Zainal grew up in the Aceh region of Sumatra, a province in northwestern Indonesia. The village where he grew up was home to many oyster farmers, many of whom were women who survived the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. In 2004, Indonesia suffered the aftermath of a devastating natural disaster when a 9.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the west coast of Aceh province. The earthquake and subsequent tsunami killed an estimated 300,000 people in 14 South Asian countries, with Aceh, the epicenter, recording the highest number of casualties and missing persons.

“It has been twenty years since the tsunami, the pain of losing our homes and families in a single tsunami still lingers, and I have seen many of my colleagues continue to struggle as they resume oyster farming to provide for their families.”

In Aceh, most oysters grow on the roots of trees called mangroves, so women and local fishermen spend all day on their backs crawling through the gnarled mangroves to harvest them. Their hands are full of calluses, and Their backs are bent from wading through the mud. Even when they sell their hard-earned oysters to wholesalers, they make little money.

“Women who farm oysters are always exhausted from the hard work that begins at dawn. Most of them are survivors of the devastating 2004 tsunami and have no other means of earning a living in Aceh.”

ⓒ United Nation

In addition, traditional oyster farming methods were slowly destroying Aceh's environment. Women cut the roots of mangrove trees to look for oysters and waded through the water to find them. It led to fewer and fewer mangroves, which naturally led to fewer and fewer oysters. Due to the destruction of the oysters' habitat, Aceh's coastline became more vulnerable to natural disasters.

“When I saw the mangroves disappearing and my neighbors still struggling to make ends meet, I knew that oyster farmers deserved better. Thus, I started Kiboy Food, using sustainable farming practices to preserve mangroves and work with local people to help them recover from the tsunami.”

Kiboy Food uses sustainable farming methods to grow oysters and protect mangrove forests. Locals build steel pipe poles in shallow water and hang used tires from them to grow oysters. Women no longer have to wade through rough mangrove trees to collect oysters. The mangrove forest is also regaining its former state, as the tree roots have become firmly established.

Kiboy Food also sells various oyster products to help local people earn a stable income and grow together. Oyster snacks and fritters are popular because they are rich in healthy nutrients such as zinc and iron, and discarded oyster shells are ground into powder and sold as cosmetics and food additives.

“Kiboy Food is currently working with 157 fisherwomen in Aceh. I do not want to see the people of Aceh suffer from poverty or pollution anymore, and Kiboy Food will do its best to give them a chance to change for the better!”

Zainal hopes that Kiboy Food will continue to grow with the women of Aceh. Through sustainable farming methods, Kiboy Food will gradually increase production without destroying the habitat of oysters, helping to protect the environment and provide safe, environmentally friendly food.

Please support Kiboy Food to save the mangrove forest, empower women, and overcome damage from the devastating tsunami with impact donation!