Forum Fair Trade Indonesia

News & Events

Fair Trade Lunch with Masril Koto

Masril Koto, the founder of Farmer’s Bank in Padang, West Sumatra came to have a chat with us on Fair Trade Lunch, on Saturday, March 19th, 2011. In this event, FFTI also invited NGOs, small business enterprises, youth organisations, as well as music communities
It was the second Fair Trade Lunch organised by FFTI in which every person that was invited as a guest speaker would share her/his experience to others. Hopefully, Fair Trade Lunch could bring inspiration for the people who attended. During the event Masril Koto was sharing about farmer’s bank in Padang, Sumatra Barat particularly on how it started, to be managed and what its challenges are, and about awards that they have got based on their efforts and spirit. Recently, farmer’s bank already has more than 10,000 farmers as its members whom usually face difficult to get money/capital from the commercial banks. In fact, his idea has been adopted by Agriculture Minister as a national program since 2007.
In addition, Masril Koto has also developed a program called “ Gerakan Sejuta Buku” (one million books to the farmers). Since books in commercial shop could not be afforded by farmers, such program would provide free books to farmers in order to improve their knowlegde and skills. Indeed, the program has been responded positively the farmers’ communities.
Although he is a bank’s director, Masril Koto still looks simple that could be seen from his appearance. When he was invited on a talk show in a TV channel, he was the simpliest speaker among other speakers. Masril is still a down to earth person since he usually travel around Sumatra to meet and share experience and knowledge, especially on organic farming, to farmers. He believes that if we undertake something with spirit and good intentions, the result will be good. He has proven his words by establishing a successful of farmer’s bank. But he does not satisfy with his work yet. He still has a dream to make farmers becoming independent and having a good quality of life.