Sweet potatoes for Papuans

Sweet potatoes for Papuans

From Kompas

The delivery of sweet potatoes and cassava as a short-term
solution to the hunger now prevailing in Yahukimo, Papua, is most
appropriate. The tubers are one of the staples of Papuans, while
in Java and other regions sweet potatoes are abundantly
available.

By the end of the New Order period (1998), Papua's food
problem was overcome by sending tiwul (cassava-based food) and
cassava flour, which received a cool response. The Papuans would
have been very pleased if the cassava had been provided in its
natural form.

Cassava has been planted in Papua since the Japanese
occupation, when Japanese troops tried to maintain their food
supplies during World War II. In the long run, therefore, the
local agriculture office is expected to give guidance to farmers
on proper tuber planting and anticipation of crop failure.

Besides, the same office is expected to take care of sago as
the major staple of most Papuans. So far, sago plants have been
left growing in the wild in marshy areas and along river banks.
Without proper cultivation and rejuvenation, they may eventually
vanish with continual felling.

It takes only a week from sago harvesting to its processing
into flour for a month's worth of consumption, which is more
practical than paddy processing into rice. Found in vast areas,
sago is also easier to grow than paddy.

The increasing rice consumption among Papuan communities
results from the influence of settlers. But tubers and sago
continue to exist as main staples. So, there is fear that sending
of tons of rice to Yahukimo will create new problems.

H. ASJARI
Depok, West Java