STRENGTHENING FOOD SECURITY IN DRYLAND AREAS

Food security is a fundamental pillar of community health and well-being, particularly for people living in remote areas with limited access to public services. Inadequate access to nutritious food can lead to malnutrition and undernutrition, especially among children.

In Desa Ban, many families live on the steep slopes of Mount Abang and depend on dryland farming for their livelihoods. For generations, farmers have practiced traditional intercropping, primarily cultivating cassava and legumes. However, limited knowledge of nutritious and diverse food crops has meant that vegetables such as carrots, tomatoes, eggplants, and leafy greens were rarely grown.

To address these challenges, the East Bali Poverty Project (EBPP) launched a Dryland Regenerative Agriculture Enhancement Program for 436 families in Manikaji, managing approximately 415 hectares of dry and sloping land. The program is implemented in three traditional villages—Manikaji Kaliaga, Manikaji Asti, and Manikaji Puncak—in collaboration with Yayasan Bumi Langit, guided by regenerative agriculture practitioner Mr. Krisna, and supported by the Finns Bali Social Fund.

Through central learning gardens, farmer groups are trained in environmentally friendly land management techniques, including planting on contoured terraces, rainwater harvesting channels, organic compost production, and vetiver grass planting to reduce soil erosion. These practices have enabled farmers to cultivate a wider variety of vegetables and fruit crops in a more resilient and sustainable way.

Importantly, students from Manikaji School are actively involved as agents of change, sharing knowledge gained from their school learning garden with local farmers since 2023. This initiative represents a concrete step toward food self-sufficiency, improved family nutrition, and a healthier future for the Manikaji community.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Finns Bali Social Fund for their support. This program is not merely an agricultural learning initiative, but a long-term investment in healthier and more sustainable livelihoods.

By: Komang Kurniawan, Team Leader, EBPP