New Sources of Dry Season Income for Women in NTT

Stunting, children not growing normally due to malnutrition, is still a major issue in East Indonesia. Providing mothers with much needed income during the harsh dry season can be one solution to this complex issue.

Almost 1 in 3 children in Timor are stunted

Stunting - children not growing normally because they lack basic nutrition - is more common that many realize:  In 2019, around 27% of children showed stunting nationwide. In parts of Timor (NTT), the number is above 30% according to local authorities - meaning that almost 1 in 3 children is affected.

This is so deeply concerning because it is not just a matter of height: Stunted children often display delays and limitations in their mental development as well - meaning they will suffer from the consequences for their entire lives, perpetuating the cycle of poverty.

The main cause of stunting is malnutrition - either from lack of food or food that is high in quality nutrients. For children, the first 1,000 days of their life, including the development in the womb, are key. 

Discussing traditional cotton farming with a farmer in West Timor. If grown organically, the crop can be a valuable source of income for mothers during the often difficult dry season.

New Incomes for the ‘Season of Hunger’

Yet especially in Eastern parts of Indonesia, meeting the nutritional needs of pregnant women and children can be challenging. Much more so during the often difficult dry season, which in Timor is commonly called musim kelaparan, or season of hunger. 

Providing mothers with additional incomes during this time is a key part of our Mama Kapas program (Indonesian for Cotton Mamas). Harvested during the height of the dry season, the harvest and processing provides much needed incomes when women need it the most. 

But it doesn’t stop there.

Together with our partner organizations, we find ways to grow the cotton organically and regeneratively - leveraging local wisdom to make our farmers’ soils more resilient against drought and erosion. So their livelihoods are secure against the challenges of climate change. 

Learn more about our Mama Kapas program and how you can support it here. To learn more about stunting, its causes and more projects designed to overcome it, click here.