Project Background
Sumba, an Indonesian island known for its distinct culture and renowned surf spots, grapples with entrenched issues rooted in poverty, malnutrition, and climate vulnerability.
Laboya Barat sub-district records a staggering 63% poverty rate, with an additional 20% deemed 'near poor,' vulnerable to economic and environmental shocks. This perpetuates a cycle where impoverished farmers shy away from agricultural investments due to perceived risks. Relying heavily on rainfall for farming, Sumba's agriculture suffers from unpredictable climate changes that affect rainfall patterns. Low agricultural productivity is aggravated by a lengthy eight-month dry season; the resulting reduction in food crops exacerbates poor diets, health, malnutrition, and stunting.
The island's people have relatively high stunting rates. Stunting, a result of chronic malnutrition, profoundly affects a child's future. It hampers physical and cognitive development, leading to reduced learning abilities, lower earning potential, and increased susceptibility to diseases. The cycle of poverty often persists as stunted children face diminished opportunities for growth and success.
Key Project Activities
SurfAid's ongoing NUSATANI program, now in its fourth year of operation, aims to assist families in addressing food access, malnutrition, stunting, and other health issues stemming from poor nutrition. The central focus is on maintaining year-round access o nourishing food and educating families on safe food handling and storage practices.
This Footprints project contributed directly to NUSATANI and tackled challenges faced by farmers due to changing weather patterns driven by climate change. Through the introduction of a specialised irrigation system on a demonstration farm, SurfAid equips farmers with skills to manage water during dry spells. This knowledge transfer occurs through formal sessions and informal support, ensuring effective learning. The ultimate goal is to instil enduring positive changes, driven by local stakeholders, beyond the project's conclusion.
The work that was undertaken included:
- A new demonstration farm set up with a small-scale irrigation system benefitting 706 people in a very remote, arid area
- Training sessions focusing on effective agricultural practices, covering Seeds & Planting, Land Management, Fertiliser application, and Plant Protection. These sessions successfully engaged 514 men and 192 women
- Materials developed and produced in the local language, including:
- 6 posters that covered topics such as precise fertilisation, horticultural pests and diseases, pests and diseases in rice, restrictions during pesticide application, environmentally friendly control methods, and poison assistance
- 2 videos on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP)
- 1 book on sustainable farming management
- 5 modules covering various aspects of farming
- A dedicated module on nutrition
- A bundle of growth monitoring card
- A nutritional calendar
- Illustrated cards for parenting
- Audio sessions for contemplation in parenting classes (in the local Lamboya language)
- Coaching and support provided in farmers' fields and gardens, covering topics they had learned at training sessions at demonstration farm
Key Project Outcomes
The small-scale irrigation system at the demonstration farm has been a game changer, as it shows that even in arid areas, continuous farming is possible, with the right investment and tools.
In the field, we are applying more than onw system; to make it easier for our beneficiaries to choose which one is most suitable for them.
From the water source, we are using two systems: solar power & hydram. The latter system seems to be preferred by our beneficiaries, because it is cheaper, while for long-term maintenance, both are similar, requiring less maintenance.
We are also applying more than one irrigation sub system: drip irrigation, water pocket and water sprinkle. The selection is adjusted to the type of commodity planted.
There were two training sessions of SSIS in Laboya Barat: How to install the SSIS and Maintenance of SSIS in the demonstration farm and small garden.
The project's activities have made a significant impact, driving positive change in the community. The training and support shared valuable knowledge which led to an increase in good agricultural practices.
- 201 targeted smallholder farmers apply new agricultural systems, storage techniques, and yields processing (up from one!)
Community Involvement
SurfAid in Indonesia embarked on a collaborative venture with the communities and local government of Laboya Barat sub-district. This partnership led to the allocation of land for a demonstration farm, involving community members in its setup and the establishment of an irrigation system. The communities played an active role in designing tailor-made training materials and contributing locally available resources, offering their time and dedication to the project.
What's next?
NUSATANI will continue for another year, implementing activities that support access to and availability of nutritious food. Workshops that enable farmers to increase the quality of their produce, including irrigation, pest management, seed preparation etc. will continue. This long-term engagement assists the community to internalise the behaviour change required. After the project’s completion, community groups and the government will manage the demonstration farms. The sustainability of this project looks good.
Project Background
Sumba is an island in eastern
Indonesia. This amazing tourist destination lies far off the beaten track, has
a rich and unique culture, world-class surf breaks, and one of the best-rated
hotels in the world.
But
Sumba’s people face extremely high rates of poverty and stunting. Stunting is
one of the most extreme indicators of malnutrition, resulting from long-term
nutritional deprivation. Poverty and stunting in Sumba are driven and
exacerbated by low agricultural productivity that is further impacted by an
eight-month dry season.
The poverty rate for Laboya Barat
sub-district is 63%. A further 20% of the population are ‘near-poor’ and
extremely vulnerable to economic and environmental shocks.
This poverty and vulnerability causes a
negative cycle in which poor farmers are less able, and less willing, to invest
much of their limited funds into agriculture activities, as they consider it
too risky.
Current
low productivity means there are fewer food crops available for consumption,
which contributes to poor diet, poor health and malnutrition. Although the
communities rely heavily on agriculture, their farming is highly dependent on
rainfall. Unfortunately, the dry season lasts at least 8 months every year, and
with climate change, rainfall patterns have become very unpredictable.
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Project
Overview
SurfAid is working to help local
farmers improve agricultural productivity by implementing demonstration farms,
to grow relevant crops, and model good agricultural practice. Demonstration
farms allow farmers to continuously learn in an informal setting.
‘Accompaniment’ – where SurfAid staff live and work alongside the community –
will be used to support short formal sessions and ensure efficient use of
participants’ time.
SurfAid
is helping local farmers to overcome the long dry season and unpredictable
rainfall due to climate change, by implementing a small-scale irrigation system
in a new demonstration farm. This will allow farmers to learn new irrigation
techniques and implement it in their own gardens and fields, to have year-round
access to water.
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What’s Covered in Project Cost
|
Activities
|
Costs
|
|
? Set up a new
demonstration farm with small-scale irrigation system in a new area, reaching
more people
? Provide
training on good agriculture practice
? Develop
and produce materials in local language
? Provide
coaching and support in farmer’s own fields and gardens.
|
90%
|
|
Accountability and quality assurance
|
10%
|
Partners
& Community Involvement
SurfAid
in Indonesia will work together with the communities and local government of
Laboya Barat sub-district. The communities and government will allocate land
for the demonstration farm, community members will be engaged in the set-up and
establishment of the demonstration farm and the irrigation system. Community
members and relevant government personnel will participate in training on
agricultural practices to improve production and maintain the irrigation
system, so that positive changes can be maintained and sustained by local
actors beyond this project. The communities will be engaged in the development
of tailored training materials and contribute locally-available resources, volunteering
their time and labour to the project, and the government will be engaged to
provide follow-up through extension workers.
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How does the project fits into a larger strategy
This project contributes directly to
SurfAid’s overarching six-year program called NUSATANI (farming islands),
tackling poverty, stunting and malnutrition at household level through
nutrition sensitive agriculture. The program is currently in its third year.
Good
nutrition includes getting the right quantity of good quality, diverse foods
all year. These foods must be handled and stored safely to avoid causing
illness.
SurfAid
implements activities in the areas of food production, agricultural income,
improved access to health services and women's empowerment, to address the key
factors that influence nutrition status.