In addition to the crops promoted under the program, such as moringa, dragon fruit, sandat flowers, and sacha inchi, participants also cultivated glutinous corn, sweet Cilembu sweet potatoes, shallots, and chili peppers.
A participant from Tebe hamlet, Mr. Tama, conducted several trials using organic methods to cultivate a glutinous corn variety that the local community does not commonly grow. He planted the crop on a 15-are plot (1500 m2) during the rainy season and observed that the yield was about 80-100 kg which is lower than that of conventional corn varieties cultivated with chemical fertilizers which is about 150-180 kg. However, he assessed that the organically grown corn was superior in quality and healthier compared to corn produced with chemical fertilizers. The harvest also proved to be more marketable within the local community due to its distinct quality. There are some people asked to buy those corns from Mr. Tama. Community members expressed greater satisfaction and appreciation for this cultivation system. The participant intends to continue applying this organic farming method in the upcoming rainy season on a larger plot of land.
Mr. Tama with his friends also conducted a crop diversification trial involving Cilembu sweet potatoes on a 5-are (500 m2) plot during the drier season. By applying organic methods, they produced approximately 25 kilograms of sweet potatoes. They are currently cultivating the crop on a 15-are plot (1500 m2), where it remains in the growth stage.
In addition to corn and Cilembu sweet potatoes, the participants have cultivated shallots using an organic farming system. They harvested 5 kilograms of shallots from 1 kilogram of seed bulbs planted on a 0.5-are plot (50 m2).
The participants have also initiated chili cultivation using a planter bag growing medium, which is more cost-effective and easier to protect from monkey disturbances, based on observations from previous moringa cultivation trials using planter bags. They applied this method to chili plants and achieved highly productive growth due to the use of organic fertilizer learned at the learning centre. They have currently planted 50 planter bags and progressing.