A Daunting task; the slow climb out of poverty in Central Flores

George Miller

Napan Bura (White Coral) is the name of a small cooperative group, or kelompok, of extremely impoverished farmers in Sikka Regency on the island of Flores. Naming one’s kelompok is deemed essential. Many imaginative titles have been selected by other such groups: Sederhana, Setia Kawan, Bunga Mawar, Tani Wegok and Segar Baru are just a few.

Napan Bura has fourteen members, all of whom are heads of their respective families. One is a woman. The hamlet, home to the group’s members, is situated on one of the sharp, steep ridges that rise from the narrow coastal plain on the northern side of the island. The ridges lead up to the mountain range that is the backbone of Flores at this, the island’s narrowest section. It is a harsh environment in which to farm.

After heavy rains from December to March, the ridges and the stony river-beds that separate them, quickly become parched. Access to water in the long dry season dominates the thinking and occupies the time of the members of Napan Bura.

A local NGO, YPMF (Yayasan Pembangunan Masyarakat Flores), which cooperates with the villagers on a self-help basis, and a Canberra-based aid group, NTA East Indonesia Aid, have had extensive background discussion with the kelompok and agreed to consider their request for assistance.

The experienced field staff of YPMF have drawn-up a detailed Strategic Plan to enable the kelompok to take the first, tentative steps on what will be a long, arduous climb out of poverty.

The current parlous situation of the members of the group is reflected in several stark statistics; the annual income of each family is less than A$350 and 95% of the members suffer from Malaria, diarrhoea and upper respiratory tract infections. Not a single house has a toilet. A basic survey has also revealed that the soil is infertile, the system for the disposal of sanitary waste and household rubbish is undeveloped, the housing itself is unfit for human habitation and most obviously, there is a lack of water.

But the kelompok does not lack initiative or enterprise. It was formed in 2004 in an effort to communally tackle the problems and it now has a working capital of $61. But it requires an injection of further capital as well as technical and scientific advice on how best to cope in the harsh geographic environment.

The plan is realistic. The two main goals of the group are, by 2011, to double the income of each family and to reduce the level of sickness to 25%.

Several different ways of achieving these goals were canvassed, but the one finally decided on by members consists of contributions from both the group itself, the YPMF and the NTA.

In 2008, a concrete water tank with a capacity of 15,000 litres will be built. This activity will require a grant from the NTA to purchase the cement. Advice, monitoring and evaluation of progress will be done by the YPMF. Contributions from the members of the group themselves will be in the form of local stone, sand, bamboo and wood for scaffolding, as well as labour. The NTA will also monitor and evaluate progress and maintenance twice a year. The YPMF is experienced in tank building in the area and makes use of the services of an engineer, ensuring that the tanks are able to withstand the frequent earth tremors that afflict this part of Indonesia.

It is little wonder that the Group has given top priority to a water storage device. When there is no rain, as a present (June 2007), the farmers and their families have to fetch water from one of four wells. The nearest well is 800 metres away, the furthest, two kilometers.

Furthermore, the wells are deep, twenty metres at least, so there is heavy lifting involved. Then the water has to be carried in plastic “jerry cans”, uphill, back to the house. Each can containing 10 litres.

In the driest times, people may have to survive on as little as 15 litres per day. (Canberra’s average daily consumption, by comparison, is over 150 litres per person).

All members of the family assist in the task. Children from about the age of eight years are required to play their part.

Stage 2 of the Plan will be the building of toilets in 2009. This will be done through small amounts of credit. The actual amount will be determined nearer to the time, but typically it would be sufficient to purchase toilet bowls and cement for two toilets. These would be first built for the most needy of the kelompok. These two households would be required to pay back the loan to the Group over a year, through small instalments. The money would then become available to other members to build toilets.

As with the water tanks, the kelompok members would be responsible for providing the tools, the labour, food and drink for the workers, local materials, as well as keeping records and reporting on progress. YPMF would be responsible for micro-managing the activity; advising, monitoring and evaluating progress on virtually a weekly basis.

2010 will see Stage 3 with the emphasis on improved housing. Small amounts of credit will be provided in the same way as for toilets, specifically for the purchase of superior and healthier roofing material.

In 2011 the plan will concentrate on the training of women family members in improved techniques for making and marketing the traditional woven fabrics of the region, tenun ikat. It is intended that this will increase the disposable income available, which in turn would be used for a greater volume of healthier food, more regular school attendance and to pay for health services and medicine.

In a similar vein, 2012 is envisaged as the year for the purchase of farmyard animals; chickens, goats and pigs. Credit for these activities would also be given on the understanding that the initial grants would be to one or two farmers who would repay the sum to the kelompok so that it can be rotated to other members.

For all the projects, the YPMF will provide training in the management of the activities, financial planning and bookkeeping.

In addition to these basic initiatives, there are several alternative or complimentary activities that will be attempted should resources be available and circumstances appear suitable. They may come within district-wide schemes, and may include pest control in crops and fruit, training in improved techniques such as grafting, for maximizing crop returns, the planting of traditional medicinal plants and demonstrating improved nutritional intakes from existing food sources.

Progress in Australian terms will be at a glacial rate. But Martinus Manis, Chair of the kelompok and his fellow members have put their hands up to at least make a start. They know that through their own efforts, with advice from their fellow-countrymen in the YPMF, and with a small injection of funds from outside, they have a chance to make progress in sustainable development for their families into the future.