Create Opportunities, Improve Village Economy in Alor
Most of the people in one village in Alor Regency work as farmers. One of them is Mama Mincelina. She lives in the village with her husband and three children. Mama Mincelina's first child is already in third grade of junior high school, the second is in third grade of primary school, and the third is in first grade of primary school. Working as a farmer in a remote village means Mama Mincelina has to search for additional sources of income. The money earned from their main job is not enough to fulfil all the family's needs.
Unfortunately, new opportunities are a rare thing in the village where Mama Mincelina lives. In fact, Alor Regency itself actually has rich natural resources. However, these resources have not been optimally explored, both in terms of cultivation and business development. One of the natural resources that became the heritage of Alor Regency is walnuts. For hundreds of years, walnut trees have thrived in Alor but have lacked economic value for villagers.
Appreciating the opportunities that actually exist in the village, and aiming to develop the quality of life of farmers in the village, WVI implemented the INCLUSION (Increase the Leverage of Inclusive Market Across Indonesia) project in several areas including Alor Regency. Walnuts are a targeted commodity because in addition to the local charm, walnut trees are also one of the ways Alor adapts to climate change.
The project in collaboration with ANCP (Australian NGO Cooperation Program) has succeeded in creating new opportunities for Mama Mincelina and other mothers in the village. "Now I am also a member of the walnut shelling group. I quite satisfied with the results from shelling walnuts so I am very excited and continue to learn to get better," said Mama Mincelina.
Mama Mincelina and her husband now regularly shell walnuts for about two hours, twice a week. From this new opportunity, Mama Mincelina's family income can increase by IDR 400,000 per month. If the market for walnuts increases, then Mama Mincelina and the members of the walnut shelling group in the village can earn a larger and more stable additional income. Therefore, Mama Mincelina hopes that in the future, Alor's walnut market will continue to grow.
"From the sales of these walnut shelling wages, my husband and I were once able to save up enough money to buy glasses for my husband's vision aid. At that time, my husband and I were very happy because we could earn something from the walnut shelling that we had been doing," Mama Mincelina said. She continued, "The process of peeling walnuts is also very helpful for our family's needs. With the walnut shelling money we get, I use it to buy sugar, coffee, toiletries, and other necessities,".
Author: Uri Petan Pening (INCLUSION project freelance team member in Kupang)
Editor: Mariana Kurniawati (Communication Executive)
