Indigenous Peoples across Eastern Africa continue to face deep marginalization, exacerbated by the discovery of valuable natural resources such as oil and gas. These discoveries often lead to the militarization of Indigenous territories as governments prioritize securing investments. Additionally, the push for carbon credits and tourism has further threatened Indigenous Peoples’s communities. Take, for instance, the violent evictions of the Maasai from Ngorongoro in Tanzania, the Ogiek from the Mau Forest in Kenya, and the Sengwer—a forest-dwelling community with a long history of coexisting with nature, now accused of forest destruction. The loss of land is not just a physical displacement; it is the loss of food sovereignty. Communities like the Endorois and Ogiek rely on forests for grazing and beekeeping, vital to their survival. These forced evictions, often violent, leave lasting physical and psychological scars. When displaced, Indigenous Peoples are forced to either assimilate into other communities, leading to cultural erosion, or struggle to survive on shrinking parcels of land, as seen with the Ogiek people now living in Mumberes, Baringo County, Kenya. This disruption not only threatens their way of life but undermines their sources of livelihood.

Indigenous Peoples have co-existed with nature since time immemorial. The existence of an intricate totem system makes it inconceivable for Indigenous Peoples to destroy the very nature that they have a bond with. However, the introduction of industrial food production systems, reliant on synthetic fertilizers, has complicated their way of life. These systems are often supported by policies that criminalize traditional practices such as seed saving, sharing, and exchange—practices that have long been integral to Indigenous food sovereignty and ecological stewardship in East Africa.

As the world grapples with multiple crises, Africa finds itself in a particularly dire situation. Despite owning 60% of the world’s arable land and having an environment conducive to food production, at least one in five Africans goes to bed hungry every day. According to the 2024 State of Food Security and Nutrition (SOFI) report, the continent remains home to the world’s hungriest people. Eastern Africa, in particular, has suffered from extreme weather events, including droughts, floods, and locust infestations, which have devastated food security, caused loss of life, and destroyed property. In 2019, Kenya was ravaged by locust swarms, severely impacting food access. In 2022, the country faced its worst drought in four decades, and in 2024, March brought massive floods. Tanzania also faced catastrophic flooding, which killed 58 people and affected over 126,000 others.

In response to these challenges, Land is Life’s Food Security Program has been working to support Indigenous Peoples in Kenya, Burundi, and Tanzania. Rooted in agroecological principles, the program collaborates with the Sengwer, Batwa, Ogiek, and Endorois Indigenous Peoples’ communities to foster food systems transformation. Training sessions emphasize the value of Indigenous knowledge and promote intergenerational knowledge transfer. Participants learn climate-adaptive practices like sustainable land management, soil erosion prevention, and fertility retention through techniques such as contour farming. Biodiversity enhancement is also prioritized through intercropping and biological pest control, such as using onions and ginger to repel pests.

The program also tackles gender imbalances in land ownership by creating safe spaces for bold discussions among women, where role-playing and gender analysis help reimagine a future where women control natural resources. Additionally, the initiative encourages the diversification of livelihoods, enabling Indigenous Peoples’ communities to move beyond reliance on livestock and embrace food cultivation. In schools, the project is reshaping the narrative around youth and agriculture by making food production engaging and fun. In school gardens, land tilling and vegetable planting are integrated with music and poetry, creating an enjoyable and educational experience for young people.

The impact of the agroecology training within Indigenous Peoples’ communities has been overwhelmingly positive. Community members now have a deeper understanding of agroecological principles, the importance of healthy food, and the value of intergenerational knowledge transfer. The program has also spurred greater community engagement in policy processes, encouraging people to challenge prevailing narratives about Indigenous Peoples’ ways of life and their food systems.

This initiative has fostered resilience across Kenya, Tanzania, and Burundi, creating a ripple effect that continues to strengthen communities. With its proven success, the project holds significant potential for expansion, paving the way for truly transformative food systems.

El cargo Reclaiming Our Food Systems: Agroecology in Indigenous Peoples Territories in East Africa apareció primero en Land Is Life.

Deforestation for sugar projects in Merauke, Source: Yayasan Pusaka

Sugar is often synonymous with sweetness, enhancing and strengthening the flavor of food. But will the same outcome occur in Papua, where the land and its Indigenous Peoples are increasingly being eroded for the interests of the National Sugar and Bioethanol Development Project?

