On Numfor Island, the Fyarkin Community tries to add value to abundant natural resources. One of them is coconut. So that this commodity can be sold at a higher price, the Fyarkin Community processes it into cooking oil and pure coconut oil (VCO).
Initially, the coconut cooking oil produced by Fyarkin was used only for personal consumption at the family level. Once the family’s needs have been met, it is sold to neighbors and other family members. “Usually we depend on kiosks for all our household needs. But now by making our own oil, we can reduce trips to the kiosk,” said Helena, a resident. Residents also said that their cooking tastes better if they use homemade cooking oil.
In addition to their efforts to produce their own food and reduce cash expenditures, the Fyarkin Community’s journey has made its members more aware of environmental changes and the fragility of the community. That so far their relationship with the environment and other living things has been seen as something inevitable and given. This awareness and understanding then inspired them to change their way of life for the better, for the sake of the community and the environment.
Some members have taken the initiative to replant mangroves along the coast, as well as coconut trees on their family land.
By planting new coconut trees, they hope to have enough stock to produce coconut oil in the longer term. They have also created community gardens that grow cassava, vegetables, and other food crops. “We manage the gardens naturally, like our ancestors did. We do not use chemical fertilizers or pesticides,” explained Elis—Head of the Fyarkin Community.
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Yayasan Pengembangan Pelatihan untuk Perubahan Sosial di Tanah Papua
(YP3SP)
Jalan Karya Tanah Hitam Permai
Abepura Jayapura
Papua
Email: info@papuatransformation.org
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