The adoption of agroforestry system aims to combine food production enhancement to compensate population growth with the improvement of agricultural marketable products to increase household income. The diversification of food crop products requires more effective land use. In Gunungkidul, high-density teak (Tectona grandis) plantation has dominated many private forests. The area under the tree crown has received low light intensity, where only shade-resistant plants can survive. Tuber crops, i.e., arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea), canna (Canna edulis) and yam (Dioscorea esculenta) are shade-tolerant crops, which were planted in tree understory for supplementary food production and income generation. The cultivation under teak stand has been overlooked due to uncertainty in tuber productivity. To address this knowledge gap, the effect of teak shade (5- and 7-year teak) on the growth and yield of the three tuber crops was examined. The results indicated that both teak trial areas (with RLI 45.13% and 38.76%) were suitable for canna production (LER > 1), while management options were recommended for enhancing arrowroot and yam production. The LER of intercropped three-tuber crops under 5 years’ teak were >1, while of those under 7 years’ teak, only canna reached >1. Canna is the preferred option to be mixed in teak agroforestry systems with low light intensity due to its consistent yields, whether planted in open area or under teak shade. Silvicultural management, pruning and thinning are recommended to increase the growing space and resource sharing for intercropped plants. Land optimization in private forest understory using shade-resistant tubers will offer medium-term benefits, provided that proper silvicultural procedures are applied.

A strategy that has the potential to contribute to the achievement of the targets established under SDG 8 (“Decent Work and Economic Growth”) involves the development of sustainable tourism to create productive job and livelihood opportunities and to promote local culture and products. In the province of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Indonesia, ikat weaving is an integral part of the cultural heritage of the region, with ikat characterized by unique design motives and the use of natural dyes. Unfortunately, in some areas, the use of natural dyes is diminishing as a result of competition with synthetic dyes and the limited availability of raw materials, particularly for the production of blue dye. The development of Indigofera spp. to produce natural, plant-based blue dye has significant potential to contribute to community incomes and employment. This study outlines a strategy for developing the use of Indigofera spp. as a natural dye and describes its potential for contributing to community incomes, especially on Timor Island, NTT. The study shows that weavers currently use indigo plants that grow naturally in gardens and yards. Although the community has a tradition of using these plants, informed by local wisdom, to develop the cultivation and processing of this plant through the application of the appropriate techniques, including innovative approaches to producing indigo paste, could enable the development of Indigofera spp. cultivation on a larger scale. The study shows that the availability of suitable land is high (±370 thousand ha), with 80% of the suitable land being categorized as critical. The study proposes a development based on the analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to assess the manner in which these opportunities could be leveraged with the support and participation of local communities and other stakeholders by leveraging the culture and wisdom of the community regarding the use of Indigofera spp.