Sustainable Food Security Strategy: Study of Land Suitability of Rice and Sago Commodity in Kampong Wapeko, Merauke District, Papua Province, Indonesia

Abstract

Food resilience is a condition of the fulfillment of food in sufficient quantities, safe for consumption, distributed evenly, and affordable. Carrying capacity is an important factor in fulfilling these aspects. The carrying capacity in this study is assessed from the suitability of land and community acceptance of the commodities developed in Kampung Wapeko. Rice is a commodity that is currently a concern of the Government to be developed in Wapeko. Meanwhile sago is a local food commodity that has been consumed and processed by indigenous people of Wapeko for generations. Based on land suitability analysis, this study shows that rice commodity has a level of land suitability marginal (S3) until not appropriate (N). Meanwhile, sago commodity has appropriate land suitability level (S1) until marginal fit (S2). Analysis of community acceptance of rice and sago commodities shows that rice has become the staple food of the community in Kampung Wapeko, while sago only as a food interlude. The results indicate that rice is more accessible because of the subsidy scheme, while sago is harder to reach, due to the reduced sago tree population and can only be taken at certain times. The sustainable food security strategy designedin this research is developing commodities in accordance with land use directives and creating self-reliance of local communities through the development of commodity cultivation in accordance with their knowledge systems.