Participatory Rural Appraisal Research Articles

Fostering Entrepreneurial Interest among Housewives through Cake-Making Training in Fatukoa Village, East Nusa Tenggara

This article examines the importance of entrepreneurship for housewives in Fatukoa village, one of the areas undergoing rapid development in terms of housing, commercial premises, government offices and schools. Through training in the production of value-added food products such as brownies, nastar and blossom tofu, the study aims to stimulate entrepreneurial interest among the target group. The method used is PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal), which involves the active participation and involvement of the target participants and activity partners. The results show that the products produced are marketed at affordable prices and are in demand by consumers. It is concluded that this community service activity has been successful in terms of increasing the knowledge, skills and income of the target group and has had a positive impact on food development in Fatukoa village.

The PEMBERDAYAAN MASYARAKAT MELALUI PEMBUATAN GREEN FISHBALL DI HAMADI, KOTA JAYAPURA,PAPUA

Wife has an important role in helping the family economy. Hamadi village, Subdistrict South Jayapura, Jayapura City is one of Village that has a fishing community. Problems that occur are not yet available business institutions in the community that can coordination fish processing business activities and Causing a lack of motivation and innovation as well as community creativity in developing processed fish products. This happened to one of the fishery business groups is POLAKSHAR Mama Papua, where processed fishery products are only made into smoked fish simply. The Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) approach was used in this activity.The community has a large role to implementing the proses and can make processed fishery products, namely meatballs that use tuna meat by add Green color from Moringa leaves with womb β-karoten that have functional properties as antioxidant, and can improve income and can managed well in a book keeping

External intervention and responsive adaptation by the community: Experiences of improving house quality in an urban slum

AbstractNon‐governmental organizations (NGOs), governmental organizations, or other entities may run their projects as external interventions within a community to reduce disaster risks and adapt to future climatic events. These external interventions may influence the community to take further adaptation measures for enhancing community resilience. The spontaneous adaptation process, referring as responsive adaptation, needs to be identified and acknowledged. This research aims to investigate the impacts of external interventions on the responsive adaptation process by studying a riverside flood‐prone urban slum in Bangladesh. This settlement experienced a site development project, primarily run by an NGO, that allowed several modifications to the built environment, mainly targeting flood risks. Selected tools of participatory rural appraisal (PRA) or participatory urban appraisal (PUA) methods were employed to obtain data about the community's initiatives for further development. The results show that the site development project, especially its impacts on reducing flood risks, has influenced community members to invest in improving the condition of their individual houses. As a means of responsive adaptation, the conscious developments of their houses contribute to enhancing the resilience level. Through exploring the community's initiatives, this research identifies that the engagement of communities with their knowledge and investments can extend the success of the external intervention.

The PEMBERDAYAAN MASYARAKAT MELALUI PEMBUATAN SAMOSA DAN SIOMAY IKAN TUNA PADA PERSEKUTUAN WANITA GKI MARTHEN LUTHER DI TANAH HITAM, KOTA JAYAPURA

Wife has an important role in helping the family economy. Women’s association in Indonesian Christians Church of Marthen Luther at Tanah Hitam of Jayapura city is group of housewife that work as a Civil Officer, Private-employee and housewife. Problems that accur for women’s association is unknowledge about products processed with used fihery product of commodity such as Yellow fin fish tuna, because undevelopment of motivation and creativity of human to development products processed to be a business side hustle to improve income. The Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) approach was used in this activity.Through this empowerment the women’s association in Indonesian Christians Church of Marthen Luther has big role for made some fishery product processed such as Samosa and Siomay and can improve income.Then, business that managed need know abaout well in a book keeping so that the business will goes well in financial management.

