Agroforestry has been practiced for decades and is undoubtedly an important source of income for Indonesian households living near forests. However, there are still many cases of poverty among farmers due to a lack of ability to adopt advanced technology. This literature review aims to identify the characteristics and factors causing the occurrence of agricultural subsistence and analyze its implications for the level of farmer welfare and the regional forestry industry. The literature analysis conducted reveals that small land tenure, low literacy rates, and lack of forest maintenance are the main causes of the subsistence of small agroforestry farmers. Another reason is that subsistence-oriented agroforestry practices are considered a strong form of smallholder resilience. All of these limitations have implications for low land productivity and high-sawn timber waste from community forests. To reduce the subsistence level of farmers, government intervention is needed, especially in providing managerial assistance packages, capital assistance, and the marketing of forest products. Various agroforestry technologies are available but have not been implemented consistently by farmers. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an integrated collaboration between researchers, farmers, and regionally owned enterprises (BUMD) to increase access to technology and markets. Although it is still difficult to realize, forest services, such as upstream–downstream compensation and carbon capture, have the potential to increase farmer income.

Limited agricultural land areas combined with increasing demands for food require breakthroughs in land use development using agroforestry systems. Intercropping root crops with trees could be an alternative for food production in forest areas. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott) farming on dry land within 12- and 42-year-old teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) forests to support local food security. The feasibility assessment took into account both productivity and socio-economic aspects. The agroforestry land productivity was measured using the land equivalent ratio (LER), and our analysis of the cocoyam farming within the teak stands was carried out using the revenue/cost ratio (R/C) at the demonstration plot scale. Furthermore, we also surveyed farmers’ perceptions of the production of cocoyam for food security. The results showed that the R/C values of cocoyam tuber production in agroforestry systems were lower than 1. However, the production rates of cocoyam tubers in the 12-year-old teak stand (48.3% light intensity) and the 42-year-old teak stand (62.5% light intensity) were 2.64 and 2.76 tons/ha, respectively. The overall yields from the teak and cocoyam agroforestry systems were more profitable than those of the monoculture system, as indicated by the LER values of 1.61 and 1.85. Cocoyam production was socially acceptable (77% of respondents) as a smallholder subsistence agroforestry practice to meet food demand. Increasing cocoyam productivity in teak forests requires the adoption of agroforestry silvicultural technology to achieve food security for rural communities. To increase their farming production and income, farmers could apply intensive silvicultural practices. Governmental support that could be provided includes encouraging product diversification and providing assistance for the processing and marketing of cocoyam products.

Acacia mangium Willd. is a fast-growing tree commonly used in pulp and paper production. Despite extensive planting, there is a need for genetic improvement to enhance wood properties for better pulp output. This study assessed genetic variations in moisture content, pilodyn penetration, specific gravity, fiber length, cell wall thickness, lumen diameter, and cellulose content in a third-generation progeny test of A. mangium in South Sumatra, involving 52 families. Averages for 3-year-old A. mangium were as follows: pilodyn penetration at 11.22 mm, moisture content at 117.18%, specific gravity at 0.44, fiber length at 1.01 mm, and alpha cellulose at 68.03%. Phenotypic variation of wood properties ranged from 3.53% to 19.62%, while genotypic variation was between 1.83% and 9.91%. There was a strong genetic correlation between pilodyn penetration and wood properties (specific gravity, holocellulose, and alpha cellulose) with individual heritability of wood properties estimates (h2i) from 0.09 to 0.37. Significant family differences were found in pilodyn penetration, specific gravity, fiber length, holocellulose, and alpha cellulose, with genetic gains of wood properties between 1.78% and 9.72%.

