Boti People Sustain Food and Forests in NTT

In South Central Timor Regency, Indonesia, the Boti people maintain food security by cultivating diverse crops. They grow a variety of plants—including corn, sweet potatoes, and beans—to ensure reserves even if one crop fails. The community also protects its forests, prohibiting indiscriminate tree felling to safeguard water sources and maintain ecological balance.

They manage land and food communally, storing harvests in a traditional granary called ume kbubu for consumption, reserves, and seed. Siti Maimunah of Mama Aleta Fund notes this local knowledge represents ecological adaptation born from collective experience with scarcity. Despite facing challenges like limestone soil and prolonged droughts, the Boti have largely avoided food shortages.

However, this self-sufficiency is threatened by national strategic projects—like food estates and energy plantations—which could disrupt their way of life and damage crucial watersheds. Protecting their forests and traditional knowledge remains vital for the Boti people’s continued resilience.