Youth empowerment in tobacco control: community-based participatory research in rural Indonesia

PurposeThis paper describes the planning and implementation program of Remaja Berdaya Sehat Tanpa Rokok (JayaStar) or Empower Youth Healthy without Smoking (EYHWS). This is a pilot tobacco control program for smoking behavior with a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach in a rural area of Indonesia.Design/methodology/approachThis research used the participatory rural appraisal (PRA) method. The paper would describe three stages of the JayaStar program that started from diagnosis, planning action and taking action. Participants in this research were all youths aged 17–25 years including as many as 33 people. The key informants were the village head, the hamlet head, the hamlet head’s wife, the youth leader, health promotion officers at the Pleret Health Center and the Health Promotion Section of the Bantul Health Office.FindingsThe determinants of the youth empowerment process are divided into (1) predisposing factors, (2) group structure and (3) group climate. It has an important role in the success of the youth empowerment process in smoking behavior control. The implementation of the JayaStar program consisted of (1) outbound, and training with the theme of increasing self-potential; (2) training on the impact of cigarettes/vapors on the health of youths; (3) discussion and practice of making health campaign videos; (4) parenting program with the theme of the important role of parents in creating a healthy and superior young generation; (5) declaration and inauguration of JayaStar volunteers.Originality/valueThis research is an example of a successful community-based youth project that resulted in a demonstrable positive outcome. It demonstrates the importance of good relations between stakeholders. The JayaStar movement could be a potential model for youth empowerment projects to control smoking behavior among future generations in Indonesia.

The Use of Indigenous Knowledge Systems Practices to Enhance Food Security in Vhembe District, South Africa

This paper seeks to examine how subsistence farmers employ indigenous knowledge methods to enhance food security within rural communities in the Vhembe district. It analyses indigenous knowledge practices used in managing climate change impacts on crop production and determines indigenous knowledge processes used to preserve food to fill the gap during food shortages. The paper also considers the indigenous weather prediction approaches used in the area. A participatory rural appraisal is complemented by a qualitative and quantitative approach. This study used semi-structured interviews, questionnaires and focus group discussions for data collection. A survey of 200 randomly selected indigenous farmers was sampled. The finding revealed that local farmers depend on the use of indigenous knowledge practices to improve household food security. The majority of farmers apply manure in their farms using livestock dumps. Also, it shows that 87.8% of households used sun-drying processes for food preservation and used local mortars to pound and grind foodstuffs such as peanuts and maize. Practices such as crop rotations, mixed cropping and intercropping were employed to improve soil fertility and climate change and reduce insect pest outbursts on crops, hence, improving crop production. Indigenous knowledge of rainfall prediction is helpful in preparation for the planting season. The study recommended that agriculture policies must acknowledge indigenous knowledge practices in development programmes and specific policy interventions to promote the indigenous knowledge systems must focus on enhancing socio-economic factors assisting farmers in improving post-harvest storage facilities. The findings could facilitate interaction between indigenous knowledge stakeholders and the Limpopo provincial agriculture training institution. The fulfilment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 on zero hunger and food security could benefit from the indigenous knowledge systems.

Land tenure conflicts in forest areas: obstacles to rejuvenation of small-scale oil palm plantations in Indonesia

Purpose This study aims to investigate the problems small-scale oil palm plantations in Indonesia’s forest areas face and the government policies addressing them. Design/methodology/approach Survey and data collection were used to determine the socioeconomic, environmental, legal and governance problems related to the development of smallholder plantations. Information was obtained from the respondents via a rapid rural appraisal approach. Findings The potential land for potential participants in the community oil palm rejuvenation programme is a forest area of 1,628,749.60 ha. Owing to its legal dimensions and unsustainable land management, the rejuvenation regulatory programme has not reached independent farmers. Research limitations/implications The use of plantation space beyond its designation hinders the government’s goal of accelerating the rejuvenation programme. The problems regarding the accumulation of forest area result in low achievement of the annual rejuvenation target in Riau Province (21%–25%). The authors present solutions to resolve land ownership conflicts and implement strategic policies to ensure the sustainable development of such plantations. Originality/value The authors introduce a conflict–resolution model for small-scale smallholder oil palm plantations to resolve the problems of forest area claims unaddressed in the Indonesian Job Creation Law. Land conflict resolution is categorised into five typologies: oil palm plantations with business permits; those without a forestry permit and subject to administrative sanctions; business activities in forest areas without forestry permits; resolving non-conformities in the progress of land or management controlled and used in forest areas prior to their designation by removing land parcels through modifying the forest area boundaries; and the settlement for farmers without cultivation registration certificates but have established plantations and whose land tenure can be proven.

