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Food Security Dilemma And Development Discourse in Mentawai Islands

Jurnal Ilmiah Membangun Desa dan Pertanian · Vol. 9 No. 3 (2024) · pp. 233–242

DOI
10.37149/jimdp.v9i3.1049
ISSN
2527-2748
Published
2024-05-27
Publisher
Department of Agribusiness, Halu Oleo University Jointly with Perhimpunan Ekonomi Pertanian Indonesia - Indonesian Society of Agricultural Economics (PERHEPI/ISAE)
Language
eng
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

Abstract

The food problem in Mentawai has been a polemic since the New Order (Soeharto's government) due to the development program. The FSVA (Food Security and Vulnerability) report shows that Mentawai Islands Regency is the only food-insecure district in West Sumatra Province. This is a dilemma due to the food transition from sago to rice, the resettlement program, and forest destruction caused by timber companies. This research looks at three major areas of the Mentawai Islands: Siberut Island, Sipora Island, and Pagai Island. Through a descriptive approach, 20 informants from the three islands were selected, and interviews, observations, and a literature review were conducted. Data were analyzed step-by-step. The results show that the mission to modernize the Mentawai people has disrupted their food security. The modern development program has changed the living habits of the Mentawai people, especially regarding food. The native food of the Mentawai people switched to rice and was forced to adjust due to the scarcity of sago because the forest has been commercialized into production forests. They were also moved from traditional houses to settlements built by social programs (Resettlement of Terasing Communities). The development program becomes a discourse that binds the facts of domination, reproduction, and socio-politics. Thus, we forget the local wisdom that grows and develops in the Mentawai community about food.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

15 authors · 34 co-authorship links · 13 across different organisations

Hover or tap a name to highlight its co-authors. Double-click to open the author's page.

  • Andalas University
  • James Cook University
  • Universitas Muara Bungo
  • Institut Seni Indonesia Padangpanjang
  • Different organisations
  • Same organisation
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Thicker line = more joint articles · bigger circle = more articles
Show as table
Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Yevita NurtiAndalas University3
Maskota DelfiAndalas University2
Johan WeintréJames Cook University2
Edi IndrizalAndalas University2
Erwin ErwinAndalas University1
Robi MitraAndalas University1
Yonariza YonarizaAndalas University1
Mahdi MahdiAndalas University1
Isyaturriyadhah IsyaturriyadhahUniversitas Muara Bungo1
Zainal ArifinAndalas University1
Sidarta PujiraharjoAndalas University1
Yetty OktayantiInstitut Seni Indonesia Padangpanjang1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://ejournal.agribisnis.uho.ac.id/index.php/JIMDP/oai, first harvested 4 Nov 2026, last seen 8 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en-US">Food Security Dilemma And Development Discourse in  Mentawai Islands</dc:title>
	<dc:creator>Erwin, Erwin</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Irwandi, Ade</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Ermayanti, Ermayanti</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">development discourse</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">dilemma</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">food security</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Mentawai</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en-US">The food problem in Mentawai has been a polemic since the New Order (Soeharto's government) due to the development program. The FSVA (Food Security and Vulnerability) report shows that Mentawai Islands Regency is the only food-insecure district in West Sumatra Province. This is a dilemma due to the food transition from sago to rice, the resettlement program, and forest destruction caused by timber companies. This research looks at three major areas of the Mentawai Islands: Siberut Island, Sipora Island, and Pagai Island. Through a descriptive approach, 20 informants from the three islands were selected, and interviews, observations, and a literature review were conducted. Data were analyzed step-by-step. The results show that the mission to modernize the Mentawai people has disrupted their food security. The modern development program has changed the living habits of the Mentawai people, especially regarding food. The native food of the Mentawai people switched to rice and was forced to adjust due to the scarcity of sago because the forest has been commercialized into production forests. They were also moved from traditional houses to settlements built by social programs (Resettlement of Terasing Communities). The development program becomes a discourse that binds the facts of domination, reproduction, and socio-politics. Thus, we forget the local wisdom that grows and develops in the Mentawai community about food.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en-US">Department of Agribusiness, Halu Oleo University  Jointly with  Perhimpunan Ekonomi Pertanian Indonesia - Indonesian Society of Agricultural Economics (PERHEPI/ISAE)</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2024-05-27</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:type xml:lang="en-US">Peer-reviewed Article</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://ejournal.agribisnis.uho.ac.id/index.php/JIMDP/article/view/1049</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.37149/jimdp.v9i3.1049</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en-US">Jurnal Ilmiah Membangun Desa dan Pertanian; Vol. 9 No. 3 (2024); 233 - 242</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2527-2748</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.37149/jimdp.v9i3</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://ejournal.agribisnis.uho.ac.id/index.php/JIMDP/article/view/1049/232</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en-US">Copyright (c) 2024 Erwin, Ade Irwandi, Ermayanti</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en-US">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>