Pesantren merupakan suatu komunitas sosial yang cukup dominan dalam mengatur tata kehidupan masyarakatnya dalam menghadapi kehidupan sehingga dapat memberikan arahan dan pedoman. Komponen pesantren terdiri dari: pondok, mesjid, satri, kitab Islam klasik, dan faktor dominan adalah Kyai. Kyai yang kharismatik serta adanya norma merupakan suatu kekuatan yang menonjol di pesantren, yang dapat dimanfaatkan dalam kegiatan RHL. Apalagi kegiatan RHL diutamakan adalah massa yang banyak untuk melaksanakan gerakan rehabilitasi hutan dan lahan, salah satunya hutan rakyat. Lokasi pesantren umumnya berada di pedesaan sekitar hutan, sehingga dapat memberdayakan masyarakat sekitarnya. Hal tersebut menjadi dasar melibatkan pesantren agar berperan aktif dalam upaya pelestarian dan pemeliharaan lingkungan seperti menanami lahan yang dimilikinya untuk menghijaukan wilayah sekitarnya, sekaligus bisa memperoleh pendapatan dari kayunya. Maka perlu diuraikan peranan serta keunggulan komparatif yang dimiliki pesantren dalam kegiatan RHL. Kegiatan penelitian ini dilaksanakan di Pesantren Luhur Al-wasilah (Kabupaten Garut, Kecamatan Cibiuk Desa Majasari) serta Pesantren Cintawana (Kabupaten Tasikmalaya Kecamatan Tanjungjaya Desa Cilolohan) dilaksanakan bulan Mei Desember 2007. Unit Analisisnya adalah pondok pesantren dengan responden Kyai (2 orang), pengurus pesantren (6 orang) dan santri sebanyak 29 orang. Data dikumpulkan dengan metode wawancara menggunakan kuisioner, selanjutnya dianalisis secara deskriptif. Hasil analisis menunjukan bahwa pesantren terlibat pada kegiatan kehutanan sebagai pelaksana pembuatan persemaian, dan fasilitator memediasi antara petani dengan pihak swasta dan pemerintah. Keunggulan komparatif yang dimiliki pesantren terbagi atas aspek jaringan kerja, sumber daya manusia, sosial, demografi dan ekonomi.

Achmad B, Diniyati D. 2018. The income structure of smallholder forest farmers in rural Sumbawa, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 19: 936-946. This research investigated the economic well-being of forest farmers in Labuhan Badas Village, Sumbawa regency of Indonesia. It aimed: (i) to describe the daily economic activities of community-based forest (HKm) farmers who reside inside the state forest and of farmers in privately owned forest (POF) who reside outside the state forest areas; and (ii) to analyse their income structure in relation to the corresponding economic activities. The research was conducted from August 2015 to April 2016. The survey sample consisted of 34 HKm and 34 POF farmers who were selected purposively. Data collected through interview and focus group discussion techniques were analyzed descriptively. The research determined that the incomes of HKm farmers were generated from14 sources, mainly from activities in the non-agricultural sector, while those for POF farmers were generated from 12 sources mainly from activities in the agricultural sector. The total income of HKm farmers was significantly lower than the income of POF farmers and indicated a moderate level of economic disadvantage. The economic welfare of farmers in both research locations has been assessed to be below an adequate level. Therefore various economic innovations such as the cultivation of honey bees and the processing of unused potential resources (e.g. making wine from cashew fruit) are needed to accelerate the attainment of a decent level of economic well-being

Rush farming among novice farmers because of incomplete information on konjac crop management needs further investigation. Nonetheless, the rush in West Java province has positively impacted farmers and rural economic improvement. This study is intended to identify the factors responsible for the farming of konjac, its implications, and the necessary response. The survey was conducted in Jelegong, Ciamis district, West Java province, using the triangulation method to interview 37 farmers. The finding was that rush farming was triggered by the misinterpretation of incomplete information on cultivation technology and the inaccurate projection of market demand due to excessive forecasting of profits. This rush is probably a phenomenon that is supposed to be maintained carefully because such farming still provides additional income and does not require specific skills. The rush also successfully attracted the interest of new investors to be involved in the konjac business and government attention in distributing various incentives. Despite the rush stimulating economic growth in the village, it threatens the supply of other agricultural commodities because konjac has replaced other crops on the same land. This research also found that there are two types of konjac farming in rural society, i.e., (i) cultivating konjac without shade, which is better suited to smallholder farmers with less capital and less maintenance, and (ii) cultivating konjac in the shade, which is better suited to rich farmers or industries requiring intensive maintenance. Therefore, we suggest that the government issue a map about the site suitability of various crops for the West Java region, allowing farmers to seek advice on the appropriate crop types to grow by region. To meet future demand, it is necessary to combine traditional knowledge, mainly on collecting corms (ngabolang) and planting methods, with scientific knowledge.