Conducted throughout 2025 and officially published in 2026, the study captures how farmers respond to unpredictable weather, market volatility, and limited access to resources. Its findings matter because smallholder farmers form the backbone of Indonesia’s food system, yet remain among the most vulnerable groups facing climate change and structural inequality.
Why Community Resilience Matters Now
Across many agricultural regions, climate risks are intensifying. Rainfall patterns are shifting, pest outbreaks are becoming more frequent, and price instability continues to affect farm incomes. For smallholder farmers—who typically rely on family labor, local inputs, and narrow profit margins—these pressures can quickly turn into livelihood crises.
In Poncokusumo, a highland agricultural area known for horticulture and vegetable farming, farmers face increasing uncertainty over planting seasons and harvest outcomes. Rather than depending solely on external assistance, many communities are responding by reorganizing how they farm, share knowledge, and work together.
The research positions community resilience as a practical response to these realities. Instead of focusing only on yields or technology, resilience is understood as the ability of farming communities to adapt, reorganize, and continue producing under stress.
How the Research Was Conducted
The study uses a qualitative case study approach to capture real-world farming experiences. Data were collected through:
- In-depth interviews with 12 key informants, including smallholder farmers, farmer group leaders, agricultural extension officers, and village officials
- Direct field observations of farming practices
- Review of local agricultural program documents
This approach allows a close look at how decisions are made at the community level and how social relationships shape agricultural adaptation. Patterns were identified through systematic thematic analysis, focusing on how resilience emerges in everyday farming life.
Key Findings: Three Pathways to Resilience
The research identifies three interconnected pathways that enable community resilience in smallholder farming systems.
Together, these pathways form a locally grounded system of adaptation that strengthens both livelihoods and social cohesion.
The Strategic Role of Local Institutions
One of the study’s most significant insights is the role of local institutions in accelerating sustainable transformation. Extension officers provide hands-on guidance, while village governments help coordinate programs, distribute assistance, and ensure participation.
Dr. Rita Parmawati notes that institutional support works best when it aligns with community dynamics rather than imposing rigid solutions. From her perspective as a Universitas Brawijaya researcher, sustainable agriculture progresses faster when farmers remain active decision-makers within supportive systems.
“Community resilience grows from collective experience and trust,” Parmawati explains, emphasizing that farmers adopt innovation more effectively when it is introduced through familiar social structures.
Implications for Policy and Agricultural Development
The findings offer clear lessons for policymakers and development practitioners. Strengthening resilience requires more than short-term aid or technical fixes. Effective strategies include:
- Investing in farmer group capacity and leadership
- Expanding the role and reach of agricultural extension services
- Designing village-level programs that are flexible and participatory
- Supporting information systems that improve farmers’ access to knowledge
By focusing on community-based approaches, agricultural policy can better support climate adaptation, food security, and rural welfare at the same time.
Why This Research Stands Out
Unlike studies that focus narrowly on technology adoption, this research integrates social, economic, and institutional dimensions of farming. It shows that sustainable agricultural transformation is not only about changing practices, but also about strengthening relationships, trust, and local governance.
Although the study is based on one region, its insights are relevant to many smallholder farming systems across Indonesia and other developing countries facing similar challenges.
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