Character education strengthening (CES) mentoring for school-aged communities through out-of-classroom learning

Character education strengthening (CES) is a key factor in shaping children's personalities. Besides at home, character education should also be implemented in schools and social environments. In an effort to prepare the golden generation of 2045, the government is strengthening the character of the younger generation to have an advantage in the 21st-century global competition. This activity aims to instill character education during the Covid-19 pandemic by increasing the learning spirit, even though learning is done online and from home to avoid crowds. The method of implementing this activity is through participatory community empowerment using the participatory rural appraisal (PRA) model. Some of the achievements of this community service include: 1) outdoor activities or nature contemplation; 2) learning at TPA and Quran recitation to increase devotion to Allah SWT; 3) educational games outside the classroom to enhance nationalism and teamwork; 4) exploring students' potential and recognizing their intelligence through creativity contests; and 5) student learning motivation.

Enhancing Participatory Learning at SMP Negeri 2 Jaten Karanganyar through the Integration of Technology

The development of knowledge and technology significantly impacts literacy skills, essential for academic growth and school adaptation. Technology literacy is crucial for awareness and academic support, but a lack of technological knowledge can hinder education. To address this, the Indonesian government introduced the belajar.id platform, integrating Google Suite for Education (GSuite) to aid academic activities during the pandemic. Challenges like limited teacher-student interaction persist, necessitating the encouragement of electronic media and diverse educational material availability. They aimed to bridge teaching gaps, enhance technological skills, and ensure effective knowledge sharing, using participatory rural appraisal (PRA). The team of Research Group Data Information Knowledge and Engineering (RG DIKE) at the Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta conducted a study on technology literacy's importance for students in SMP Negeri 2 Jaten Karanganyar. It emphasized technology's role in disaster management and prevention, striving for a strategic approach to technology-based education. Training sessions were conducted on August 15 and October 26, 2023, focused on belajar.id, GSE, and OBS integration. Teachers played a key role in guiding and updating their GSE and OBS knowledge. In summary, these sessions aimed to equip teachers and students with vital GSE and OBS skills, enhancing education quality and learning outcomes.

Assistance in Utilizing Fruit Market Organic Waste for Maggot Cultivation for Fish and Poultry Breeding Communities in Mojokerto Regency

The aim of this mentoring activity is to increase the understanding, skills and capacity of fish and poultry farmers in Mojokerto Regency in developing a maggot cultivation system by utilizing organic waste from the fruit market. This mentoring activity uses a participatory approach with the participatory rural appraisal method, namely by placing the community as the subject and the service team as insiders who are active in implementing the activities carried out. Based on the evaluation of the results of implementing community service assistance activities related to Assistance in the Use of Fruit Market Organic Waste for Maggot Cultivation for the Fish and Poultry Farmer Community in Mojokerto Regency, this assistance activity was successful in providing participants with an in-depth understanding of the use of organic waste for maggot cultivation. The practical implementation of the training material shows that participants are able to apply the concepts they have learned in their respective environments.

Aplikasi penggunaan urea molases multinutrient blok dan krim daun capa untuk peningkatan kesehatan ternak sapi masyarakat Gampong Blang Krueng Aceh Besar [Application of urea molasses multi nutrient block and capa leaf cream to improve cattle health in Blang Krueng Village Aceh Besar District

Blang Krueng Village has potential in the field of animal husbandry, but the livestock raised is still traditional, so that many livestock lack feed, this causes the supply of minerals to the livestock's body to decrease. Urea molasses multinutrient block (UMMB) is one of the additional feeds with a high content of nutritional supplements, especially minerals for ruminants in solid form. The purpose of the service activity is to increase community income based on the development of the ability of the farmer community by increasing the knowledge and skills of farmers regarding technology for making nutrient block and capa leaf cream to increase their cattle production. The method that used in this activity is to use the approach of community participation methods in development or Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA). The results of this activity showed that 95% of participants are interested in practicing, developing, and transmitting their knowledge of how to make UMMB and capa leaf cream to members of farmer groups around them. The conclusion, farmers will share the knowledge that has been obtained during the service to other farmer group members as the target group of service activities.

