Factors affecting communities in adopting sustainable peat cultivation techniques and strategies for implementation (a case study in Pulang Pisau, Central Kalimantan)

Abstract

Peatlands have the primary source of livelihood for the surrounding communities, even though peatlands’ cultivation has several limiting factors. Drainage in peat cultivation has the potential to cause fires. Social and economic interests often conflict with ecological interests. The research was conducted in Pulang Pisau District using a semi-participatory approach through field observations, in-depth interviews with key informants, and focus group discussions. The study uses the descriptive qualitative method in the data analysis. The results showed that factors that influence the adoption of sustainable peat management techniques are: i) the introduced technique is following the community’s social and cultural characteristics, but most of the people belong to the early majority and late majority category; ii) the intrinsic nature of the innovation; iii) the absence of collective decision making to implement land clearing without burning and iv) lack of assistance. The study recommended five policy strategy: i) preparing peat-adaptive commodity market; ii) encouraging incentives for implementing non-burning land clearing; iii) coordination and synergy between institutions; iv) selection of superior rubber seed and Cajuput plantation as a substitute for galam, and v) development of participatory agrosilvofishery demonstration plots.