SHV, a pioneering women-led enterprise, is actively working to strengthen sustainable village economies through the cultivation of forest-based spices like nutmeg, vanilla, kenari, and cloves. Operating in Maluku, Indonesia—home to some of the world’s most valuable spices—SHV aims to transform the agricultural landscape for local communities.

The Challenge of Low Incomes and Unsustainable Practices

Despite the potential of these valuable spices, limited market access and inadequate support for post-harvest practices have led to low farmer incomes. Consequently, households are opting for extractive activities such as small-scale timber cutting and mining. Furthermore, insufficient infrastructure and unpredictable pricing have discouraged the younger generation from pursuing agriculture, resulting in a loss of traditional knowledge and weakened stewardship of forest landscapes.

Building a Fair and Transparent Spice Value Chain

In a bid to reverse this downward trend, SHV is dedicated to rebuilding the spice value chain, starting with fair pricing mechanisms. Dessi Yuliana, founder and CEO of SHV, states, “We partner with farmers and introduce a fair, transparent market mechanism. Early price signals help farmers avoid the uncertainty that often accompanies harvest-time price fluctuations.”

Currently, SHV collaborates with 11 farmer groups across seven villages in West Seram, supporting over 700 farmers managing approximately 13,000 hectares under Social Forestry permits. The company also promotes practices that boost productivity and quality, including natural pest management and enhanced post-harvest processes.

Improving Practices Through Financial Incentives

Yuliana emphasizes the importance of demonstrating economic benefits to encourage farmers to adopt new techniques, such as pruning. “These simple practices can increase productivity up to three times,” she explains. To facilitate this, SHV has implemented a graded pricing system where farmers receive higher payments when they meet improved standards.

Retaining Economic Value in Maluku

SHV also focuses on establishing hubs that cater to nearby forest areas. “These hubs help aggregate commodities and enable us to introduce simple technologies like solar drying systems. Farmers can easily adapt, significantly improving quality,” Yuliana explains. This strategy is crucial for retaining value within Maluku, rather than exporting raw materials to regions like Java and Surabaya.

Future plans include building a new technology hub to utilize agricultural waste, such as discarded nutmeg fruit, thereby creating additional income streams for the local community.

Facing the Challenge of Attracting Investment

Despite these advancements, SHV faces challenges in convincing investors of its commercial viability. Yuliana remarks, “Finding a financier has been difficult due to our operational complexity and the high logistical costs associated with operating on a small island.”

However, a significant milestone was achieved when Indonesia-based venture builder Terratai announced its investment in SHV last August. Matt Leggett, Founder and CEO of Terratai, expressed confidence in SHV’s potential, stating that the company’s model offers a rare opportunity to support forest stewardship while showing the economic value of conservation.

The Social, Economic, and Environmental Impact

SHV is poised to make a meaningful impact through its operations, resulting in higher incomes, reduced waste, stronger forest stewardship, and increased local value addition. Yuliana acknowledges the challenge of measuring this impact systematically, which is vital as the enterprise looks to scale.