SELAYAR ISLANDS (September 9, 2024) – As part of the Social Service activities in the Selayar Islands Regency, the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) provided empowerment assistance to strengthen sectors that hold potential for the archipelagic region and support food security. The aid was given to community groups to boost the maritime, agriculture, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sectors, aiming to increase the income and welfare of the island's residents.

Two villages in Bontosikuyu District, Selayar Islands, namely Binanga Sombaiya Village and Appatanah Village, are home to the Bajo tribe, known for their seafaring traditions and ability to dive to the sea floor without breathing equipment for several minutes. The people in these villages have long relied on the sea as their main livelihood and continue the tradition of diving to catch fish.

"In our village, especially in the Bajo Hamlet, the fishermen still dive to catch fish. That’s why we requested diving equipment like goggles, fins, and underwater flashlights," said Muhammad Arding, the head of Binanga Sombaiya Village, when met after attending the MoSA Social Service Peak Event in Benteng, Selayar, on Monday (9/9). The fishermen have been sharing the limited diving gear due to the high cost of purchasing new equipment.

The fishing group from Binanga Sombaiya Village received 10 fiber boats, 1 set of diving gear, and 10 units of 15 HP *katinting* engines from MoSA. This assistance is significant, as with these engines and boats, the fishermen no longer need to row manually when going to sea. This allows them to conserve energy usually spent rowing, enabling them to dive and catch more fish.

In addition to supporting fishermen, the Ministry also distributed various tools for the carpentry sector in the village, including 5 saws, 5 electric sanders, 5 electric drill sets, 5 carving machines, and 5 electric planes. The agricultural industry also received support in the form of 10 rolls of barbed wire, 10 tractors, 10 rolls of fence netting, and 10 sacks of fertilizer. This agricultural aid, especially the tractors, is highly needed. According to one of the farmers in Binanga Sombaiya Village, Sanak (59), the tractors can cut the plowing time by seven days. "It usually takes 10 days to plow three plots by hand. With the tractor, it only takes three days," he said. The tractors will be managed collectively by the farming group.

Meanwhile, in Appatanah Village, the Ministry of Social Affairs also distributed aid for fishermen, which included 1 fish packaging press, 5 sacks of salt, 2 75-liter cool boxes, 4 units of 7 HP *katinting* engines, 1 set of diving gear, and 2 freezers. Additionally, the egg-laying chicken farming group in the village received 200 18-week-old *pullet* chickens, 10 chicken coops, and 10 sacks of feed to support their poultry farming business.

In Patilereng Village, Bontosikuyu District, the pastry-making group received 1 noodle-pressing machine with a 20 kg capacity, 2 ovens, 1 dough mixer with a 5 kg capacity, 3 stoves, and 1 coconut grater. Meanwhile, in Bontotangnga Village, Bontoharu District, the palm sugar-making group received 6 large pans, 6 *seribu mata* stoves, 24 palm sugar molds, 6 cutting boards, and 6 gas cylinders. The VCO (Virgin Coconut Oil) producers in this village also received support in the form of 1 coconut milk press machine, 1 centrifugal machine, and 1 VCO oil filtration machine. This assistance is expected to increase the productivity of local businesses and improve the welfare of the community.