The role of local leader on food security campaign toward sustainable goals of agriculture in Simeulue Island

Abstract

Abstract This study describes the relationship between food security and the role of the local leader in motivating his community to maintain their typical plants as the sources of their main food. This qualitative study used ethnography to describe humans’ role in making their life and environment harmonious, especially food security. From the recording and the interview result, it is known that the role of the chief as the informal leader has more opportunity and power to listen. It is known that in the past, the role of the local chief succeeded in influencing and convincing his community to consume rice as the main food and affected the community to grow rice even though their environment was not supported enough. The ‘rice standardization’ as a welfare area is not appropriate to be settled in all places in Indonesia. Formerly, Simeuluenese already knew and consumed other main food except for rice, namely sago and taeb, as their main food. However, the policy changed their mind to consuming rice as their main food instead of sago. Consequently, the local chief’s role is essential to campaign again to convince his community of food security toward sustainable goals based on local wisdom.