Wonogiri Farmers Utilize Dry Season to Cultivate Tobacco

KOMPAS.com – The dry season presents a unique challenge for farmers in Wonogiri, Central Java. As water supplies dwindle, some agricultural land risks going unused until the rainy season returns.

For several farmers, this situation has prompted a search for crops that can still be cultivated during the dry season. Tobacco has become one option due to its plant characteristics that require relatively little water.

This choice led Katino (46), a resident of Eromoko, Wonogiri, to pursue tobacco farming. Previously, he worked as a truck driver.

Starting from witnessing a farmer selling tobacco

Katino's interest in tobacco began with a simple event. One day, he saw a farmer in his seventies finish selling his tobacco harvest at a warehouse.

This scene opened Katino's eyes to new opportunities beyond his previous work in the agricultural sector. He decided to seriously focus on tobacco cultivation in 2019.
At first, Katino learned from other farmers. Over time, he received mentorship from Sampoerna through one of its supplier companies.

The assistance covered early cultivation stages, from seedling preparation, land management, fertilization, to watering.

“From the very beginning, like during the seedling process, I was taught how to spread the seeds, how many days or hours the seedlings need care. Then they showed me the proper way to transplant the seedlings, how to apply the base fertilizer, even how to water properly. With this field guidance, from knowing nothing at first, now I understand,” Katino said in a press release received by Kompas.com on Monday (21/9/2026).

For Katino, this process helped him understand that seed selection, planting time, and fertilization significantly affect the quality and productivity of the plants.

This knowledge becomes essential when growing tobacco during the dry season. In Wonogiri, dry conditions over the years have rendered some land unproductive due to limited water supply.

Tobacco then serves as an alternative for farmers to continue using land and generate income during this season.
Harvest results pave the way for growth

Katino's perseverance began to pay off. Since 2023, his economic condition has improved steadily, and income from farming allowed him to purchase a new rice field.

He now manages around 9,000 square meters of land across three locations. He also cultivates one leased plot and employs several farm laborers.

The land is managed with a rotation pattern between the rainy and dry seasons, enabling agricultural activities to continue aligned with seasonal conditions and crop needs.

Returning from Jakarta and managing family land

A different story comes from Purwanto (34), another tobacco farmer in Wonogiri.
Before farming, Purwanto had migrated to Jakarta and worked in a private company. He later chose to return home to support his parents and cultivate the family-inherited land.

His return coincided with the dry season. At that time, he noticed several neighbors planting tobacco.

“I came back during the dry season. Neighbors were planting tobacco. I started learning by joining them. At first, just a little for practice,” Purwanto recalled.

From this experience, Purwanto deepened his knowledge of tobacco cultivation. He received counseling, technical guidance, and assistance through various planting stages.

“We got counseling, technical training, and guidance for planting. From seedling preparation, planting, even post-harvest, field officers still accompany us,” he shared.

The support helped Purwanto’s farming process become more structured. He no longer relied solely on inherited experience but applied Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), from seedling to post-harvest handling.

Moreover, the Agricultural Labor Practices (ALP) code fosters health and safety standards at work, child labor prevention, and respect for the rights of farm workers.

Harvest proceeds help prepare for the next season

For Purwanto, the benefits of tobacco farming extend beyond harvest time. Sales proceeds also help prepare for the next planting season needs.

“Now, part of the earnings can be set aside as capital for the next planting season. So needs for fertilizer, rice, or tobacco can be prepared in advance,” Purwanto explained.

Tobacco becomes part of a farming pattern that maintains rice as a key commodity. Income from the dry season helps families ready resources for the following planting season.

Changes are also visible in Purwanto’s family home. His parents' house, previously wooden-walled, is now a more habitable brick house.
According to Purwanto, the economic benefits of tobacco farming are also felt by the surrounding community. The harvest has stimulated other economic activities in the village.

“After tobacco harvest, some were able to buy family cars to rent out. Others bought vehicles for cargo services,” he added.

He sees this development influencing some villagers' choices. When farming brings economic benefits, people have reasons to continue developing life and work in their hometown.

For Katino and Purwanto, the dry season doesn’t necessarily mean land must stop producing. Tobacco offers them options to keep cultivating land, earn income, and prepare for family needs until the next planting season.

In Wonogiri, such choices form part of farmers’ strategies to keep land productive while sustaining farming businesses amid seasonal changes.