The findings are particularly relevant as Indonesia continues to promote porang (Amorphophallus muelleri) as a high-value export commodity. While global demand for porang has increased because of its glucomannan-rich tubers used in the food, pharmaceutical, and industrial sectors, farmers continue to face delayed financial returns, volatile market prices, and climate-related production risks. Understanding how rural households adapt to these challenges is essential for designing policies that strengthen agricultural resilience and improve rural welfare.
High-Value Crop with High Uncertainty
Porang has become one of Indonesia's promising commercial crops due to its growing international market. However, unlike many annual crops, porang requires a relatively long cultivation period before harvest, delaying income for farming households.
In addition to the long production cycle, farmers must cope with fluctuating market prices, varying soil conditions, weather uncertainty, and inconsistent access to buyers. These factors create financial vulnerability, particularly for smallholder farmers who depend heavily on agricultural income.
According to the researchers from Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar, successful porang farmers do not rely on a single commodity. Instead, they create multiple income streams that reduce economic risk while maintaining household welfare.
Research Conducted Among Porang Farming Households
The research was carried out in Bontolempangan Village, Gowa Regency, using a qualitative case study approach involving 10 porang farming households.
The research team collected information through direct field observations, in-depth interviews with household members, and documentation of farming activities. The findings were then analyzed using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, which examines how households combine available resources and income sources to strengthen resilience against economic and environmental shocks.
Three Livelihood Strategies Help Farmers Stay Resilient
The study identified three major livelihood strategies adopted by porang farming households.
1. Improving Agricultural Production
Farmers increase productivity by improving planting materials, optimizing land management, and expanding cultivation areas.
Besides porang, they cultivate additional crops such as:
- Maize
- Rice
- Turmeric
- Elephant grass for livestock feed
These crops provide more frequent income while farmers wait for porang harvests.
2. Diversifying Household Income
Most households earn income from multiple occupations rather than depending solely on farming.
Additional sources of income include:
- Construction work
- Membership in the Village Consultative Body (BPD)
- Bamboo handicraft production
- Cattle raising
These activities generate regular cash flow and reduce dependence on seasonal agricultural income.
3. Temporary Migration and Spatial Diversification
Some household members temporarily work outside the village and send remittances home.
This strategy helps families cover daily expenses, finance agricultural activities, and reduce financial pressure during periods when farm income is delayed.
Maize Provides Continuous Cash Flow
One of the study's most significant findings is the important role of maize in supporting household finances.
Because porang requires a long growing period, farmers plant maize throughout the year to generate quicker returns. Part of the harvest is consumed by the family, while the remainder is sold in local markets.
The researchers describe maize as a cash-flow bridge, enabling households to meet everyday expenses until porang is harvested.
Meanwhile, rice serves a dual purpose by supporting household food security while generating additional income through surplus sales.
Livestock Functions as Household Savings
The research also highlights the importance of cattle raising as part of rural livelihood strategies.
Rather than serving only as an agricultural enterprise, livestock functions as a liquid financial asset that can be sold during emergencies, including healthcare costs, education expenses, or unexpected household needs.
This approach enables families to maintain financial flexibility without relying entirely on crop income.
Bamboo Crafts Create Additional Rural Income
Beyond farming, some households produce traditional bamboo handicrafts using locally available materials.
Products such as winnowing baskets (pa'dinding) and traditional farmer hats (saraung) are sold in local markets, providing additional income when agricultural prices decline.
The study suggests that utilizing local natural resources through small-scale rural enterprises can strengthen household resilience while encouraging sustainable economic development.
Policy Support Remains Essential
Although farming households have demonstrated remarkable adaptability, the researchers emphasize that long-term resilience also depends on institutional support.
They recommend that local governments and development agencies strengthen rural livelihoods through:
- Agricultural training and technical assistance
- Improved access to farming technology
- Better financing opportunities
- Stronger farmer organizations and village institutions
- Expanded market access for porang and other agricultural products
Such interventions would enable farming households to diversify income more effectively while supporting Indonesia's growing porang industry.
As Nurwahidah, Jumiati, Nadir, Amruddin, and Firmansyah of Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar explain, resilient livelihood systems are built by integrating agricultural production with off-farm and non-farm activities. Combining these income sources allows households to stabilize earnings, manage delayed returns from porang cultivation, and reduce vulnerability to market and environmental uncertainty.
Author Profile
Nurwahidah is a researcher at Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar whose work focuses on rural development and agricultural livelihoods.
Jumiati, the corresponding author, is a lecturer and researcher at Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar, Makassar City, South Sulawesi. Her expertise includes agricultural economics, rural development, sustainable livelihoods, and agribusiness.
Nadir, Amruddin, and Firmansyah are researchers from Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar specializing in agribusiness, rural economic development, agricultural sustainability, and community resilience.
Source
Article Title: Livelihood Strategies of Porang Farming Households in Bontolempangan Village, Bontolempangan Sub-district, Gowa Regency, Indonesia
Authors: Nurwahidah, Jumiati, Nadir, Amruddin, Firmansyah
University: Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar, Makassar City, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Journal: Indonesian Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Analytics (IJAEA)
Volume: 5(2), 2026, pp. 271–290
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