Bobara Fish Cages in the Lala Indigenous Community and Nilam in the Sidole Indigenous Community

Lala Indigenous Community: Protecting the Sea with Bobara Cages

The Lala Indigenous Community in Lantibung Village, Bangkurung District, Banggai Laut Regency, lives in balance with nature. Their customary territory is still preserved and managed collectively under the leadership of the Customary Institution. Most of the community depends on agriculture and fisheries for their livelihood, using environmentally friendly fishing gear such as traps, fishing rods, trawls, and sero.

However, the existence of the community is increasingly threatened by the expansion of companies that seize their customary territory. As a result, many community members are forced to become laborers or migrate to the city. Other threats come from plans for limestone mining and the activities of outside fishermen who damage the ecosystem with explosives and drugs.

To maintain their livelihood, the Lala Indigenous Community, with the support of the Nusantara Fund Direct Funding, collectively built bobara fish cages. The construction process was carried out through mutual cooperation (pollobuku). The Lala Indigenous Community also learned together about effective maintenance techniques to increase the weight of the fish in three months, so that the harvest results were more optimal. 

Two 4x4 meter cages have been built, with 2.500 bobara fish seeds. With an initial capital of purchasing seeds for Rp 5.000 per fish, bobara fish that are raised for 3-6 months can be sold for up to Rp 25.000 per fish—five times the initial price. In addition to improving welfare, by continuously monitoring the cages, it is hoped that it can reduce the practice of fishing with explosives by outsiders, especially around the cage location, so that the marine ecosystem is maintained.

Sidole Indigenous Community: Surviving with Patchouli Oil

Sidole Indigenous Community, also known as Toriomog—meaning the people living in the mountains and forests—have a customary area of ​​8.132,10 hectares. With a population of 1.252 families or around 2.259 people, they rely on agriculture and plantations as a livelihood, including processing sago trees for staple food.

The land management system in the community is based on forest rights which are passed down from generation to generation and managed communally by the nuclear family (Ntina) under the auspices of the customary leader. Supervision is carried out by the Customary Institution through the Tomogulang Nuada structure, each of which has duties and responsibilities in regulating and maintaining the customary system. 

However, limited employment opportunities are a major challenge in Sidole. This condition makes it difficult for many community members to even meet their daily needs. With the support of the Nusantara Fund Direct Funding, the Sidole Indigenous Community took the initiative to form a patchouli business group in order to increase their sources of economic income, while strengthening solidarity within the community.

The program includes planting 20.000 patchouli trees on two hectares of land. The process begins with group discussions, land clearing, seeding for 20 days, and moving the seedlings to the main land. Maintenance is carried out periodically, with fertilization in the first and second months, and weeding in the third and fourth months to ensure optimal results.

Entering the fifth and sixth months, the group members began harvesting, followed by the drying and distillation process. From 20.000 patchouli stems, they can produce around 200 kg of patchouli oil, with a selling price of up to Rp 700.000 per kg. If there are no obstacles, in one harvest the community is estimated to be able to earn a gross income of around Rp 120 million.

The pioneering of the patchouli oil business not only overcomes economic difficulties, but also opens the way for the community to build independence. Until the time comes when the Sidole Indigenous Community will rise in status, no longer looking for work but creating jobs.