TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hundreds of residents in Kualin district, South Timor Tengah Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province were forced to consume putak (an alternative food made from gewang plants) after they were gripped with harvest failure.
Jefri Un Banunaek, member of the East Nusa Tenggara Regional Council (DPRD) confirmed that on Saturday.
The students were scattered in five villages namely: Desa Kualin, Oineke, Tuafanu, Tuapakas, and Oni.
According to Jefri, local residents were forced to consume putak because they are running out of food supply after they have consumed it since January 2015.
Jefri also said that local residents usually eat putak as an alternative food when they experience harvest failure.
Jefri also lamented lack of attention from the government in dealing with the harvest failure, forcing some residents to consume putak.
Therefore, Jefri asked the government through the East Nusa Tenggara Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) to immediately take measures to address the problem.
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