Tutupa Goat Farming: Strengthening the Economy and Welfare of the Tutupa Indigenous Community

Amidst threats to customary territory, the Tambora Village Management (PKAM Tambora) in Oi Tutupa Village, Tambora District, Bima Regency, has become the vanguard of the struggle of the Tutupa customary community. Since 2015, 5.000 hectares of the Tutupa Indigenous Community's customary territory has been facing invasion by large corporations. In the process of gaining recognition, the Tutupa Indigenous Community's access to this customary territory, which has been a source of livelihood for generations, has become increasingly limited. PKAM Tambora together with AMAN Bima also continues to conduct intensive advocacy to defend the rights of Indigenous Peoples. On the other hand, PKAM Tambora also encourages strengthening the community economy to strengthen their struggle.

With the support of the Nusantara Fund Direct Funding, PKAM Tambora runs a goat farming program to strengthen the community's economy while being a tool to unite the community in the process of defending their customary land rights. The Tutupa goat farming program runs from February to April 2024. The initial stage is the preparation of procuring materials for the pen. The 1-hectare pen was built by a team consisting of craftsmen and members of the Cassama Oi Tutupa Creative Youth community. After the pen was completed, PKAM Tambora began procuring livestock of 30 goats (20 females - 10 males). In addition to the pen, these goats will also be regularly released in a 1-hectare livestock release area.

Although the construction of the pen went smoothly, challenges arose in terms of distribution and provision of animal feed. In the process of procuring livestock, the distance between villages is quite far, around 15-18 km. To minimize this, PKAM Tambora goes around buying livestock from village to village using motorbikes, collecting them in one place and then transporting them using cars. Meanwhile, corporate activities are increasingly reducing access to productive land, making it difficult to obtain green fodder for livestock. The solution for now is that members of the Tambora Village management take turns looking for green fodder for livestock in the rice fields in neighboring villages using motorbikes.

Goat farming has great potential to ensure economic stability for communities such as the Tutupa indigenous community, especially amidst the threat of losing access to productive land. According to research, goat farming can provide significant benefits, especially because goats adapt quickly and reproduce in limited land conditions. Within one to two years, the number of goats can double through natural reproduction.

In addition, the by-products of goat farming can support environmentally friendly land management. Goat manure can be processed into organic fertilizer, which can be used to increase soil fertility in the remaining agricultural land of residents. With careful and proper management, this business can be developed further. PKAM Tambora plans to continue this program to strengthen capacity with livestock development and management training, for example, feed making training.

This program is the starting point for economic and social change for the Tutupa Indigenous Community, they prove that indigenous communities have the ability and capacity to manage livelihoods for shared prosperity and sovereignty. In addition to adding alternative sources of income, this program revives customary deliberations to strengthen community togetherness and solidarity, this will be the key to strength in the struggle to defend the Tutupa Indigenous land.