The Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara [NTT - Nusa Tenggara Timur] is very close to Australia. The capital of NTT is Kupang on the island of Timor. It is only 850 kilometres from Darwin to Kupang, just over 1 hours’ flight.

Nusa Tenggara Timur means South Eastern Islands, and is one of 26 provinces in Indonesia. The province is made up of a string of 111 islands from Komodo and Sumba along to Alor and Timor.  NTT is divided into 12 Regencies/ Kabupaten.

The province has about 4 million people. These are made up of 15 different indigenous ethnic groups as well as people descended from the Chinese, Arabs, and Indonesians of other islands.

Traditions are very strong. People were formerly animists believing in spirits living in  and  controlling the natural environment. They also believed in magic, and certain people and objects being able to possess special powers.  People continue to hold these beliefs as well as being Catholic, Protestant, or Muslim.

Mountains cover most of NTT.  In fact nearly 70% of the land slopes at 50 degrees or more. Clearly this makes agriculture difficult rendering only 34% suitable for sustainable agriculture only 2.6% of which is used for sawah [wet rice] agriculture.

Not only is NTT very dry, it is also amongst the poorest and least fertile regions of Indonesia. Figure 1 gives a comparison in poverty with the rest of Indonesia. The dry season is from May to October with a wet season from November to April.  The temperature ranges from 21 to 33 degrees Celsius.

Unlike Australia, NTT’s population is mostly rural. Most people make a living from subsistence dry field farming. They live primarily on rice, corn and cassava. Hunting, fishing, livestock farming and home industries such as weaving also contribute to family income.  These days the government is encouraging diversification of crops to improve village incomes. Now coconuts, vanilla beans and fruit such as mandarins are grown and sold. Stop on the highways and buy one or two or all the fruit on a tree!

The Indonesian government has been working hard to alleviate poverty and stimulate the economy. Small and large industries have been encouraged and established. Education and tourism have been made priorities for the province’s development. Infrastructure is being supplied to what were once out of the way places. Life for the ordinary people of NTT is becoming better and easier.

Questions and Activities

1. What does NTT stand for? 2. Why is the land of NTT difficult to farm? 3. How many islands are in NTT? 4. Make a 3D map of the major islands of NTT, include: Komodo, Flores, Sumba, Timor, Rote, Alor Archipelago, Solor Archipelago.

5. Memorise the major islands, major cities and geographical features of the province. 6. As a class create a 50 degree slope in a foam vegetable box from your supermarket. Grow some seeds in it to see the effects of slopes/rain/erosion.

7. Sponsor a World Vision child from NTT. Have one of their representatives come to your school to promote the 40 Hour Famine and tell of their projects in the region/ developing world. 8. On a map off NTT show the major beliefs of each island. Use these categories: Protestant Christian, Catholic Christian, Moslem, Animist(local traditions). 9. On the net try to find hotels on each of the major islands of NTT. List the URLs and compare them with what your friends find. 10. Why has NTT lagged behind other parts of Indonesia in regards to poverty? 11. How do organisations like World Vision and Tear Fund assist the poor in the short and long term? 12. How has the physical environment affected development in NTT? 13. How will the low level of education affect the peoples’ future? 

A Teacher Run Comprehension Quiz

Complete this quiz in groups without books to help:

a. Give the correct spelling of Nusa Tenggara Timur.

b. What is the capital of NTT? [Kupang]

c. What is the distance from Darwin to Kupang? [850km]

d. How many provinces in Indonesia? [26]

e. How many islands in NTT? [111]

f. Give the correct spelling of Kabupaten.

g. What is the population of NTT? [4 million]

h. Name one non-indigenous ethnic group inhabiting the province mentioned in the reading? [Arab, Chinese]

i. Why is sustainable agriculture difficult in NTT [steep slopes].

j Name two of the food staples of the province. [ corn, rice, cassava]

k. When does the wet season start in NTT? [November]

l. What is a subsistence farmer? [grows enough for own needs]

m. What crops are the government encouraging people to buy? [vanilla beans, mandarins, coconuts].