The Battle of Food Security in East Nusa Tenggara
By Perupadata - Indonesia
As Indonesia continues to navigate economic turbulence, marked by rising unemployment and surging commodity prices, the burden weighs even heavier in rural regions like East Nusa Tenggara. While foreign aid or investment may offer temporary relief, sustainable, long-term solutions are more likely to take root when they grow from within, are nurtured by local communities, are informed by lived experiences, and are supported by the right allies.
Enter Pangan BAIK, a powerful coalition under the Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA) programme. True to its name —pangan meaning food, and baik meaning good—this movement champions local, nature-based solutions to food insecurity by inspiring and empowering those often unheard: youth, women, farmers, and rural communities. The coalition aims to transform our approach to climate resilience by emphasising food diversity, ecological farming, and sustainable water conservation.
Their recent study in four districts of East Nusa Tenggara—Manggarai, East Manggarai, East Flores, and Lembata —revealed what many locals already feel: unpredictable weather patterns, rising temperatures, and pest outbreaks silently threaten harvests and livelihoods. These climate-related shifts weaken the four essential pillars of food security: availability, access, utilisation, and stability. Yet, information on how to address these changes remains scarce for many.
To bridge that gap, Pangan BAIK fosters direct collaboration between civil society organisations (CSOs) and communities, including those with disabilities, to ensure no one is left behind in this transition. By supporting grassroots advocacy, innovative financial schemes, and better access to technology, the coalition helps villages not just adapt but lead the change themselves.
Villages like Wewo, Hokeng Jaya, Tapobali, and more have become living testaments to this shared journey, engaging in citizen journalism, local training, and climate festivals to raise awareness and inspire action. This is not just a project; it’s a movement powered by collective action, kept alive through stories, solidarity, and a shared belief that food security isn’t a privilege, but a right. Although this battle is far from over, it is one that we can win together.
