Pineapple is an economically valuable horticultural commodity that can be sold fresh or processed into juice, jam, syrup, and other products. For farmers working on dry land, however, long-term sustainability depends on several interconnected conditions. Income and production are only part of the picture. Social cooperation, local knowledge, environmental management, access to technology, and institutional support can determine whether farming remains productive and resilient over time.
The University of Mataram researchers examined pineapple farming in Masbagik and Pringgasela districts of East Lombok. The study covered Lendang Nangka, North Lendang Nangka, Jurit, and Pringgasela Induk villages. The researchers collected information from 40 farmers, consisting of 28 men and 12 women, while also considering information from agricultural extension workers, farmer-group leaders, traders or collectors, and relevant government agencies.
The assessment combined qualitative and quantitative information and evaluated pineapple farming across six dimensions: economic, social, cultural, environmental, technological, and institutional. The researchers used Multi-aspect Sustainability Analysis to produce an overall sustainability index and identify the factors that most strongly influence sustainability in each dimension.
Overall Sustainability Reaches 67.46
The most important finding is an overall sustainability index of 67.46, placing dryland pineapple farming in East Lombok in the sustainable category. However, the results also reveal substantial differences between individual dimensions.
The six dimensions produced the following scores:
- Cultural: 85.00 — very sustainable
- Social: 70.83 — sustainable
- Environmental: 71.43 — sustainable
- Institutional: 65.00 — moderately sustainable
- Economic: 62.50 — moderately sustainable
- Technological: 50.00 — less sustainable
The cultural dimension was the strongest, while technology was the weakest. The researchers therefore describe pineapple farming in East Lombok as sustainable but still in a transitional stage toward stronger overall sustainability.
Local knowledge is one of the strongest foundations of the farming system. Farmers continue to maintain local pineapple varieties and use traditional knowledge in seed selection, planting, and land management. Family involvement and women's participation also contribute to the cultural dimension, although women's participation remains an area requiring greater attention.
The social dimension also shows considerable strength. Family involvement, cooperation among farmers, and long farming experience support the continuity of pineapple production. However, access to training remains limited, restricting opportunities for farmers to adopt new practices and technologies.
Technology Is the Biggest Challenge
Technology represents the clearest weakness in East Lombok's pineapple farming system. The technological sustainability score was only 50.00, the lowest among all six dimensions. Many farmers continue to depend on traditional methods for land preparation, planting, and crop maintenance. Modern equipment and post-harvest technologies are also limited.
The leverage analysis identified technology availability, the use of cultivation and post-harvest equipment, and post-harvest technology as the most influential technological factors. This suggests that improving access to appropriate agricultural tools and post-harvest facilities could have a significant effect on the overall sustainability of pineapple farming.
Women and Young Farmers Matter for the Future
Implications for Farmers and Policymakers
The findings have practical implications for local agricultural development. Government agencies can expand access to appropriate farming and post-harvest technologies, strengthen farmer organizations, improve extension services, develop wider marketing networks, and expand access to agricultural financing.
For farmers, the researchers recommend greater participation in training and farmer groups, adoption of efficient and environmentally friendly cultivation technologies, diversification of processed pineapple products, and more systematic financial management. These measures could help increase product value and strengthen income stability.
The study also points to opportunities for stronger collaboration between government, universities, extension institutions, farmers, cooperatives, private businesses, and marketing organizations. Such cooperation could accelerate innovation while connecting pineapple farmers with larger markets and better production resources.
Author Profile
Syafira Rifalya Pratiwi is the lead author and is affiliated with the Master Program of Dryland Agriculture, Postgraduate, University of Mataram. IGL Parta Tanaya and Hayati are co-authors from the same academic program and institution. Their work focuses on dryland agriculture and the sustainability of pineapple farming, including economic, social, cultural, environmental, technological, and institutional dimensions. The journal article does not provide the academic degrees of the authors, so no degree titles are added here.
Research Source
The study concludes that pineapple farming on dry land in East Lombok already has a sustainable foundation, particularly through strong local culture, social relationships, and environmental practices. The next challenge is to turn that foundation into a more productive and resilient farming system by improving technology, market access, institutional capacity, women's participation, and farmer regeneration.
0 Komentar