Building Food Security Based on Local Institutions on Bungin Island

Abstract

Food security in small island communities is not only determined by food availability, but also by economic access, income stability, distribution, and the capacity of local institutions to respond to socio-ecological vulnerability. This study aims to analyze food security in the Bungin Island community based on local institutions by examining the roles of the government, community, cooperatives, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), fishers, women, and households. This study used a descriptive qualitative approach on Bungin Island, Alas Subdistrict, Sumbawa Regency. Data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews, documentation, and supporting quantitative data. Informants were selected purposively and included village government officials, fisher groups, MSME actors, food traders or distributors, and women from fisher households. The results show that food security in Bungin Island is strongly influenced by limited land, dependence on the fisheries sector, food supplies from outside the island, weather conditions, and fluctuations in fisher income. Food vulnerability increases when bad weather prevents fishers from going to sea, reducing income and weakening household purchasing power. Local institutions, such as cooperatives, fisher groups, women's groups, MSMEs, mutual cooperation, and kinship networks, play an important role in strengthening food access, marketing marine products, and supporting household adaptation strategies. This study recommends strengthening the legality of fisher groups, developing cooperatives, empowering women, providing production equipment, improving access to capital, offering training in marine product processing, and expanding markets in a sustainable way.