Harmony Garden Cultivates Food Security for Aceh Tamiang Flood Survivors
The Kebun Harmoni programme has successfully helped flood and landslide survivors living in temporary shelters in Aceh Tamiang Regency to harvest hydroponic vegetables and catfish from their communal cultivation. The programme, initiated by PT East West Seed Indonesia (EWINDO) together with the School of Life Sciences and Technology at the Bandung Institute of Technology (SITH ITB), not only strengthens food security but also forms part of the community’s post-disaster social and economic recovery.
The first harvest marks the residents’ success in managing the cultivation system independently after undergoing a series of training and mentoring sessions over the past several months. Besides meeting part of the families’ food needs, the activity has also rebuilt the spirit of mutual cooperation and self-confidence among the disaster-affected community.
The Kebun Harmoni programme was developed as a food security-based community empowerment effort. Unlike short-term food aid, this programme equips residents with the knowledge and skills to produce food independently, both while living in temporary shelters and after returning to their permanent settlements.
During its implementation, residents received training in hydroponic vegetable cultivation, the use of growboxes in limited spaces, catfish farming using a biofloc system, and the production of liquid organic fertiliser and bokashi. Mentoring was carried out in stages so that participants could manage the entire production process, from planting to harvest.
Programme mentor Obi, a hydroponics activist from Aceh, said the success of Kebun Harmoni is not solely measured by the harvest yield, but by the regrowth of the community’s optimism. ‘The most heartening thing is not just seeing the vegetables grow, but seeing the residents regain their enthusiasm for doing activities together. They learn, help each other, and begin to believe that they can meet some of their own family’s food needs. The hope is that when they return to their respective homes, they will retain this knowledge and continue to develop it,’ he said.
For the temporary shelter residents, the harvest has direct benefits for their daily lives. The vegetables they pick themselves help reduce household expenses, while the catfish provide an easily accessible source of protein. The gardening activity also introduces a productive routine that strengthens community bonds while supporting psychosocial recovery after facing the disaster.
The communal harvest was attended by the Vice Regent of Aceh Tamiang, the Head of the Aceh Tamiang Regency Agriculture and Livestock Service, the Head of Bundar Village, and the Head of Kota Village. The presence of these stakeholders represents support for strengthening community food security through a sustainable empowerment approach.