A PARTNERSHIP supported by the Adaptation Fund, in the program “Community for Forest-Food Based Management in Saddang Watershed,” has changed the local community’s view that women also have an equal position in managing forest products and participating in food security. The program involves women in the membership of Forest Farmer Groups (KTH) and Farmer Group Associations (Gapoktan).
A total of 350 Kajang indigenous women in Bulukumba Regency, South Sulawesi Province, spread across 13 villages and 1 sub-district, have successfully utilized their home yards for vegetable production. This effort is part of climate resilience adaptation, which helps the community face challenges such as difficult access to water and pest attacks on crops that are common in gardens far from where they live.
Previously, Kajang indigenous women had to travel long distances to grow vegetables in their gardens, facing challenges such as crop pests and wild boar attacks. On the other hand, the Kajang community has houses on stilts with large yards, which are usually used to grow tarung trees or fruits, but have not been optimized for vegetable production.
The Field School (Sekolah Lapang) Program, which was implemented by the Oase Consortium and Payo-Payo, provided assistance to Kajang women to increase their knowledge and capacity in dealing with climate change. The three main activities carried out include; (1) mapping of water sources around the village, (2) planting vegetables in the yard, and (3) making organic fertilizer.
This program is part of the initiative “Adapting to Climate Change through Sustainable Integrated Watershed Governance in Indigenous People of Ammatoa Kajang Customary Area in Bulukumba Regency,” which is run by Oase Consortium and Payo-Payo as the Executing Entity, with KEMITRAAN as the National Implementing Entity.
As a outcome, in Tana Toa Village, the Peti Group not only successfully grew vegetables but also revived the plastic waste bank. In Jawi-Jawi Village, Ibu Asniar, one of the group members, successfully developed an independent vegetable nursery and taught it to other members so that they would not depend on program funds.
In Tugondeng Village, the program has proven to be very effective in helping 25 female-headed households find sustainable economic alternatives through the utilization of home gardens. The program not only assists them in meeting their daily food needs, but also provides an opportunity to earn valuable additional income that significantly improves family welfare.
With this success, the Field School program is a clear example of how women’s economic empowerment can have a real positive impact on local communities.
