Reaping rewards in Aceh

A melon farmer in front of his crop field, Aceh, Indonesia. [CARE in Aceh]

Still recovering from the devastation caused by the tsunami and the consequences of the conflict in Aceh, 56-year-old father of five Fauzi Yusuf tells CAFOD about that terrible day and how he is finally getting back to normality with the help of our Achenese partner, CARE in Aceh

The day the tsunami came was a Sunday, and as usual I was sitting drinking coffee in the local cafe in my village.

Suddenly I felt a tremor and big jolt and I knew straight away that it was an earthquake.

I heard from people in my village that the water had risen and destroyed fishponds in our neighbouring village, Lampanah. But at that time I didn’t know that the tsunami had affected other areas too and even other countries.

In our village we were lucky. Nobody died and houses weren’t destroyed because we’re about 3km from

the sea. But the tsunami destroyed the fishponds and fishermen’s huts.

Life of poverty

Our life here is one of poverty. We live in wooden houses on stilts with sago palm roofs.

Most people here are farmers, but seasonal farmers. We have to plant and harvest twice a year in order to get enough food for the year.

I am a farmer, but until recently, I could only grow enough rice to just about feed my family. Sometimes though, I have to sell whatever there is in order to make ends meet.

I used to grow other crops to sell such as onions and melons, but that ended in 1999 when the conflict

came to this area.

Decades of conflict

There was constant fighting in the area for decades between GAM fighters, who wanted independence for Aceh, and the Indonesian military. I couldn’t go to the fields because I was afraid of being shot.

Initially after the tsunami our life here was very difficult because we had to get most things from the main city, Banda Aceh, and it was very difficult to get there.

Chillies and melons

Chilli crop, Aceh, Indonesia [CARE in Aceh]

CARE in Aceh came here to talk about the farming project in March 2007 and we discussed our problems and our needs.

They gave us seeds, fertilisers and farming tools such as hand sprayers and water pumps so we could start to farm the fields that had been abandoned during the war.

We have only been farming for a few months, but I can already feel the benefits.

In the last few months I have harvested shallots and although the results weren’t great, I have also planted watermelons which gave a good harvest.

I have now started planting chillies and more watermelons, which hopefully will provide high yields so I can make more money to look after my family.

Interview by Ridha Abdul Kadir, CARE in Aceh