The story of Henggo: “Now I can sell my fish to the capital city with higher prices”
Henggo is a 24 years old fisherman from Tumbang Nusa who lives with his family nearby the Kayahan River of Central Kalimantan. Every day, except Friday, they get on two boats to catch fishes in the river and a lake nearby. The day’s catch depends very much on the season, but on average five kilograms of fish will bite the hook.
Henggo is a 24 years old fisherman from Tumbang Nusa who lives with his family nearby the Kayahan River of Central Kalimantan. Every day, except Friday, they get on two boats to catch fishes in the river and a lake nearby. The day’s catch depends very much on the season, but on average five kilograms of fish will bite the hook.
“I know I would make more money if I sold the fish directly in town, but that means I would have to cross the bridge every day. I don’t want to take that risk,” said Henggo. Instead of selling his fish in the capital city of Palangkaraya and getting a higher price, he sells it to a collector in his village, Hardi, who in turn brings the fish from the village to Palangkaraya. Hardi explains that he falls down as much as once per week on the bridge.
Still, he considers himself lucky as he never endured severe injuries, but he already lost a motorbike in the swampy waters of Tumbang Nusa. Henggo, just like the other villagers of Tumbang Nusa, would need to cross the 2.8 kilometres long wooden bridge in question with his motorbike every day, along the marshy area from the village to the main road of Central Kalimantan, however the wooden swampy crossing is extremely perilous with its missing and broken planks all along the way. The planks need to be replaced every year, but the maintenance is poor.
Just like Henggo, the majority of the villagers of Tumbang Nusa are fishermen. Since heavy logging and frequent fires degraded the forest once dense with centenary trees, forest resources such as rattan and gemur bark (soap and insect repellent ingredients) have become scarce and villagers cannot log as many trees as before. Therefore, fishing is now their most reliable livelihood option.
That is why Henggo, Hardi and the other villagers were happy to hear that the ILO through its Green Livelihood Access for Central Kalimantan’s Inclusive Environmental Response to Climate Change (GLACIER) project would build a new, more durable swampy crossing. The swampy crossing is only large enough for a motorbike and thus cannot be used for transporting timber. The villagers can still use the crossing for transporting fishes or rattan to sell. This way, activities which are less harmful to the environment are being encouraged. “Now I can sell my fish directly to the market of Palangkaraya with higher price,” said Henggo.
Henggo and the other beneficiaries started the reconstruction of the bridge in June 2013. The new swampy crossing is made of concrete and galvanized steel to avoid oxidation. The materials were selected considering their sustainability and durability characteristics, and timber was not used as a construction material since it is impossible to purchase certified timber in Central Kalimantan. The rebuilding methods were simple and the villagers worked with the support from the ILO Mobile Construction Trainers.
They learnt sustainable construction techniques and how to maintain the infrastructure. “The ILO work is nor dangerous, neither difficult. I learnt piling, casting, compacting and welding when working for the ILO-GLACIER project. These skills will be definitely useful for me in the future,” Henggo said. Henggo’s income increased by 500,000 IDR per month during the replacement of 200 meters of the previous swampy crossing.
In order to ensure the extension of the construction works, the ILO held a workshop for sharing the design of the new swampy crossing and provided on-the-job and classroom trainings to the public works agency and the National Programme for Community Empowerment (PNPM) unit. The government is considering the extension of the construction works. The extension of the bridge is Henggo’s hope as well.
“I know I would make more money if I sold the fish directly in town, but that means I would have to cross the bridge every day. I don’t want to take that risk,” said Henggo. Instead of selling his fish in the capital city of Palangkaraya and getting a higher price, he sells it to a collector in his village, Hardi, who in turn brings the fish from the village to Palangkaraya. Hardi explains that he falls down as much as once per week on the bridge.
Still, he considers himself lucky as he never endured severe injuries, but he already lost a motorbike in the swampy waters of Tumbang Nusa. Henggo, just like the other villagers of Tumbang Nusa, would need to cross the 2.8 kilometres long wooden bridge in question with his motorbike every day, along the marshy area from the village to the main road of Central Kalimantan, however the wooden swampy crossing is extremely perilous with its missing and broken planks all along the way. The planks need to be replaced every year, but the maintenance is poor.
The ILO work is nor dangerous, neither difficult. I learnt piling, casting, compacting and welding when working for the ILO-GLACIER project. These skills will be definitely useful for me in the future.
Just like Henggo, the majority of the villagers of Tumbang Nusa are fishermen. Since heavy logging and frequent fires degraded the forest once dense with centenary trees, forest resources such as rattan and gemur bark (soap and insect repellent ingredients) have become scarce and villagers cannot log as many trees as before. Therefore, fishing is now their most reliable livelihood option.
That is why Henggo, Hardi and the other villagers were happy to hear that the ILO through its Green Livelihood Access for Central Kalimantan’s Inclusive Environmental Response to Climate Change (GLACIER) project would build a new, more durable swampy crossing. The swampy crossing is only large enough for a motorbike and thus cannot be used for transporting timber. The villagers can still use the crossing for transporting fishes or rattan to sell. This way, activities which are less harmful to the environment are being encouraged. “Now I can sell my fish directly to the market of Palangkaraya with higher price,” said Henggo.
Henggo and the other beneficiaries started the reconstruction of the bridge in June 2013. The new swampy crossing is made of concrete and galvanized steel to avoid oxidation. The materials were selected considering their sustainability and durability characteristics, and timber was not used as a construction material since it is impossible to purchase certified timber in Central Kalimantan. The rebuilding methods were simple and the villagers worked with the support from the ILO Mobile Construction Trainers.
They learnt sustainable construction techniques and how to maintain the infrastructure. “The ILO work is nor dangerous, neither difficult. I learnt piling, casting, compacting and welding when working for the ILO-GLACIER project. These skills will be definitely useful for me in the future,” Henggo said. Henggo’s income increased by 500,000 IDR per month during the replacement of 200 meters of the previous swampy crossing.
In order to ensure the extension of the construction works, the ILO held a workshop for sharing the design of the new swampy crossing and provided on-the-job and classroom trainings to the public works agency and the National Programme for Community Empowerment (PNPM) unit. The government is considering the extension of the construction works. The extension of the bridge is Henggo’s hope as well.