Young Mother in Gayo Lues Chooses Coffee Farm Labour Over Government Assistance
A young mother in Agusen Village, Blangkejeren District, Gayo Lues Regency, Aceh, has chosen to work as a coffee picker to meet her family’s economic needs following the flash floods of November 2025 that devastated the region.
Marina, 23, a local resident and flood survivor, explained during a visit to her temporary housing on Tuesday evening that the coffee plantation that had been the family’s livelihood source is now neglected due to the flooding, which also swept away agricultural equipment such as sprayers and plant medicine. Additionally, their other plot of land, which had been newly prepared for tobacco and chilli cultivation covering approximately half a hectare, was destroyed just a week after planting began.
Consequently, she felt obliged to support her husband by seeking additional income as a farm labourer, as their own plantation remains unable to be cultivated. From picking Gayo Robusta coffee during this year’s Ramadhan month, Marina earns between 100,000 and 120,000 rupiah per day, or approximately 1.6 million rupiah per week if the harvest is abundant.
“This is a decent supplement. My husband alone cannot manage now; I have to contribute as well, especially since we have a child,” she said, adding that this is the second coffee harvest season thanks to favourable weather, providing them with opportunities to earn additional income.
Despite facing difficult circumstances, she expressed her reluctance for her family to rely solely on government assistance for their livelihood needs. Marina hopes that her family’s economic situation will soon recover through their own efforts. Government support in providing temporary housing and restoring road access and electrical networks has already been meaningful for them.
This young couple, who married at an early age, only moved into the temporary housing one day before Ramadhan began. Previously, they had sheltered together with other residents for approximately three months at the Job Training Centre (BLK) operated by the Gayo Lues Regency Labour Department in Blangkejeren.
Their baby frequently became ill during the roughly three months in the temporary shelter due to limited conditions, including bedding, clean water and food, as they had to share facilities with disaster victims from several other villages in Gayo Lues.
“At this temporary housing, my child is much healthier because he is well cared for here, especially now that a midwife from the health centre visits regularly for check-ups. And I can be close to my husband; that alone is more than enough for me,” she said.
Agusen Village was one of the areas significantly impacted by the flash floods. The village had a total of 279 families, all of whom were affected. Of these, 155 households are currently residing in temporary housing because their homes were damaged, destroyed or swept away by the strong currents. The remainder chose to remain and repair their old houses using salvaged materials from the flood.
The temporary housing in Agusen Village was constructed by Indonesian military personnel in coordination with the National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB) and the Gayo Lues Regency Government.
According to BNPB data as of Tuesday (10 March), the need for temporary housing units in Gayo Lues Regency reached 1,713 units, with 1,518 units completed, including those in Agusen Village. Each housing unit is equipped with facilities such as mattresses, fans, gas stoves, electrical connections and clean water supply.