While COP29 discussions on the negative impacts of climate change are echoed around the world, in places like Indonesia’s West Nusa Tenggara province, the realities are already starting to bite.
In the small village of Songgela, Andi is at the forefront of a local battle against climate change. The 55-year-old tends to his modest farm surrounded by hills that once supported rich maize crops. Today, the land tells a different story. For Andi, and others like him in Songgela, coping with the changing climate is an everyday struggle.
For generations, farming in Sonngela followed a predictable rhythm. Crops were sown and harvested with the seasons, providing food and livelihoods for families. But today, those rhythms have been shattered.
“3 years ago, we could still predict the weather. Now it’s impossible. The heat comes when we need rain and then suddenly it’s too cold,” Andi says.
This erratic weather has cut Andi’s maize yields by an overwhelming 70% last year. His 2 hectares of land once produced 15 tonnes of maize, yet now yield barely 3 tonnes. “The maize is a sensitive crop,” Andi explains. “This year, we had to replant twice because the first seeds failed. The costs went up, but we had no choice.”
For a community that relies on farming for survival, the stakes could not be higher. Songgela’s broken roads and the high cost of fertiliser only add to the challenges. Damaged and steep roads make it difficult for farmers like Andi to reach their fields, slowing down their work and increasing the time and effort needed to tend to their crops. The poor infrastructure also hinders their ability to transport harvested produce to the market, making it harder to sell their goods and earn a living. Yet, Andi continues to plant, harvest, and hope, knowing that his traditional ways may no longer be enough to sustain his family.
Introducing a new way of farming
The future began to seem a bit brighter for Andi in 2022, when his village took part in an Islamic Relief project, which aimed to support farmers to diversify their crops, reducing reliance on maize, which is becoming increasingly unsustainable due to climate change.
We provided seedlings for fruit trees, including guava, avocado and sapodilla, all of which are more resilient to changing weather patterns and so can provide better long-term financial returns for farmers.

“We started with small things,” Andi recalls. “Islamic Relief introduced us to integrated farming practices – things like growing herbs and spices, and even oyster mushroom cultivation.
“My income has increased by 25-30% in just 1 year. In a few years, when the trees bear fruit, I believe the profits will be much higher. I won’t have to climb the mountain to plant maize anymore.”
Advocating for change
As the head of the Songgela Jaya Forest Farmer Group, Andi carries the weight of his community’s challenges on his shoulders. Many in the group are struggling with debt and reluctant to change the ways of farming they’ve depended on for so long.
Andi knows this too well, he has spent years advocating for tree planting and sustainable practices, with limited success. But he is determined to lead by example.
Every day, Andi tends to the trees he has planted, hoping that others will follow. “I feel responsible. I care for my trees carefully, to show the others what’s possible. But it’s not easy. Many are stuck in their routines, afraid to change.”
Andi remains hopeful. The introduction of integrated farming methods is starting to shift mindsets and his dream is to one day see the Songgela area become a model of climate resilience, with farmers planting trees not only for profit but also to restore the environment.
“There’s hope in every seedling,” he says. “The trees will grow, and they will change everything.”

‘The fight against climate change is just beginning‘
The story of Andi and his community underscores the urgent need for support in vulnerable regions like Songgela. Farmers living on the frontlines of climate change need more than promises from world leaders. They need action, funding, and sustainable projects, like those led by Islamic Relief.
“The support we’ve received from Islamic Relief has given us a way forward,” Andi says, “But we need more time, more assistance. Two years isn’t enough. The fight against climate change isn’t over, it’s just beginning.”
Andi’s words carry a message not only for the policymakers at COP29, but for the world. While the scale of the climate crisis can feel overwhelming, small actions—planting a tree, diversifying a crop, supporting a local farmer, can make a significant impact. Andi’s hope for his community is clear: that one day, the fields of Songgela will flourish again, and the farmers who care for them will thrive.
Join Islamic Relief in empowering farmers like Andi to adapt to climate change. Donate now.