Despite limited land availability, Kasum has proven that these conditions have actually served as a catalyst for perseverance and innovation. He has lived in Rungau Raya Village, Danau Seluluk Subdistrict, Seruyan Regency, Central Kalimantan, for seven years. Starting with just 0.1 hectares of his own land, Kasum implemented an intercropping system by growing food crops alongside patchouli.

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Starting with a donation of 1,000 seedlings provided by Gawi Bapakat, he set aside part of the harvest to learn how to propagate them himself. This step was simple, yet crucial. It demonstrated an effort to move away from constant reliance on external aid while simultaneously building the capacity for self-sufficient production.

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 ![Figure 1. Kasum on his farm land in Rungau Raya Village. Photo by Gawi Bakapat](https://petani.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/ourstoryentity/3efdc573-29c0-4c48-b8bc-c1661addc046.jpg)

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Kasum is from Boyolali, Central Java, a fertile region at the foot of Mount Merbabu where he learned to farm from a young age. This experience laid the foundation for his knowledge before he eventually tried his luck in Kalimantan.

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Upon arriving in Rungau Raya Village, Kasum did not immediately plant patchouli. For the first two years, he grew corn and vegetables. It was only later that he began planting patchouli after recognizing the available opportunities. This decision was driven by market potential as well as his prior experience. However, the different environmental conditions presented their own challenges. More extreme heat and rapid weed growth made maintenance far more intensive.

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Kasum intercrops patchouli with corn, which serves as a natural shield for the young patchouli plants. He handles the entire process, from land preparation to planting on his own with the help of tools like a mini-tractor. Within about a week, he is able to prepare the land for planting.

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Proper treatment is key to patchouli cultivation. During the early growth stage, especially in the first month, the plants must be watered regularly every morning and evening. If this is neglected, the plants may wilt and fail to grow. While the threat of pests is not significant, fungal diseases must still be prevented through regular spraying. Perseverance and consistency are the principles Kasum upholds in caring for his plants.

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Gradually, what Kasum was doing began to attract the attention of local residents. What started with just a few people studying together has now grown to about 20 people in the village who have tried growing patchouli, though not all of them are actively involved. In this situation, sharing knowledge has become essential to maintaining a sense of community.

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 ![Figure 2. Patchouli planted in early March of 2026 by Kasum. Photo by Gawi Bapakat.](https://petani.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/ourstoryentity/490c5de2-38f5-493d-845c-833eb7f91f74.jpg)

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From a marketing perspective, the patchouli harvest is guaranteed a market because it is directly purchased by the supporting organization. This provides farmers with peace of mind, allowing them to focus on production. In addition to patchouli, Kasum also grows vegetables like spinach and water spinach for daily needs, as well as sweet corn that can be sold directly at the local market.

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Out of two growing seasons in the span of six months, Kasum has successfully completed one cycle of harvesting. He is confident that this process will pay off in the future. Kasum hopes to expand the scale of cultivation while promoting local patchouli oil processing. With local processing, the product’s market value can increase significantly compared to the sale of dried leaves, thereby opening opportunities for increased income for farmers, supported by Gawi Bapakat’s role in facilitating market access and promoting processing practices as key factors in realizing this potential.

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Kasum believes that the key to success lies not only in the harvest, but in the ongoing learning process. The courage to try, a focus on care, and diligence in work form the main foundation. From limited land and small steps toward self-reliance, he demonstrates that change can begin with oneself.

Di tengah keterbatasan lahan, Pak Kasum membuktikan bahwa kondisi tersebut justru menjadi pemicu untuk tetap tekun dan berinovasi. Ia telah menetap di Desa Rungau Raya, Kecamatan Danau Seluluk, Kabupaten Seruyan, Kalimantan Tengah selama tujuh tahun. Berawal dengan lahan miliknya yang hanya seluas 0,1 hektar, Pak Kasum menerapkan sistem tumpang sari dengan menanam tanaman pangan berdampingan dengan nilam.

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Berawal dari bantuan bibit dari Gawi Bapakat sebanyak 1.000 batang, ia menyisihkan sekitar 400 batang untuk belajar menyetek sendiri. Langkah ini sederhana, namun penting. Pak Kasum memutuskan untuk belajar menyetek sendiri supaya tidak terus bergantung pada bantuan luar sekaligus membangun kemampuan produksi secara mandiri.

