Sustainable Agriculture for Enhanced Resilience (SAfER) Project

Summary

The video highlights the persistent issue of food insecurity in Indonesia, particularly in the eastern regions like Belu district in West Timor, which suffers from frequent floods and droughts. Traditional agricultural practices and the impact of climate change exacerbate the situation. The Safer or Sustainable Agriculture for Enhancing Resilience Project, initiated by CRS, aims to empower communities through sustainable farming techniques, including terracing, organic fertilization, and crop diversification. The project also integrates disaster risk reduction and gender approaches, fostering community resilience against climate change and improving food security.

Takeaways

• 🌾 Many Indonesians face food insecurity, particularly in the eastern regions where traditional agricultural practices limit food production.
• 🏞️ The Belu district in West Timor experiences frequent floods and droughts, exacerbating food insecurity and affecting community livelihoods.
• 💧 Water scarcity is a significant issue, especially during the dry season, leaving communities struggling with access to clean drinking water.
• 🌍 Climate change and extreme weather patterns have led to prolonged droughts and floods, severely impacting food production and security in affected areas.
• 👩‍🌾 Local farmers often lack knowledge and access to information on climate patterns, which hampers their ability to adapt and mitigate disaster risks.
• 🌱 CRS (Catholic Relief Services) has been working in Indonesia since 1957, aiming to empower marginalized communities through sustainable agriculture and resilience projects.
• 🔄 The SAFIR project introduced by CRS focuses on sustainable agricultural practices, including terracing, water management, organic fertilizers, and crop diversification.
• 🌳 The project incorporates long-term planting of trees as part of a community action plan to reduce future disaster risks and promote environmental sustainability.
• 🤝 CRS collaborates with both government and non-government partners to enhance the effectiveness of their programs and ensure continued guidance and support for farmers.
• 📈 The project's monitoring and evaluation are conducted using community-based tools and methods, fostering a learning environment and adaptive management.
• 🏡 The implementation of these initiatives has led to improved agricultural outcomes, increased food production, and enhanced community resilience against climate-related challenges.

Q & A

What is a significant issue faced by many Indonesians, especially in the eastern part of the country?

Food insecurity remains a significant problem in many places in Indonesia, particularly in the eastern part of the country.

Which district in West Timor is mentioned as being severely affected by food insecurity?

The Belu district in West Timor is mentioned as one of the districts that has seen flood and drought almost on a regular basis and has been recorded low on the country's Food Security Index.

What traditional agricultural practices are mentioned in the script that contribute to low food production?

The script mentions traditional agricultural practices such as slash-and-burn methods and limited use of organic fertilizers, which result in low food production.

How do natural disasters and climate change impact the community's food security in Belu?

Natural disasters and climate change affect the community's food security by causing prolonged droughts, floods, and other calamities, leading to low food production and low purchasing power of the community.

What is the main challenge faced by the community during the dry season as mentioned in the script?

The main challenge faced by the community during the dry season is the scarcity of water, making it difficult to find water for drinking and other uses.

What is the Safer or Sustainable Agriculture for Enhancing Resilience (SAFIR) project aimed at?

The SAFIR project is aimed at strengthening the community's food security and reducing the impact of climate change by introducing safer agricultural practices.

What are some of the agricultural technologies introduced by CRS in the SAFIR program?

CRS introduced technologies such as terracing, soil conservation through holes and traps, organic fertilizer production including compost and liquid fertilizers, and organic pesticides.

How does the SAFIR program integrate intersectoral strategies to address food security and climate change?

The SAFIR program integrates intersectoral strategies such as disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and a gender approach to address food security and climate change.

What is the role of the government in the collaboration with CRS and local communities mentioned in the script?

The script mentions that the government, along with the church and CRS, can collaborate to provide guidance and intervention to farmers, which is expected to enhance the effectiveness of the programs.

What are the benefits of forming groups and receiving guidance from CRS as experienced by the community?

The community has experienced benefits such as improved crop yields, access to water sources, and learning new farming techniques like legowo system, which has led to abundant harvests and increased food security.

How has the implementation of the SAFIR program changed the community's approach to farming and water management?

The implementation of the SAFIR program has led to changes in the community's approach to farming, such as adopting new planting techniques and crop diversification, and improved water management through the construction of wells and rainwater harvesting.