Initially conceived to combat pest attacks devastating rice fields, the Semut Hijau Community Group on the island of Lombok, Indonesia stumbled upon an innovative solution: turning grasshoppers into a lucrative commodity! Led by the group leader Azwar Hamdi, what started as a solution to a local agricultural problem quickly evolved into a thriving weekly event called Peken Balang, or the Grasshopper Market!

Formed in October 2023, the Semut Hijau climate change adaptation group consists of 276 families from the farming community of Tanah Beak Village. The majority of residents are engaged in rice and corn farming. These farmers consistently face challenges with attacks from grasshoppers, which pose a significant threat to their crop yields.

The Semu Hijau group started as a group of farmers who worked together mostly at night to collectively combat pest attacks, a traditional practice in Lombok. As Azwar explains:

“The tradition of nocturnal grasshopper hunting holds significant cultural significance within the Lombok community. The practice is followed by the preparation of food dishes from the catch. Our new initiative intertwines this cultural activity with a camping experience, including morning gymnastics and communal breakfast gatherings. We culminate the event with tree planting.”

Building on this initiative, and because of the large number of pests which were being caught, the group decided to not only consume the pests, but to use them as a new income source. The group started to advocate for the establishment of local food stalls, offering a variety of local delicacies such as fried cassava and local vegetables, as well as the morning’s catch of grasshoppers made into sambal, a traditional hot sauce found throughout Indonesia.

The community response was overwhelming, and the Peken Balang or Grasshopper Weekly Market was born and has flourished as Azwar Hamdi explains:

“What began modestly now draws over 80 food stalls with a thousand visitors from neighboring villages and beyond, generating millions of rupiah in transactions in just two hours every Sunday!”

For many vendors, sales have soared, providing a significant economic boost. What began as a humble initiative to combat pest crop attacks has evolved into a multifaceted endeavour encompassing cultural preservation, economic empowerment and environmental sustainability. It also fosters community cohesion, as evidenced by improved cooperation and environmental consciousness.