Farming system diversification: An insight on strengthening the livelihood in a hilly ecosystem

To make Indian agriculture remunerative, and enhance farmers’ income, the Government of India initiated a mission for doubling the farmers’ income (DFI) by 2022. For DFI under a conventional cropping system, the agriculture sector needs to grow @15% per annum. Therefore, there is a need for reorienting the conventional cropping system with a more productive alternative integrated farming system, combining on and off-farm occupations with high technological support. With this background, the present study was carried out in a cluster of villages where interventions through a research institution (Farmer FIRST project) were made. Such interventions were undertaken in a cluster of 7 villages involving 500 farm families (2016–19). The technological gaps were identified through benchmark surveys using participatory rural appraisal (PRA) and extensive farmers' group discussions. During this, farmers’ skills and managerial capabilities were explored, and 16 interventions of various farming modules and sub-modules attributed to higher income were identified and implemented. The farmers were continuously provided technological and partial input support in terms of capacity building and seeds, fertilisers and similar others. The results indicated that mushroom production had high potential for supplementing farm income (117% per farm family). The income from food grains increased by 81% whereas, income from seasonal and off-season vegetable crops increased by more than double. Dairy farming exhibited 52.38% increase in income. In absolute terms, the dairy had maximum contribution in increasing income by ₹24,014 followed by food grains (₹13,251). The intervention modules increased the average per-farm family income by ₹46,979, which was highly significant (P<0.01%). The income of 40% of the farm families increased by more than double, while the income of 1% of the farmers increased by >75% in just 2 years. Overall, when four modules and sub-modules of the model were put together, the total farm income per family increased by 67% from ₹70,290 (2016–17) to ₹1,17,269 (2018–19).

Ethnobotany of Zingiberaceae in the Tamiang tribe, Aceh Province, Sumatra

Tamiang is one of the unique tribes from Aceh Province because it is descended from the Sriwijaya Kingdom. This tribe is located in eastern Aceh. Research on the ethnobotany of Zingiberaceae plants in the Tamiang tribe aims to identify species, know the parts used, and classify uses. The method used in this research is Purposive Sampling and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods. This research was conducted in 30 villages from seven selected sub-districts, namely Bendahara, Seruway, Karang Baru, Rantau, Kejuruan Muda, Bandar Pusaka, and Sekerak sub-districts. The respondents selected were the tribal elders, traditional leaders, owners of family medicinal plants, vegetable traders, and housewives. The results showed that there were 10 Zingiberaceae plant species utilized, namely Curcuma longa, Curcuma zanthorrhiza, Curcuma zedoaria, Zingiber officinale, Zingiber officinale var. rubrum, Zingiber cassumunar, Alpinia galanga, Alpinia purpurata, Kaempferia galanga, and Etlingera elatior. The most widely used part of the plant is the rhizome. Zingiberaceae plants are used as cooking spices, traditional medicines, traditional ceremonies, health drinks, food preparations, food fragrances, and in the beauty and economics fields. The ways to utilize and use Zingiberaceae plants are boiling, soaking, grinding or pounding, steaming, mixing in cooking, selling, consuming, and direct use.

