UNAIR NEWS – To strengthen international collaboration, Universitas Airlangga has hosted the International Student Mobility program titled ‘Surabaya Immersion Program: Creating a Sustainable Healthy Environment’. This initiative is a collaboration between UNAIR and students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic Singapore, Petra Christian University, and Universitas Ciputra.
Held at the Shared Lecture Building GC 6.11 MERR-C Campus UNAIR, the event featured Azizah Ajeng Pratiwi SGz MSc, a lecturer in the Department of Nutrition at the Faculty of Public Health, as the speaker for the class session on Monday, February 26, 2024. Azizah presented material on the food security of the local indigenous community in Kasepuhan Ciptagelar, West Java.
“Small-scale farmers in the local area must innovate to sustain the environmental economy and secure food security in the future,” she said.
Food security challenges
The challenges in the food system significantly impact the community’s nutrition. The inability to access affordable, quality, and nutritious food can lead to nutritional deficiencies, that are attributed to economic issues, uneven distribution, or limited access in rural areas. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive and collaborative efforts from the government, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and the community.
There are four main aspects of food security: availability, food access, utilization, and food stability. These are interconnected to achieve comprehensive food security goals. When communities have stable access to quality food, they can effectively utilize it to support their health and well-being.
Must be maintained and appreciated
Azizah highlighted Ciptagelar Village, which still upholds traditional laws. Food security remains highly valued by the Kasepuhan Ciptagelar community to meet the dietary and nutritional needs of the people. The community engages in the cultivation of rice, various types of vegetables, and other horticultural crops.
“For the community, rice is not just a food commodity. Instead, it symbolizes the life of the entire indigenous community,” Azizah said.
In the Ciptagelar community, there is a customary rule regarding farming, where if a resident gets married, they are required to cultivate rice. This is aimed at ensuring that each family has an adequate supply of rice to sustain their lives. The main food commodity, namely rice, becomes a crucial support for their livelihoods.
Azizah emphasized that the customary rules in Kasepuhan Ciptagelar provide insight that food security in the community can be achieved, as long as certain aspects are fulfilled, such as active participation of the entire community, and willingness to distribute resources when facing food insecurity. The importance of the role of political elites in managing their areas and the desire to coexist with nature are also crucial factors.
Author: Mutiara Rachmi Karenina
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
