Cultivating Resilience: The Synergy of Upland Rice (Padi Huma) and Multi-Purpose Tree Species (MPTS) in Indonesia’s Social Forestry Schemes for Community Welfare
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59890/mjst.v3i4.209Keywords:
Social Forestry, Agroforestry, Upland Rice (Padi Huma), Mpts, Community Welfare, Food Security, Indonesia, Sustainable Livelihood, Forest Policy, Shifting CultivationAbstract
Indonesia’s ambitious Social Forestry program aims to alleviate poverty for communities living within and around forest areas while ensuring environmental sustainability. However, a critical gap remains in reconciling the immediate food security needs of forest farmers with long-term ecological conservation goals. This study employs a qualitative literature review to analyze the opportunities and challenges of integrating Upland Rice (Padi Huma)—a cultural staple of shifting cultivators—with Multi-Purpose Tree Species (MPTS) within Social Forestry agroforestry systems. By synthesizing data from more than 40 reputable journal articles mainly published between 2020 and 2026, this review identifies a thematic framework comprising economic resilience, ecological interactions, and socio-institutional dynamics. The results indicate that while MPTS provides a sustainable mid- to long-term income stream (the "saving account"), Padi Huma serves as a crucial short-term subsistence buffer (the "daily plate") during the initial years of tree establishment. Nevertheless, significant agronomic challenges exist regarding the shade intolerance of upland rice under closing MPTS canopies, alongside institutional bottlenecks in market access for agroforestry products. The study concludes that successful integration requires site-specific silvicultural interventions—such as widening alley cropping spacing—and robust institutional support to connect Social Forestry Business Groups (KUPS) with downstream markets. This paper contributes to the literature by moving beyond tenure-focused analysis to livelihood-based agronomic solutions
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