Upland Rice and Agroforestry Strengthen Indonesia’s Social Forestry Communities
Indonesia’s Social Forestry program can become more resilient and community-centered by combining upland rice cultivation with multi-purpose tree species, according to new research by Loso Judijanto from IPOSS Jakarta. Published in 2026 in the Multitech Journal of Science and Technology, the study examines how integrating Padi Huma (upland rice) with Multi-Purpose Tree Species (MPTS) can improve food security, reduce poverty, and support forest conservation in Indonesia’s social forestry zones.
The findings are significant because Indonesia’s Social Forestry program covers millions of hectares and directly affects thousands of villages located near forest areas. The study argues that balancing food production with forest protection is one of the country’s most urgent rural development challenges. Without reliable food sources during the early years of reforestation, many farming households struggle to survive economically, increasing the risk of illegal logging and land degradation.
Social Forestry Faces a Critical Transition
Indonesia has promoted Social Forestry as a major policy to reduce poverty while protecting forests and meeting climate commitments. Through schemes such as Village Forests, Community Forests, and Customary Forests, local communities are given legal access to manage forest land.
However, the transition from traditional shifting cultivation to permanent agroforestry systems has created new problems for rural households. Farmers often depend on Padi Huma as their main staple food, while government forestry policies prioritize permanent tree cover.
The research highlights a central dilemma: communities need immediate food and income, but tree-based forestry systems take years before generating financial returns.
According to the study, integrating upland rice with Multi-Purpose Tree Species such as durian, avocado, coffee, candlenut, and petai can bridge this gap. Rice provides short-term food security, while MPTS function as long-term economic assets.
Research Reviewed More Than 40 Scientific Studies
The study used a qualitative literature review approach. Loso Judijanto analyzed more than 40 scientific articles and policy papers published mainly between 2020 and 2026.
Data were collected from major academic databases including Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry repository. The review focused on Indonesian case studies discussing social forestry, upland rice, agroforestry systems, and multi-purpose tree species.
The analysis grouped findings into three main themes:
- Economic opportunities and community welfare
- Ecological interactions and environmental sustainability
- Social and institutional dynamics
This approach allowed the study to connect agronomic realities with broader social forestry policies.
Upland Rice Serves as a “Daily Plate”
One of the study’s strongest findings is the economic importance of Padi Huma during the first years of agroforestry development.
Tree crops usually require between five and fifteen years before producing significant income. During this waiting period, upland rice acts as a subsistence safety net.
Research reviewed in the study found that households integrating upland rice into agroforestry systems reduced rice-purchasing expenses by 40–60 percent. This helped families redirect money toward healthcare, education, and other household needs.
The study also notes that families growing their own rice are less vulnerable to debt cycles with local middlemen and moneylenders during difficult seasons.
In many forest communities, Padi Huma also absorbs household labor efficiently, especially in remote villages where formal employment opportunities are limited.
MPTS Create Long-Term Economic Growth
While rice supports short-term survival, Multi-Purpose Tree Species generate long-term income and economic resilience.
The study found that mature agroforestry systems combining fruit trees and coffee often produce higher long-term economic returns than monoculture timber plantations or traditional swidden agriculture.
Examples highlighted in the review include:
- Durian-based agroforestry in Lampung
- Coffee and cacao systems in Sulawesi
- Avocado and spice-tree combinations in Java
The research reports that some successful Social Forestry Business Groups, known as KUPS, increased household incomes by up to 300 percent once MPTS reached productive stages.
Demand from Indonesia’s growing middle class has also increased the value of commodities such as avocado and durian between 2020 and 2024.
However, the study warns that farmers still face serious barriers, including:
- High startup costs for seedlings and fertilizers
- Limited market access
- Dependence on middlemen
- Weak post-harvest processing infrastructure
Without stronger institutional support, the economic benefits may remain uneven.
Environmental Benefits Come With Challenges
The study identifies important ecological benefits from combining upland rice with tree systems.
MPTS improve soil fertility by cycling nutrients from deeper soil layers through leaf litter decomposition. Tree rows also reduce soil erosion on steep slopes, lowering land degradation risks in forest regions.
The research further notes that agroforestry systems help Indonesia’s climate goals by storing more carbon than open-field agriculture.
Yet the study also highlights a major biological challenge: upland rice is highly sensitive to shade.
According to the review, rice productivity drops sharply once tree canopy cover exceeds 25–30 percent. In many cases, yields decline by 40–70 percent after several years as trees mature.
This creates what the study describes as a “time-window dilemma.” Rice can only be cultivated effectively during the early years unless tree spacing is modified.
To solve this issue, the study recommends:
- Wider alley-cropping systems with 8–12 meter spacing
- Development of shade-tolerant upland rice varieties
- Transition toward shade-loving understory crops such as ginger, cardamom, and porang as tree canopies expand
The research emphasizes that agroforestry must remain dynamic rather than relying on a static rice-tree arrangement.
Cultural Traditions Remain Central
Beyond economics and ecology, the study stresses the cultural importance of Padi Huma for indigenous communities across Indonesia.
In many Dayak, Baduy, and forest-based societies, upland rice cultivation is deeply connected to rituals, local identity, and intergenerational knowledge transfer.
The research argues that allowing rice cultivation within Social Forestry areas increases public trust and strengthens community participation in forest protection programs.
The study also highlights gender dimensions. Women often serve as custodians of upland rice seeds and planting traditions. Replacing rice entirely with commercial tree crops could marginalize women’s roles in household decision-making and weaken traditional social structures.
As Loso Judijanto explains, integrating upland rice into agroforestry systems creates a balance between “the daily plate” and “the long-term savings account,” ensuring that forest conservation does not undermine household survival.
Policy Reform Still Needed
The study concludes that Indonesia’s Social Forestry program requires stronger institutional coordination between forestry and agricultural agencies.
Farmers working in forest areas often cannot access agricultural subsidies, fertilizers, credit, or extension services because their land is legally categorized as forest rather than farmland.
The research recommends three major policy actions:
- Stronger cooperation between the Ministry of Forestry and the Ministry of Agriculture
- Official support for wide-alley agroforestry systems
- Expansion of KUPS business development, digital marketing, and post-harvest processing
The study also urges policymakers to recognize agroforestry landscapes as a distinct category rather than treating them strictly as either forest or agricultural land.
Author Profile
Loso Judijanto is a researcher affiliated with IPOSS Jakarta. His work focuses on social forestry, sustainable rural development, agroforestry systems, environmental governance, and community-based livelihood strategies in Indonesia.
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