Bamboo Weaving and Weaving by Indigenous Tarlawi Women: Developing the Utilization of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) and the Governance of BUMMA

Tarlawi indigenous women in West Nusa Tenggara are developing non-timber forest product (NTFP) utilization activities as part of efforts to improve household welfare and strengthen the role of women in indigenous communities. The Tarlawi customary territory boasts abundant natural resources, particularly bamboo, but has not been optimally managed due to limited capacity and resources.

Indigenous women who are members of Tarlawi Indigenous Women's Association then compile and implement training to improve bamboo processing skills and weaving development as well as build bamboo production facilities as an initial step to manage NTFPs in customary areas in a more targeted manner.

The event began with a customary deliberation. During the forum, they agreed to build a production house for joint use by Indigenous Women, Indigenous Community-Owned Enterprises (BUMMA), and traditional schools. As part of strengthening collective business governance, the deliberation also agreed that all Tarlawi Indigenous Women would also be members of BUMMA Sagele Wawo.

The construction of the production house and bookstore was carried out as part of the provision of supporting infrastructure for NTFP processing. During construction, the main challenge faced was delays in construction due to extreme weather conditions. Prolonged rains made the bamboo distribution route from the forest impassable. This delayed the supply of raw materials and the construction process. They adapted to overcome these obstacles, such as building temporary storage facilities closer to the construction site, adjusting transport schedules based on the weather, and creating simple tools to facilitate transport on slippery roads.

Following the completion of construction, training was conducted, featuring speakers from the Bima Regency Cooperatives and SMEs Office and the Soromandi-Bima Tourism College. Thirty Tarlawi indigenous women participated in the training and focused on improving their technical capacity in bamboo processing and weaving development. Through this activity, the Tarlawi indigenous women gained new knowledge in NTFP processing, learned sustainable harvesting techniques, and began implementing a simple business approach in business management.

Tarlawi Indigenous women now possess new knowledge. Local knowledge passed down through generations regarding bamboo weaving techniques and motifs is also being re-introduced into product development. Furthermore, while the primary marketing channel is through BUMMA Sagele Wawo, marketing collaborations are also being explored, including with tourist villages in Bima Regency. This presents an opportunity for Tarlawi Indigenous Women's NTFP products to reach markets beyond the Indigenous Community.

Their role in decision-making has also strengthened. Tarlawi indigenous women, who previously performed production work alone, are now actively involved in the governance of BUMMA Sagele Wawo, including developing distribution strategies. 

Going forward, the production house is expected to continue to serve as a learning hub and shared space for Tarlawi Indigenous Women. This will ensure that the initiatives planted today bear fruit, strengthening the role of Indigenous Women, fostering family well-being, and preserving the Tarlawi Indigenous Forest.