Farmers’ livelihood strategies for adapting to reduced water resources in the upstream Mekong Delta, Vietnam

The article analyzes the livelihood strategies of farmers to adapt to reduced amounts of water in the upstream Mekong Delta in Vietnam. The study was conducted in An Phu district, the upstream district of An Giang province, bordering Cambodia, the area first affected when the availability of water resource from the Mekong River changes. The study aims to learn about the impact of changes on livelihood patterns and agricultural livelihood strategies using qualitative and quantitative data collection methods including: household surveys, key informant interviews, participatory rural appraisal methods, and in-depth interviews with farmers. The results show that the decrease in water resources has led to transitions in the livelihoods of farmers. From 2011 to 2022, flood levels had changed, peak floods were lower, and duration of the seasonal floods was shorter. Farmers have gradually changed farming patterns and techniques and adopted different strategies, including from (1) rice to “safe rice” (44.73%); (2) rice to fruits (32.99%); (3) rice to vegetables (6.41%); (4) and vegetables to fruits (13.42%). The reason for these transitions are: reduced water resources availability for practical farming; higher profits are possible with alternative strategies; and, availability of new learning from neighbouring farmers. Better use of available water resources, protection of human health and the environment, and lower production costs are the pathways that farmers have been aiming to achieve effectively and safely on account of changes in their environmental conditions.

Revitalization of waste bank management in Cecelan Hamlet, Magelang Regency

Established in 2016, Bank Sampah Lestari, a community-based waste bank, was forced to cease operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This outreach initiative aimed to revitalize waste management activities at Bank Sampah Lestari. Employing a Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) approach, the project encompassed a series of activities, including raising awareness about the crucial role of waste banks, guiding participants in waste sorting practices, facilitating the sale of paper and cardboard waste, teaching organic fertilizer production, promoting maggot cultivation, encouraging the creation of handicrafts from plastic waste, and supporting vegetable gardening within the bank's premises. The project's outcomes included: 1) the establishment of a new organizational structure for bank sampah membership, 2) the resumption of waste sorting, collection, and sales activities, and 3) enhanced community creativity and knowledge regarding waste management practices.

Education to prevent stunting and innovation of 'SABI nuggets' as a complementary food in Silaberanti Village, Palembang

Stunting remains a pressing health concern that demands attention from all members of society. In Palembang City, the number of stunting cases has risen alarmingly from 100 in 2023 to 224. The root causes lie in limited knowledge about balanced nutrition and a tendency to consume unhealthy fast food. This community service initiative aimed to enhance awareness about the significance of adopting healthy food management practices as a strategy to combat stunting. The project employed a Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) approach, encompassing socialization, training, and mentorship. The intervention yielded remarkable results, with knowledge levels among participants increasing from 65% to 95%. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the training in empowering the community with knowledge about balanced nutrition, healthy and nutritious meals for children, and stunting prevention strategies. Furthermore, the community demonstrated creativity by developing an innovative food supplement called "SABI nuggets," made from patin fish and carrots.

Unlocking the sustainable livelihoods strategy for forest communities in the southern slope of Mount Slamet, Indonesia

Mount Slamet in Central Java Province, Indonesia, boasts significant biodiversity potential, yet communities on its southern slope grapple with poverty. This study delves into sustainable livelihood strategies for these communities. Employing participatory rural appraisal methods engages residents in identifying issues and devising solutions. Findings advocate for agrosilvopasture as a viable livelihood, blending crop farming, silviculture, and animal husbandry to balance environmental preservation with economic advancement. Additionally, the study underscores the importance of capacity-building within local communities, emphasizing skill and knowledge enhancement. By advocating community engagement and offering multifaceted sustainable livelihood strategies, this research enriches the discourse on sustainable development for forest communities residing on the southern slope of Mount Slamet.

