The Mapping of Resources and Development Potentials of Food-Secure Region in Kupang District, Province of Nusa Tenggara Timur

Indonesia Food Sustainability and Vulnerability Assessment (FSVA) 2015 by the World Food Programme (WFP) classified the Province of Nusa Tenggara Timur as Priority 1, a highly vulnerable region should be improved. The aim of... [ view full abstract ]

Indonesia Food Sustainability and Vulnerability Assessment (FSVA) 2015 by the World Food Programme (WFP) classified the Province of Nusa Tenggara Timur as Priority 1, a highly vulnerable region should be improved. The aim of this program was to develop partial and spatial map of current condition, problems, threats, potentials, and strategic policies to develop food security in this area. The program was focused on Kupang district, Province of Nusa Tenggara Timur, through: 1) literature study; 2) identification and mapping of natural resources; 3) Focus Group Discussion; 4) field trip and data collection; 5) data analysis; 6) development of program; 7) workshop. Kupang district has three sub-districts of the most vulnerable to food insecurity or Priority 1, namely Semau, South Semau, and Takari. The determining factors of vulnerability to food-insecurity are: (1) high poverty rate, (2) high prevalence of underweight among children, and (3) low access to clean water. The characteristics of the hilly areas in Kupang are arid-karst-dry-land with very low land productivity. The limiting factors are low rainfall, low water availability, high temperature, low moisture and low fertility. Livestock were still raised traditionally on natural pastures. Some of the programs needed to build resilience to enhance food-security in Tanini village are: (1) Improvement of land productivity, including infrastructure, facilities for intensive livestock systems, and optimization of dry land's potential; (2) Water management trough the development of water reservoirs and the preservation of watershed and groundwater basins; (3) Capacity building for communities including farmers, the education on food consumption and processing, society empowerment by improving soft skills and hard skills. The analysis and estimation of WFP showed that after intervention, the composite score of Kupang district changed from 91.18 (priority 3) to 66.54 (priority 5). The food-insecurity map was ideal as a reference in planning an effective and efficient program.