Global Food Crisis, Local Solutions
A shortage of food production worldwide has created havoc on the prices of domestic staples. Indonesia, highly dependent on rice, can be seriously affected. On February 3, the Food and Agriculture Organization announced the crisis is likely to be prolonged. Yet, in some areas of eastern Indonesia, the impact has been less severe, thanks to diverse traditional diets reducing the reliance on rice. In times of crisis can other regions rely on similar local food products? Tempo English Edition reports from Papua, Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara and Maluku.
February 16, 2011
OVER the past three months there has been no more rice served on the dining table of Mewa Lasena’s family. The price of rice in his village, Bongomene, Bongomeme regency, Gorontalo, has shot up to Rp7,000 or Rp400,000 per gunny sack. “We have trouble with the rice price which is now soaring,” Mewa told Tempo.
To make ends meet, Mewa and family has now and again turned to the traditional food of this village, baalo binde, which is made of
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