, membawa semangat yang tak kalah muda dari langkahnya. Dari lahan ke lahan, ia memandang tanaman nilamnya dan mengulang keyakinan yang selalu sama: bahwa nilam bukan hanya persoalan tanam-panen, melainkan cara menjaga martabat petani tetap tegak. Baginya, nilam bukan sekadar tanaman penghasil minyak atsiri bernilai tinggi, melainkan simbol keteguhan hati dan kebersamaan.

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Di tanah Kalimantan, sawit sudah lama menjadi wajah utama perkebunan. Hampir semua petani menggantungkan hidupnya pada komoditas ini karena dianggap paling aman—pasarnya jelas dan sudah lama menghidupi desa. Tapi di balik dominasi itu, ada satu komoditas lain yang diam-diam punya nilai setara: nilam (*Pogostemon cablin Benth*), tanaman penghasil minyak atsiri yang dikenal sebagai patchouli oil.

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Bagi Mbah Jarwo, nilam bukan barang baru. Lebih dari dua dekade lalu, ia pernah merasakan pahitnya bertaruh pada tanaman ini tanpa kepastian pasar. Pengalaman itu sempat membuatnya ragu untuk kembali menanam nilam. Namun, ketika peluang nilam hadir lagi dengan skema yang lebih jelas, ia memilih melangkah lebih dulu, mengesampingkan masa lalu. 

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Perjalanan panjang Mbah Jarwo dimulai jauh sebelum nilam kembali hadir di desanya, Rungau Raya, Kecamatan Danau Seluluk, Kalimantan Tengah.  Lulusan sekolah guru bantu (*Hollandsch Inlandsche Kweekschool*/HIK) pada masa kolonial Belanda dan sekolah dalang di Surakarta ini sempat meniti jalan sebagai seniman dan guru. Namun, takdir membawanya ke Kalimantan sejak 2001, mengadu nasib di kontraktor, hingga akhirnya memilih bertani. “Saya dulu menanam karet, tapi karena tidak laku, semuanya saya tebang. Lalu saya jadi petani sayur,” kenangnya.

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Tahun 2004, ia pernah merugi saat budidaya nilam. Saat itu, harga minyak nilam tak menentu, tergantung pasar luar negeri. Ketika sebuah program menawarkan penanaman nilam di desanya pada 2023, Mbah Jarwo awalnya menolak. “Saya sudah pernah jadi korban nilam,” katanya jujur.

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Namun, penjelasan dari tim program membuatnya berubah pikiran. Melihat adanya pabrik penyulingan yang telah terbangun di Desa Rungau Raya maupun persemaian nilam, matanya berbinar dan ia merasa ada peluang baru. Sebagai sesepuh desa, ia pun berinisiatif mengajak warga yang memiliki lahan untuk mencoba bersama. “Kalau tidak ada yang mencoba, tidak akan jalan,” ucapnya.

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Keputusan itu tak serta-merta mudah. Bibit pertama yang ia terima sebanyak 450 polybag justru mati hampir seluruhnya. “Tumbuhnya subur, tapi akhirnya layu, mati semua,” ujarnya. Bibit berikutnya datang dalam jumlah lebih banyak, tapi adanya kendala pengemasan selama perjalanan, sehingga tidak dalam kondisi optimal untuk ditanam. Meski begitu, Mbah Jarwo tidak menyerah. Ia menanam ulang, memperbaiki cara budidaya dan belajar melakukan stek secara mandiri untuk memperbanyak bibitnya, hingga akhirnya uji penyulingan menunjukkan kualitas minyak nilam dari tanah Seruyan cukup tinggi. “Ternyata tanah Kalimantan cocok untuk nilam,” kata Mbah Jarwo dengan nada optimis.

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Ia menekankan pentingnya kesabaran. Mbah Jarwo tahu betul, bertani nilam bukan pekerjaan instan yang hasilnya bisa langsung dinikmati. Ia meminta agar bibit dikelola dengan benar dan petani dibimbing terus-menerus. Nilam baru dapat dipanen pertama kali di bulan keenam setelah tanam, lalu berlanjut setiap tiga bulan hingga tiga tahun sebelum perlu diremajakan. Sembari menunggu, Mbah Jarwo menyarankan untuk menanam jagung di sela-sela tanaman nilam. “Jagung bisa cepat panen, hasilnya lumayan, dan petani tetap punya pemasukan sambil menunggu nilam,” jelasnya.

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Ia juga menekankan, yang dibutuhkan petani bukan sekadar bantuan insentif, melainkan dukungan nyata: bibit yang baik, pupuk yang memadai, dan akses pasar yang jelas. Bahkan, ia mengusulkan pemeliharaan sapi agar ketersediaan pupuk kandang terjamin. Bagi Mbah Jarwo, semua itu menjadi syarat mutlak sebelum bicara soal keuntungan. “Kalau harganya di kisaran Rp3.500–5.000 per kilo pucuk, menurut saya petani sudah bisa untung,” ujarnya, dengan catatan jelas: proses budidaya hingga penyulingan harus didampingi dengan benar.

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Namun bagi Mbah Jarwo, soal untung-rugi bukan segalanya. Ia paham perusahaan juga bisa merugi jika bibit dan produksi tidak sesuai standar. Karena itu ia tidak pernah menuntut ganti rugi, “Saya juga pengusaha kecil. Kalau perusahaan rugi, ya saya ikut merasakan. Yang penting bagaimana usaha ini bisa jalan, masyarakat bisa terlibat,” katanya.

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Kini, Mbah Jarwo membentuk kelompok tani bernama Nilam Sari Jaya, meski ia menolak untuk menjadi ketua. “Saya tidak mau, nanti dikira makelar. Saya hanya ingin menasihati dan mendorong masyarakat supaya ikut serta,” ujarnya dengan rendah hati. 

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Meski usianya tak lagi muda, semangat Mbah Jarwo tak pernah padam. Ia rela mondar-mandir, menemui petani, memberi motivasi, bahkan siap menjadi penyambung lidah antara masyarakat dan perusahaan. “Saya serius, siap membantu. Kalau usaha ini transparan dan sama-sama diuntungkan, kita bergerak bersama,” ucapnya penuh keyakinan.

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Di balik tutur katanya yang sederhana, tersimpan tekad besar dan kesungguhan: menjaga agar petani tidak diremehkan, memastikan nilam mampu memberi penghidupan yang layak, serta menyalakan semangat *gawi bapakat* (bekerja bersama) agar tetap hidup di Seruyan.

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Sudjarwo, a Bridge of Hope for Patchouli Farmers in Rungau Raya

Sudjarwo, Penyambung Harapan Petani Nilam dari Rungau Raya