Aldi Massa, a young man in his late twenties, was born and raised in Kaluppini Village, Enrekang Regency, South Sulawesi. This village, located in a mountainous area, is known for its lush and serene natural beauty. As the second of five children in a simple farming family, Aldi grew up understanding the harshness of working in the fields and appreciating the serenity that nature offers.
Aldi Massa's family owns a fairly large agricultural land, managed from generation to generation. Since childhood, Aldi has been accustomed to a rural life full of challenges. With slightly tanned skin due to frequent exposure to sunlight, a strong and tough body due to being accustomed to physical work, and sharp eyes full of enthusiasm, Aldi is known as a humble, hard-working, and very dedicated figure. His friendly smile makes it easy for him to get along with anyone.
Despite coming from a farming family, Aldi had a strong determination to study. With the full support of his parents who wanted to see their children have a better life, Aldi Massa managed to complete his elementary and secondary education with brilliant achievements. He then continued his higher education at the Ujungpandang State Polytechnic (PNUP) majoring in Civil Engineering.
Aldi's college journey was not easy. At the beginning of his studies, he faced the challenge of adapting to a new environment and a more independent learning method compared to his school days. However, Aldi quickly found his learning rhythm and began to show brilliant achievements. He was active in various academic and non-academic activities, including student organizations such as BEM and the Civil Engineering Student Association. Thanks to his dedication, Aldi often received awards as an outstanding student in his faculty.
After graduating with honors, Aldi decided to return to his village. This decision was initially not easy for his family to accept.
They expected Aldi to work in a big city with a stable career and stable income. When Aldi expressed his desire to return to the village, his family felt disappointed and worried. In addition to pressure from his family, Aldi also faced criticism from relatives and neighbors who considered him to have wasted a great opportunity in the city.
However, Aldi remains steadfast in his position. He believes that the knowledge gained can be applied to advance his village. He wants to see Kaluppini become a model village for sustainable and independent agriculture. Aldi dreams of building an agricultural training center in his village, where farmers can learn new techniques and share experiences. He also plans to develop local products and introduce them to a wider market.
Aldi began designing and implementing small projects to demonstrate the positive impacts of the modern farming methods he introduced. One of them was a more efficient and environmentally friendly livestock system. Aldi built a cow shed to provide an example and educate the community that cow dung is a valuable source of income. Cow dung can be processed into compost to support organic farming.
In late April 2024, SCF – Partnership with the Estungkara program started the Agrosilvopasture Field School activity. The Agrosilvopasture farming system is a farming system that emphasizes ecological balance through farming, livestock, and forest conservation. Aldi's dream is in line with this program, so he enthusiastically participated as the coordinator of the Agrosilvopasture Field School in Kaluppini Village.
Agrosilvopasture is an integrated system that combines three main components: agriculture, forest systems (silviculture), and livestock in one integrated land management unit. This concept is designed to take advantage of the positive interactions between plants, trees, and animals, and to increase the productivity and sustainability of the agricultural system.
This system not only increases agricultural output but also has a significant positive impact on the economic standard of living of farmers. With diversification of production, increased soil fertility, reduced costs, and greater economic stability, farmers who implement this system can enjoy a sustainable increase in welfare.
Aldi plans to introduce and implement the Agrosilvopastura system in Kaluppini Village. By combining agriculture, forestry, and livestock, Aldi hopes to increase land productivity and the welfare of local farmers. He also plans to develop organic farming in the village, with the hope of increasing the added value of agricultural products and opening access to a wider organic market.
Aldi aspires to be an agent of change in the world of agriculture, especially in rural areas. He wants to encourage the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, improve the welfare of farmers, and reduce negative impacts on the environment. Aldi also wants to be an inspiration for the younger generation to dare to dream big and contribute to the progress of society. With a spirit of never giving up, Aldi believes that every big change requires time and patience.
Aldi's parents were finally proud of their son's courage and determination. They saw that Aldi had found a way to use his higher education for the good of his own community. With the growing support of his family and community, Aldi felt more confident and motivated to continue developing his village. He knew that the journey was still long, but with the support he had, he was confident that he could achieve his dream.
Aldi Massa is a real-life example of how a young man from a village can become an agent of change, combining modern science with local wisdom to create a better future for his community.
*This article was written by: Muslimin, SCF
