Home garden mixed cropping practice by communities living on peatland in household’s income resilience and climate adaptation

Abstract

Land use with mixed crop cultivation practices, or agroforestry, is currently important for small farmers because it provides economic resilience and ecosystem-based solutions for climate change adaptation. This research is to examine the role of agroforestry in the homegarden of communities living on peatlands in supporting household economic resilience and the impact of climate change on their livelihoods. In-depth interviews using questionnaires and field observations were carried out for data collection. The research results show that agroforestry based on fruit plants such as Durio kutejensis, Artocarpus champeden, Lansium domesticum, and Parkia speciosa is found in Pulang Pisau Regency, while the mixed crop pattern of Pinang catechu, Coffea liberica, and Cocos nucifera is found in West Tanjung Jabung Regency. This type of land use provides economic stability for farming households on peatlands. Farmer experience and knowledge, species preferences, markets, land ownership, and labor availability are considered in implementing mixed cropping systems. Access to credit and capital and increasing farmers’ abilities during harvest and post-harvest are really needed by farmers. Therefore, support from various stakeholders and pro-farmer policies is needed so that mixed cropping systems can improve the livelihoods of small farmers and reduce their vulnerability to climate change.