Oyster Crackers for Mothers

When the post-tsunami rehabilitation and reconstruction programs ended, Zainal Abidin Suarja independently worked to empower the community\'s economy, mangrove restoration and children\'s education.

KOMPAS/ZULKARNAINI

Zainal Abidin Suarja

When the post-tsunami rehabilitation and reconstruction programs ended, the community empowerment program at Alue Naga village, Syiah Koala district, Banda Aceh City, stopped completely. Zainal Abidin Suarja independently worked to empower the community\'s economy, mangrove restoration and children\'s education.

When Zainal arrived at a house in Alue Naga village on a Wednesday (19/12/2019) afternoon, five women were preparing the ingredients for making oyster crackers. The women were residents of Alue Naga who participated in the cracker and nugget business made from oysters.

"It’s almost cooked. Tomorrow it will be dried in the sun," said Yusniar, 29, a housewife who was assigned to be the head of the production team. Yusniar lifted the lid of a cooking pan, checking the oyster dough being steamed.

This is where crackers and nuggets that are named "Alue Naga Oyster Chips" are produced. The business is under the non-profit organization, Natural Aceh, that works in research, training and empowerment. Zainal serves as chairman of the institute. This business started production in 2017.

We need to have more complete equipment.

Zainal also works as a lecturer at the Getsempena College of Education. The campus is located 5 kilometers from Alue Naga. Usually, after teaching on campus, Zainal stops by at Alue Naga.

Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Zainal discussed the business development plan with the women. There are plans to make meatballs made from oysters and increase production. At present there are only two products, namely crackers and nuggets. "However, to increase production, we need to have more complete equipment," said Zainal.

Downstream

Alue Naga village is located on the Banda Aceh coast. During the 2004 tsunami, the village was completely destroyed by the waves. Most of its residents died, including Zainal\'s uncle and nephew.

From 2002 to June 2004, Zainal and his family lived in Alue Naga. However, six months before the tsunami, his family moved to the city center. "I am grateful that God moved us from Alue Naga before the tsunami, but I have a lot of memories in this village," said Zainal.

After the rehabilitation program ended, Zainal saw the lives of Alue Naga residents had not changed much. In essence, they were still in the poverty zone. Men work as traditional fishermen and wives look for oysters in the river.

Given the situation, Zainal began to think about doing something to help the oyster-seekers. He began to plant mangroves as a place for oyster farming. About 10,000 mangrove stems have been planted. Aside from being a place for oyster breeding, the mangrove also serves as protection against coastal erosion. Mangrove planting involves residents and students.

KOMPAS/ZULKARNAINI

Zainal Abidin Suarja talks with members of the oyster cracker production team in Alue Naga village, Syiah Kuala district, Banda Aceh, Aceh province.

The Natural Aceh team then built an oyster breeding place using paralon pipes and used tires. Natural Aceh also donated equipment to collect the oysters, such as a special knife, gloves and shoes.

The location of the oyster farm is along the river in the village. With the oyster breeding spots, oyster farmers can easily harvest without having to spend longer time in the river. The used tires are lifted to the land and after the oysters are harvested, they are sunk to their original positions.

At present there are 55 oyster farmers, all women, who take part in the program. The oysters harvested from that location were sold to Natural Aceh as ingredients for producing crackers and nuggets.

Natural Aceh charges Rp 10,000 per can the size of a can of sweetened condensed milk. The selling price of Natural Aceh is higher than the market price of only Rp 7,000 per can.

The crackers and oyster nuggets made by Alue Naga mothers are marketed mostly in Banda Aceh, especially at restaurants. However, there are also orders from outside Aceh, such as from Bandung and Jakarta.

I have income to support the financial needs at home.

The production of oyster crackers and nuggets is an activity in the upstream area, while the cultivation of oysters and mangrove restoration is a downstream activity. The production of crackers and nuggets has only employed six residents. Zainal hopes that the business can continue to grow so that it can employ more workers.

At present the production is 1,600 packs per month and the price per pack is Rp 20,000. After deducting capital costs, profits are shared among the workers and institutions and 10 percent goes toward mangrove restoration. Income for institutions is then used by other activities, such as business development.

Production team member, Yusniar, said that with the business, she now has income. The work does not take up time because the production activity is only once a week.

"I have income to support the financial needs at home," Yusniar said. If there is no production activity, Yusniar harvests oysters at the cultivation site.

Zainal did not stop with programs that only benefit mothers. He offers free classes for children of primary and junior high school age.

Realizing that Alue Naga is a disaster-prone area, Natural Aceh conducted disaster mitigation training for students in schools in the village. Mitigation education is also provided for persons with disabilities.

Zainal Abidin Suarja

Wife: Devrina Putri

Child: Zaraphon Keanu M Alzari Born: Sinabang, 14 May 1985

Job:

- Lecturer at STKIP Getsempena

- Chairman of Natural Aceh

Awards:

- Astra Award on Education in Aceh province

- Social Entrepreneur from Bank Mandiri

- Citi Microentrepreneurship Citibank

- Zero Project Award from University of Vienna, Austria

- N-Peace Award from UNDP