Local Food Security

KOMPAS/FABIO M LOPES COSTA

A sago production facility in Kampung Tambat, Merauke regency, Papua.

Indonesia\'s food security would be more socially, economically, politically and environmentally sustainable, if it was built on the basis of local resources.

This belief has been raised since the 1980s, even when national food security eventually depended only on a few commodities, mainly rice as a source of carbohydrates.

Dependence on rice as the main source of energy continues up to the present amid academic evidence that many other food sources can replace rice.

One indication is the area of sago forest data, which ranges from 1.4 million hectares to 5.5 million hectares.

One of them is sago. Indonesia has the largest sago forests in the world. Almost all of our sago plants grow in Papua and West Papua. Although sago is a large food potential, the attention given toward sago is still minimal. One indication is the area of sago forest data, which ranges from 1.4 million hectares to 5.5 million hectares.

The utilization of sago as food, a source income for communities and other uses is still limited. Kompas daily reported on Monday that one of the efforts to utilize sago is carried out by the Papua Regional Research and Development Agency and the Papua Food Security Office.

The two institutions established a group of villages producing sago. Residents in the village groups are introduced to the technology of harvesting and processing sago into flour using tools made by I Made Budi, a lecturer at Cenderawasih University. This applicable technology has succeeded in increasing sago production and people\'s income.

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

A sago production facility in Kampung Tambat, Merauke regency, Papua.

Although this program has only been running since early 2019, the courage to try has given results. There will be opportunities to replicate the system for other regions, including in areas where food sources do not include sago.

The sago village grouping program shows that social and economic approaches to the community play a more important role in success than just providing funds and equipment. The use of any simple technology requires a new culture. This program also invites the community to enter into a rational way of life and is open to change.

Local food sources have adapted to the local environment, reducing the carbon tracks because they are locally produced, which is important in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, becoming a source of economic community and strengthening the community. From the initiatives in Papua, the government and the community can take concrete steps to remapping local food sources as a basis for building reliable food security.

KOMPAS/ERIKA KURNIAWAN

Sago powders produced by PT ANJ Agri Papua.

Indonesia is one of the countries with the greatest biodiversity in the world. Our biological wealth has been utilized by other countries yet we do not get anything. In the midst of evidence of climate change, it is time we pay attention to local food sources to ensure our life sustainability.