Food from the forest of Java: tropical agro-forestry experiences in feeding dwellers and keeping the environment greener

Abstract

Sixty percent of Indonesians live in Java, which in area is only around 7% of the country. As part of the global community, Indonesia has a strong endeavor to realize Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which is put as a top priority to reduce hunger and alleviate poverty by 50% by 2015. Unfortunately, the severity of global warming has locked a dream into a reality. Praxis of past and present food crops production in the forest area of Java indicates that Java is able to feed not only domestic dwellers, but also those in the outer islands and even abroad. Unfortunately, due to food crop production practices there is a detrimental effect to the forest, so its basic function as a carbon sink is disturbed. The forest area of Java is 3.3 million ha, only around 2.5% of the Indonesian forest area. Around 73% of the Java forest is managed by Perhutani (State Forest Enterprise), and the 27% remaining is maintained by civilians. Apart from cereal and grain, which is more recognized as a food source, shade tolerant root-crops have a significant advantage by their ability to produce more food in the form of starchy roots under a greener environment. Future progress of agro-forestry should be able to keep a greener forest as a carbon sink in line with providing food sufficiently for dwellers.

Cassava Productivity for Eradicating Hunger and Poverty in Rural Areas of Indonesia

“…From the beginning of the 20 th century (1905) in line with the first transmigration program, cassava was distributed in 105 households from Central Java to Lampung Sumatera. Furthermore, in conjunction with the transmigration program, cassava that recognized better adaptability under various suboptimal conditions was distributed throughout the country from Java (Widodo, 1986;Widodo, 2010;Widodo, 2011;Widodo, 2012). It was also shipped to Thailand during the King of Chulalongkorn (Rama V) after his visit to Java in 1938/39.…”

Root crops agroforestry for greening the sustainability of green revolution

“…Learning and teaching process in Farmer Field School (FFS) is relatively less talking with minimum book note, but it is more working and doing a practical workload directly in the field. At farmer circumstances, memorandum is in the form of memory banking from their trial and error, then sharing experience fairly to care each other to accomplish the harmony of the community (Widodo, 2012). The way of method and procedure to identify, characterize, describe, and understanding the newly innovation reflecting that farmers in Indonesia especially Java and Bali are categorized into risk avoider.…”

“…Under those trees, shade tolerant root crops from the family of Araceae as well as climbing yam Dioscorea sp. could be grown to contribute for additional income (Widodo, 2012).…”

“…Under plantation of rubber, oil palm, coconut, cocoa, cashew nut, candle nut, banana and plantain etc. are also possible to be utilized for root crops as under tree for mentioned above (Widodo, 2012;MacDonald, 1982). Unique phenomenon under teak as the best timber quality, shade intensity is only around 6-8 months, because entering dry season leaves senescence will provide more light to root crops grown under teak (Table 2).…”

Saminist’s Indigenous Knowledge In Water Conservation in North Karts Kendeng Sukolilo

“…Samin community still has a very strong tradition in everyday life. These communities still adhere to the teachings of their ancestors, especially the values that govern relations Samin community with the natural surroundings (Maridi, Agustina and Saputra 2014;Rohman 2010;Widodo 2012). This study gives an addition to the existing literatures on the relevance of indigenous knowledge in the modern world (Ahmad and Prashar 2010;Kurz, T Donaghue and Walker 2005;Kurz, Roberts and Rosen 2009;Ward and Pulido-Velazquez 2008;Williams, Blanco and Lal 2010).…”