In supporting the strengthening of the local food self-sufficiency system, one of the efforts made with the community is the implementation of a workshop on the Protection of Local Food Production and Trade in Saureinu Village, Sipora, Mentawai. The workshop was conducted to formulate a strategy for the protection of local food production and trade in Saureinu Village, attended by village stakeholders, including the Village Government, BPD (Village Consultative Body), Gougou Baga OMB (Mentawai Indigenous People's Organisation), religious leaders, traditional leaders, and Agricultural Extension Workers (PPL). They gathered to review village development plans related to local food aspects.
The workshop also included a discussion process to reaffirm the joint commitment of all relevant parties and formulate concrete steps to advance the protection of local food production and trade in Saureinu Village. Some important points resulting from the joint commitment of the participants are:
1. Formulate village regulations that support the protection of local food in Saureinu Village.
2. Building a floating shop that will serve as a marketing centre for local food products, such as taro, woodworm (toek), subbet (processed taro), and others.
3. Establish a Village Communication Forum to promote and develop local food self-reliance in Saureinu Village.
4. Harmonise the Village Medium Term Development Plan (RPJMDes) with the Village Government Work Plan (RKPDes) relating to local food protection.
5. Develop local food cultivation practices that will be supervised and conducted by OMB (Community Based Organisation).
In addition to commitment, there was an agreement made during the workshop, namely the establishment of the Saureinu Village Communication Forum. This forum is a hope for all parties as a forum for coordination and collaboration between all relevant parties in developing local food independence, as well as implementing concrete steps that have been formulated in the workshop.
Ikbal Herdiansyah, met on the same occasion, expressed his optimism "By focusing on protecting local food production and trade, this workshop was able to inspire participants and other stakeholders to jointly realise the vision of sustainable food self-sufficiency in Saureinu Village. Through the commitment and cooperation established in the workshop, it is hoped that this village can become a successful example in the development and empowerment of local food" he concluded.