The Vibrancy of Eilogo Village in Facing the Modern Era and Climate Change Threats: A Story of a Small Village in Sabu Raijua, East Nusa Tenggara

This article is the third story in the ongoing series: The Struggle of Eilogo Village to Survive in the Modern Era and the Threat of Climate Change: A Story from a Small Village in Sabu Raijua Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. The first and second stories can be found here(Understanding the Livelihoods of Eilogo Village & Its Threats, Living with Disasters).

Historically, sorghum served as the primary food source in Eilogo, but its cultivation has declined over the years. This is largely due to the labor-intensive complexity of processing sorghum, which involves pounding, grinding, and cooking the grains. Compared to rice, which is easier to process and more convenient for households, sorghum has lost its practicality.

Today, rice has become the primary staple in Eilogo’s daily meals, surpassing traditional dishes. Government programs that heavily promote rice and support wet rice paddy farming—from cultivation to serving rice at the table—have reinforced rice as the community’s main food choice.

In this new form of agriculture, dependency on chemical inputs has persisted for years. Interestingly, even government officials openly acknowledge that, from the farmers’ perspective, fertilizers and spraying equipment are seen as essential tools for farming.

Of course, this situation presents new challenges, including the impact of chemicals, food security, environmental concerns, and reliance on external aid.

This situation raises questions about the sustainability of local food practices and the preservation of traditional agricultural knowledge. The increasing reliance on rice not only erodes the cultural importance of local crops but also jeopardizes the rich culinary heritage that has been nurtured over generations. Moreover, it poses environmental challenges and creates a dependency on rice imports from outside the region.

Facing this reality, it becomes increasingly clear that systematic and structured solutions are urgently needed to address this systemic problem, which impacts not only agriculture but also the community’s way of life and its relationship with the environment.

My mind drifts back to the Gadja family. What if a disaster strikes suddenly—how would they survive?

The first step is a change in mindset. The second step—perhaps—a change in behavior? I keep wondering, is it even possible?