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 ![Gambar 1. Pak Kasum di lahan miliknya di Desa Rungau Raya. Dokumentasi: Gawi Bakapat.](https://petani.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/ourstoryentity/b2e9c37f-c678-4291-bf6c-b52c64817698.jpg)

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Pak Kasum berasal dari Boyolali, Jawa Tengah, di sebuah wilayah kaki Gunung Merbabu yang subur dan menjadi tempatnya belajar bertani sejak lama. Pengalaman ini membentuk dasar pengetahuannya sebelum akhirnya mencoba peruntungan di Kalimantan.

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Setibanya di Desa Rungau Raya, Pak Kasum tidak langsung menanam nilam. Selama dua tahun pertama, ia menanam jagung dan sayuran. Hingga kemudian ia mulai menanam nilam setelah melihat peluang yang ada. Keputusan ini didorong oleh potensi pasar sekaligus pengalamannya sebelumnya. Namun, kondisi lingkungan yang berbeda menjadi tantangan tersendiri. Panas yang lebih ekstrim dan pertumbuhan gulma yang cepat membuat perawatan menjadi jauh lebih intensif.

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Pak Kasum menanam nilam secara tumpang sari dengan jagung, yang berfungsi sebagai pelindung alami bagi tanaman nilam yang masih muda. Seluruh proses, mulai dari pengolahan lahan hingga penanaman, ia kerjakan sendiri dengan bantuan alat seperti traktor mini. Dalam waktu sekitar satu minggu, ia mampu mengolah lahan hingga siap tanam.

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Perawatan menjadi kunci utama dalam budidaya nilam. Pada masa awal pertumbuhan, terutama dalam satu bulan pertama, tanaman harus disiram secara rutin setiap pagi dan sore. Jika terlewat, tanaman bisa layu dan gagal tumbuh. Ancaman hama tidak terlalu besar, namun jamur tetap diantisipasi melalui penyemprotan rutin. Ketelatenan dan konsistensi menjadi prinsip yang dipegang Pak Kasum dalam menjaga tanamannya.

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Perlahan, apa yang dilakukan Pak Kasum mulai menarik perhatian warga sekitar. Dari awalnya hanya beberapa orang yang belajar bersama, kini sekitar 20 orang di desa tersebut telah mencoba menanam nilam, meskipun tidak semuanya aktif. Di tengah kondisi tersebut, praktik saling berbagi pengetahuan menjadi penting untuk menjaga semangat bersama.

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 ![Gambar 2. Nilam yang ditanam di awal Maret 2026 oleh Pak Kasum. Dokumentasi: Gawi Bapakat.](https://petani.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/ourstoryentity/8d4d80ac-fdd5-4503-96c6-e17257cae3c9.jpg)

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Di sisi pemasaran, hasil panen nilam memiliki kepastian karena langsung ditampung oleh Gawi Bapakat. Hal ini memberi rasa aman bagi petani untuk fokus pada produksi. Selain nilam, Pak Kasum juga menanam sayuran seperti bayam dan kangkung untuk kebutuhan sehari-hari, serta jagung manis yang dapat dijual langsung ke pasar lokal.

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Dari dua masa tanam selama enam bulan, Pak Kasum telah berhasil melakukan satu kali panen. Ia berkeyakinan bahwa proses ini akan setimpal ke depannya. Pak Kasum berharap dapat mengembangkan skala tanam sekaligus mendorong pengolahan minyak nilam di tingkat lokal. Dengan adanya pengolahan di tingkat lokal, nilai jual produk dapat meningkat secara signifikan dibandingkan penjualan daun kering, sehingga membuka peluang peningkatan pendapatan bagi petani, didukung oleh peran Gawi Bapakat dalam membuka akses pasar sekaligus mendorong praktik pengolahan sebagai faktor penting dalam mewujudkan potensi tersebut.

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Pak Kasum yakin bahwa kunci keberhasilan bukan hanya pada hasil panen tetapi pada proses belajar yang terus berjalan. Keberanian untuk mencoba, fokus dalam merawat, dan ketelatenan dalam bekerja menjadi fondasi utama. Dari lahan terbatas dan langkah kecil menuju kemandirian, ia menunjukkan bahwa perubahan bisa dimulai dari diri sendiri dan perlahan menyebar ke lingkungan sekitarnya.

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Toward Self-Reliance: The Story of Kasum, a Patchouli Farmer in Rungau Raya Village

Menuju Kemandirian: Kisah Pak Kasum, Petani Nilam di Desa Rungau Raya