The land of Papua has long been a target for various parties seeking to control and exploit its resources—not only what is on the surface but also what lies beneath the earth. This often disregards the existence of the Indigenous Papuan People, who have managed and protected the land for generations.

One thing that continues to grow stronger over time is the government’s ambition to develop large-scale agricultural and plantation lands in Papua. Looking back, this ambitious project was initiated in 2006 when former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declared the Merauke Integrated Rice Estate project in Merauke Regency, Papua Province. This involved allocating 3.2 million hectares of land to be converted into rice fields and plantations. The project ultimately failed and was replaced in 2010 by the Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE), which allocated 2.5 million hectares and added energy elements such as wood chips and palm oil to attract investors.

Under President Joko Widodo’s administration, the government re-declared the Food Estate project in Papua, with the aim of developing corn, rice fields, and sugarcane plantations across West Papua and South Papua Province. Additionally, through Presidential Decree Number 15 of 2024, concerning the Task Force for the Acceleration of Sugar and Bioethanol Self-Sufficiency in Merauke Regency, South Papua Province, the government has outlined the implementation of the National Sugar Self-Sufficiency and Bioethanol Provision Program. This mega-project is already underway, with 2 million hectares of land reserved for development, placing it within the National Strategic Project and Special Economic Zone scheme.

Symbolic opening ceremony by President Joko Widodo, Source: Media

The seriousness of this government initiative is evident, given that Indonesia is still a sugar-importing nation. In 2023, sugar imports totaled 5 million tons, with Thailand, India, Brazil, and Australia as the largest suppliers. Meanwhile, national sugar production stands at only 2.4 million tons per year, a figure that continues to decline. National sugar requirements in 2023 reached 3.2 million tons per year, meaning that imports are currently the only solution to this deficit.

This situation is also tied to Indonesia’s commitment to national energy independence, with a focus on new renewable energy sources. In 2025, Indonesia aims for a renewable energy mix of 23%, which will increase to 31% by 2030. This energy transition is expected to be fueled by biodiesel from palm oil and bioethanol from sugarcane.

These two major goals—achieving self-sufficiency in sugar production and advancing energy independence—are the driving forces behind the government’s push for this large-scale project. However, the government’s claims of eradicating poverty and overcoming the backwardness of Papuan society are often used to legitimize these development projects in the region.

This national-scale project places new pressure on South Papua, a province newly formed in 2022 after the expansion of Papua Province under Law Number 14 of 2022. South Papua consists of four regencies: Merauke, Boven Digoel, Mappi, and Asmat. As a new province, South Papua must prioritize development for its people. However, it is currently being forced to accommodate the mega Food Estate Project intended for rice and sugarcane cultivation.

Haji Isam, owner of Jholin Group (middle with hat and black glasses), guarded by armed military in Food Estate Location

Several large companies, including WILMAR, KPN Corporation, Jhonlin, and First Resources, have also committed to partnering with the government through the PTPN Corp holding in this consortium.

Consent from Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous Peoples in South Papua are heavily dependent on forests. However, their land is increasingly threatened by the large-scale privatization and development projects carried out by the government and private sector. Indigenous Peoples claim they were not properly informed or consulted about the food estate plan, and many were shocked to learn of the land clearing operations. As customary landowners, they feel pressured to support the government’s grand plan. It appears they have no choice but to accept the loss of their land and forests, which have sustained them for generations.

Papuan Indigenous Peoples traditionally rely on sago as their primary food source, not rice. Forcing Papuan land to become a rice producer, by replacing forests and sago with rice fields, will disrupt the community’s wisdom, production and consumption patterns, and ultimately their traditions.

Harvesting Sago as collective efforts of Papuan Indigenous Peoples. Source: Kompas

This situation seems like an ongoing tragedy—Indigenous Peoples will watch from the sidelines as development unfolds, with no direct involvement as both actors and beneficiaries of this development. Meanwhile, the government and private sector continue to promise progress and prosperity, yet in reality, poverty, backwardness, and hunger persist in Papua. The loss of forests and customary land in Papua, and the uprooting of Indigenous Peoples from their culture and customs, seems inevitable, while prosperity remains a distant dream for them.

So, will this project bring sweet sugar or merely the bitter dregs of sugarcane for the indigenous Papuan people?

El cargo Bittersweet Sugar in Papua apareció primero en Land Is Life.