Other publication / Published on Magdalene
The article highlights the lived realities of Indigenous women in Papua as large-scale food estate projects framed as national food security solutions transform their sources of livelihood and everyday food systems. It brings attention to the experiences of mama Papua, whose survival has long depended on forests, sago, and locally rooted ecological knowledge.
It reveals a growing disconnect between state-driven development approaches and community-based food systems. While the government views land as a resource for maximizing production, Indigenous women understand it as a living space that provides food, medicine, and cultural continuity. This difference in perspective creates significant challenges when forests are cleared for monoculture agriculture.
The piece illustrates how these changes disproportionately impact women. As natural food sources become scarce, they must travel farther, spend more time securing food, and adapt to unfamiliar economic systems. This increases their workload while simultaneously eroding traditional systems that once ensured food sovereignty and community resilience.
Despite these challenges, the article underscores the vital role of Indigenous women as knowledge holders and caretakers of sustainable food systems. Their practices especially around sago and forest management offer alternative models that are more aligned with environmental balance and long-term resilience.
In the end, the article calls for a shift in how food security is understood and implemented. It emphasizes the need to recognize Indigenous women’s roles, protect ecological systems, and ensure that development policies are inclusive, just, and grounded in local realities.
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DEEP EnGender Author
Yorizal Tri Marzuki Gulo
Mr. Yorizal Tri Marzuki Gulo specializes in Public Administration focusing on community empowerment, gender-responsive governance, and digital innovation. His work explores inclusive education and women’s leadership through participatory approaches. He has authored articles and co-authored a book on women’s empowerment. Yorizal earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Public Administration from Medan Area University and Lambung Mangkurat University, respectively.
