As an archipelagic country with over 17,000 islands, Indonesia faces unique challenges in ensuring that all its islands achieve self-sufficiency, including food sovereignty, to support sustainable living.
Enggano Island, one of Indonesia’s outermost small islands in Bengkulu Province, has been designated by the Governor of Bengkulu as a field laboratory for the tri-dharma (three pillars) of higher education.
For the first time, the superior rice variety Gamagora, developed by UGM researchers, was planted on Enggano Island, one of Indonesia’s outermost islands, in support of the food sovereignty program.
The planting of Gamagora rice is part of the collaborative Community Service Program (KKN) between Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and Universitas Bengkulu, titled “Development of Creative Economy, Food Sovereignty, Tourism, and Local Culture on Enggano Island.”
UGM’s Vice-Rector for Education and Research, Professor Wening Udasmoro, stated that the distribution of seeds and the planting of Gamagora rice is aimed at supporting food sovereignty on Indonesia’s outermost islands.
The rice variety, developed by UGM researchers, is known for its ability to thrive in irrigated and rain-fed fields with limited water resources.
“Gamagora is a new rice variety that can adapt to climate change, aligning with sustainable development goals to contribute to climate change mitigation,” Professor Udasmoro explained in a statement sent to reporters on Wednesday (Aug. 14).
Professor Udasmoro also highlighted that Gamagora rice had been proven resistant to various pests and diseases. This advantage raises hopes for realizing Indonesia’s food sovereignty and supporting efforts to eradicate poverty and end hunger.
Meanwhile, UGM’s Vice-Rector for Planning, Assets, and Information Systems, Dr. Arief Setiawan Budi Nugroho, noted that infrastructure on Enggano Island has developed rapidly and significantly, providing a solid foundation for enhancing community productivity and facilitating residents’ mobility and logistics in support of food self-sufficiency.
However, he added, additional supporting infrastructure, such as transportation facilities for access to and from Enggano Island, is still needed.
“Overall, I see that the local government’s commitment is evident through the construction of roads, ports, airports, and communication networks,” Dr. Nugroho said.
Dr. Hatma Suryatmojo, a field supervisor for the collaborative KKN, emphasized that this program encourages students to think critically and seek solutions to field problems by applying various research findings from universities in the community.
He mentioned that UGM provided 20 kilograms of Gamagora seeds to be planted in the rice fields of Enggano Island, which have limited water resources and are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The high productivity of Gamagora rice, which can reach 8-10 tons per hectare, offers new hope for agriculture on Enggano Island.
According to him, UGM’s provision of superior Gamagora rice seeds to the people of Enggano Island holds significant strategic value in enhancing food security and reducing the community’s reliance on supplies from outside the island.
“Given Enggano Island’s isolated geography and frequent disruptions due to extreme weather, the presence of a superior rice variety that is adaptive to local conditions will increase local agricultural productivity,” Dr. Suryatmojo said.
Mayong, as he is affectionately known, added that the distribution of Gamagora rice is expected to reduce the risk of food shortages during logistical distribution disruptions and strengthen food self-sufficiency on Enggano Island.
“In the long run, this will enhance social and economic stability and lead to the realization of food sovereignty on Enggano Island,” he explained.
The positive impact expected for the people of Enggano Island includes improved welfare through higher and more stable harvest yields. With better harvests, the community can meet its own food needs and create a surplus that can be sold for additional income.
Additionally, a well-adapted superior rice variety will reduce pressure on agricultural land and local natural resources, as higher productivity allows the same land to produce more food without significantly expanding the agricultural area.
“We hope that our efforts will also positively impact environmental conservation on Enggano Island,” he concluded.
Author: Gusti Grehenson