Analysis of the role of tuka, tuku, and teka (3T) model in food security in Ngada Regency, Indonesia

Research on the role of tuka, tuku and teka (3T) carried out in Ngada Regency aims to utilize local knowledge in the community which can be useful for the food security model in Ngada Regency and this model can be adapted for food security policies in other regions. This research was conducted in 12 subdistricts in Ngada Regency, with a total of 96 respondents, distributed proportionally to 8 respondents per subdistrict. This research uses structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques via the Partial least squares (PLS) approach. The respondents of this research are food crop and secondary crop farmers. This research found that the 3T concept has a significant role in supporting food security in Ngada Regency, with influenced by aspects of consumption (tuka), reserves (tuku), and trade (teka). Tuka includes elements of product, price, location, and personal factors; tuku includes uncertainty, comfort, attitudes, intentions, and needs, while teka includes self-confidence, courage to take risks, leadership, creativity, and future orientation. However, this research also shows that the theca aspect as a mediator has not functioned optimally in influencing food security. This is due to the focus of food trade among farmers which is still limited to meeting household needs and is not yet profit-oriented. The recommendation that can be given from this research is that to realize food security through the role of the concepts of tuka, tuku and teka, the Ngada Regency Government needs to implement a food diversification policy, prepare funding for food security programs, create policies that support an efficient and fair food trading system, and need to collaborate to improve aspects of trade which include self-confidence, courage to take risks, leadership, originality and future orientation, so that farming can be profit-oriented.