Livelihood loss and lower income because of peatland mismanagement are crucial issues that must be resolved in peatland areas. Although many studies have assessed farmers’ livelihoods and income enhancement, progress in addressing these problems remains inadequate. To address this issue, this study aimed to analyze various existing alternative livelihoods in the peatland community in Ogan Komering Ilir District, South Sumatra Province, Indonesia, and analyze scenarios for creating livelihoods and increasing people’s incomes through changes in peat ecosystem management and peatland restoration programs. This study used a survey method conducted in South Sumatra Province’s OKI District, one of the four priority peat-restoration districts in the province. We used three sampling stages, while descriptive, tabulated, and mathematical methods were used for analysis. We analyzed the feasibility of livelihoods that used benefit-cost analysis. The results showed that Sonor cultivation of paddies and catching fish in Rawang (swamp) were the livelihoods of farmers in peatlands. The community has also been processing peatland commodities into other products, such as Purun woven, and Gula Puan (buffalo milk processing). Several alternative livelihood scenarios that are financially profitable and can be developed include salted and smoked fish, Purun woven handicrafts, paludiculture, and agrosilvofishery, which can provide farmers with short-, medium-, and long-term income opportunities. This study can contribute to policymaking by fully considering the role of peat resources in rural livelihoods.

Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis integrasi pertumbuhan ekonomi dan penciptaan kesempatan kerjasektor pertanian. Hasil analisis bermanfaat bagi pemerintah untuk meninjau apakah kebijakan pembangunan ekonomiyang yang dilaksanakan selama ini telah mendukung penciptaan kesempatan kerja baru di sektor pertanian, apakahsektor pertanian masih mampu menciptakan kesempatan kerja baru serta bagaimanaarah pembangunan ekonomisektor pertanian ke depan untuk dapat mendukung penciptaan kesempatan kerja baru. Data yang digunakan adalahdata sekunder tahun 1977-2012 untuk variabel Produk Domestik Bruto dan kesempatan kerja sektor pertanian.Data dikumpulkan dengan metode dokumentasi. Analisis data menggunakan model Vector Autoregression (VAR).Hasil analisis menunjukkan pertumbuhan kesempatan kerja selalu berada di bawah pertumbuhan ekonomiselama kurun waktu 1977-2012 bersifat labor intensivesehingga tidak mendukung penciptaan kesempatan kerjabaru. Pertumbuhan ekonomi dan kesempatan kerja sektor pertanian tidak terintegrasi secara sempurna. Hal iniberarti tenaga kerja yang bekerja di sektor pertanian sudah berlebih dari kapasitas penyerapan sektor pertanian.Penciptaan kesempatan kerja baru di sektor pertanian ke depan hanya dapat diarahkan untuk lapangan kerja yangberkaitan dengan industrialisasi pertanian, namun hal ini harus disertai dengan peningkatan kualifikasi tenagakerja pertanian agar sesuai dipekerjakan di sektor industri.

Rice has been the staple food for most Indonesians, so the rice consumption in Indonesia is considerably high. Rice is cultivated in many agroecosystems, including tidal lowlands. Some tidal lowlands are considered suitable for rice cultivation. Therefore, tidal lowlands may support food security in Indonesia. However, productivity remains a problem in which inputs are not used efficiently. This study aims to determine the technical efficiency and identify factors affecting rice production in tidal lowlands of South Sumatra, one of main rice barns in Indonesia. A survey was conducted by interviewing 93 farmers in Telang Rejo Village. A data envelopment analysis (DEA) with output-oriented and variable returns to scale (VRS) approach was applied to measure technical efficiency score from each farm observed. An ordinary least square (OLS) regression with a Cobb-Douglass production function approach was employed to analyse the factors affecting rice production in tidal lowlands of South Sumatra, Indonesia. The results showed that majority of rice farms in the tidal lowlands of South Sumatra Indonesia were inefficient. There were 44 rice farms (47.31%) that were efficient, 5 rice farms (5.38%) that were inefficient under increasing returns to scale and 44 rice farms (47.31%) that were inefficient under decreasing returns to scale. The inputs, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilisers, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides had positive significant influences on rice production in the tidal lowlands of South Sumatra, Indonesia.

Tidal swamplands are considered the national food security platform in Indonesia. Residues from the excessive chemical input used in the rice production affecting the environment, farmers’ health, and the safety of the product. Similarly, one can expect that excessive chemical use in tidal swamplands can also threaten rice production system sustainability. This study aimed to assess and identify factors influencing the sustainability of rice farming practices in tidal swamplands of South Sumatra, Indonesia. A survey was carried out to obtain information through direct interviews with 150 farmers in Muara Telang, South Sumatra, Indonesia. The Indonesia rice check was employed as indicators to assess the sustainability of rice farming practices in tidal swamplands. A percentage index was to categorize the sustainability status. A regression analysis with the Tobit model was applied to identify factors influencing the sustainability of rice farming practices. The result showed that the average sustainability index was 25.53%. It indicated rice farming practices in tidal swamplands tend to be unsustainable. The significant factors influencing the sustainability of rice farming practices were farmer’s education and household size. A policy recommendation is proposed to enhance the implementation of sustainable agriculture practices by the rice farmers in tidal swamplands.

Impact of conversion from rice farms to oil palm plantations on socio-economic aspects of ex-migrants in Indonesia | Imron Zahri, Elisa Wildayana, Agus Thony Ak, Dessy Adriani, M. Umar Harun | Agricultural Journals

As the need for sustainable use peatlands increases, the aim of this study is to identify ways to increase the application of agrosilvofishery as an alternative to the traditional sonor system. Herein, the researchers investigate the perception of peatland degradation and the willingness to participate in agrosilvofishery among peatland residents. The researchers interviewed 228 households in Perigi Village, South Sumatra, Indonesia, and surveyed 137 peatland owners. Logistic regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between the willingness to participate in agrosilvofishery and household expenses, plans to improve peatland productivity, and knowledge regarding mixed farming in farmer and non-farmer groups. Willingness to provide labor for agrosilvofishery was positively correlated with household expenses and experience with farmer organizations. For both groups, the willingness to participate had a more substantial impact on the willingness to contribute to the agrosilvofishery financially than on the willingness to provide labor. It is imperative to consider various educational, institutional, research, and cultural factors that enable peatland agrosilvofisheries to contribute to the income and livelihood of the residents of Perigi Village. Institutional arrangements should be established, including initial capital support for restoration projects and a system involving the entire village community. This study can contribute to offering guidance for implementing agrosilvofisheries and enhance the practicality of field applications for peatland restoration.