Pelatihan Pembuatan Asesmen Pembelajaran Berbasis Kuis Interaktif Bagi Guru Matematika di SMA Pertiwi 1 Padang

The independent learning curriculum requires teachers to innovate by utilizing technology. Therefore, teacher skills are needed in using technology, not only in delivering material but also in designing learning assessments. However, the teacher's knowledge at SMA Pertiwi 1 Padang in designing electronic-based learning assessments is still very limited. As a manifestation of Higher Education's Tri Dharma, community service activities are carried out in the form of training, with the title "Training in Making Interactive Quiz-Based Learning Assessments for Mathematics Teachers at SMA Pertiwi 1 Padang". The aim of the training is for teachers to: 1) familiar with the IT-based evaluation system, 2) teacher able to compose questions using an IT-based assessment model in the form of interactive quizzes independently; 3) teacher able to apply the evaluation system in learning. The application used in making the assessment is Kahoot. The method applied in this training is the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) method. After the training activities the team gave a questionnaire to see the achievement of the objectives of the training activities. This training data analysis uses percentage calculations. Based on the results of the analysis of the implementation of training activities, it was concluded that 1) The teacher's skills in using ka-hoot to make learning evaluation instruments increased, 2) Teachers better understood the importance of making online evaluation instruments, 3) These training activities could improve skills, creativity and the quality of learning evaluation.

Farmers’ production constraints, preferred varietal traits and perceptions on sorghum grain mold in Senegal

Improving sorghum adoption rates by developing adapted varieties that meet end-user preferences is a major challenge in West Africa. In this study, a participatory rural appraisal was undertaken to identify the main sorghum production constraints, farmers’ preferred variety traits and their perceptions on sorghum grain mold. The study was conducted in four representative rural communities located in the main sorghum producing area of Senegal. A total of 260 farmers were interviewed and data were collected through focus group discussions and individual questionnaires. Our results indicated that Striga, insects, poor soil fertility and drought are the major sorghum producing constraints in Senegal. Grain mold was identified as the second most important sorghum disease after the damping-off. Discoloration on grain surface was the most important criteria farmers used to recognize the disease. The most important sorghum traits farmers desired in improved varieties are medium to short plant maturity cycle, medium plant height, large open or semi-compact panicle, big and white grain, and adaptation to local growing conditions. The results showed that the sorghum cropping system is dominated by male farmers who mainly grow local landraces. These results will provide updated recommendations for the breeding products profile to meet end-user preferences in Senegal.

Learning from local knowledge on changes in tree-cover and water availability: the case of the contested agroforested landscape of the Mt. Elgon Water Tower, Uganda

Participatory Rural Appraisal was used to compare stakeholder perceptions of spatial and temporal variation in tree cover and water availability using Uganda’s Mt. Elgon Water Tower as a case study. This study was guided by the research question: How do multi-level stakeholders’ perceptions of changes in tree-cover and water availability vary across spatial and temporal scales of the water tower? Five Participatory Rural Appraisal tools were applied to understand multi-level stakeholders’ perspectives on the changes in tree-cover and water availability. Data was collected from farmers’ focus group discussions, key experts from local government offices and structured household interviews with local communities. This study focused on the upper and lower zones of the water tower, which differ in terms of proximity to Mt. Elgon National Forest Park, household water-use, elevation, and tree-cover. Results showed that there are both similarities and differences in perceptions of changes in tree cover and water availability among stakeholders. Farmers and key experts perceived a decrease in water availability and a decrease in overall tree cover for the period 1990–2020. There are differences in stakeholders’ perceptions of water availability across the zones and sub-catchments. For instance, more farmers in Sipi River Sub-catchment perceived a decrease in water availability during 2006–2020 compared to 1990–2005 period. There were notable contradictions in farmers’ and key experts’ perceptions on tree cover. Farmers’ perceptions of 1990–2020 precipitation were in agreement with trends in existing precipitation data. Declining trends of natural tree cover especially outside the Mt. Elgon national forest park pose great threat to water resources originating from forests. Changes in tree cover and water availability in the study area can be partly explained by the tree species grown. Local stakeholders’ perceptions complemented the existing data gaps in explaining the changes in tree cover and water availability. Participatory Rural Appraisal tools are helpful for documenting the perceptions of local communities. However, this cannot replace reliable data resulting from large-scale efforts for monitoring changes and variations in tree-cover and water availability. The findings of this paper can be valuable to inform strategies for community involvement in sustainable agroforested landscape management.