The Potential of Agroforestry in Supporting Food Security for Peatland Community – A Case Study in the Kalampangan Village, Central Kalimantan

Abstract

Food security is one of the main problems under the pandemic and climate change condition that we currently face. Managing peatland to fulfill community needs faces several problems including peat fire, GHG emissions and loss of biodiversity. Agroforestry is one of land use systems on peatland that is capable of accommodating different interests while still concerning the conservation purposes. This study aimed to assess the potential of agroforestry for ensuring the food security of local communities. This research was carried out in the Kalampangan Village, Palangka Raya City central Kalimantan for six months. This study used both quantitative and qualitative approaches, including interviews and field observations. Interviews were carried out with 13 farmers in Kalampangan who applied an agroforestry system. The data gathered included all agroforestry components and number of the food production component. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results showed three agroforestry types were applied by the Village community Kalampangan, namely agrosilviculture, agrosilvopasture, and agrofisheries. The biodiversity of agroforestry in Kalapangan is relatively high, with a total of 58 different species identified. A total of 86% of all agroforestry components are sources of food, including fruits, vegetables, seeds, tubers, spices and livestock. The information above shows that the peatland agroforestry in the Kalampangan Village has the potential to support food security while maintaining the biodiversity. Thus, agroforestry can be recommended as a peatland land use and rehabilitation strategies to accommodate the basic needs of local communities and increasing their prosperity.

Finding Strategies for Peatland Rehabilitation; Agroforestry Systems on Various Types of Peat Depth in Three Villages in Central Kalimantan

“…The Table 3 shows that the most dominant utilization is food sources. This also indicates that agroforestry can support community food security efforts in the face of climate change and other ecological disasters (Afentina et al, 2021). The food plants cultivated by farmers have various cycles: short, medium, and long cycles.…”

“…This also indicates that the agroforestry system can support the food security of the surrounding communities. Food security is an essential issue that is one of the priorities of climate change adaptation programs (Afentina et al, 2021). The cultivation of rubber plants is one of the livelihoods of the people in the Pilang and Taruna Jaya villages.…”

Flooding tolerance of four tropical peatland tree species in a nursery trial

“…In addition, a range of fruit tree species, including Nephelium lappaceum [ 28 , 43 ] and Durio zibethinus [ 38 , 44 , 45 ], have also been planted as part of peatland restoration initiatives, particularly in agroforestry systems, where they are planted together with other tree species. While N .…”

Flooding tolerance of four tropical peatland tree species in a nursery trial

“…In addition, a range of fruit tree species, including Nephelium lappaceum [28,42] (and Durio zibethinus [37,43,44], have also been planted as part of peatland restoration initiatives, particularly in agroforestry systems, where they are planted together with other tree species.…”

“…While N. lappaceum and D. zibethinus are not naturally distributed in peat swamp forest [45,46], these two fruit tree species are commonly planted on peatlands by local communities in Central Kalimantan because they have high economic value, with strong demand from local and national markets [42,43]. However, there is a lack of information related to the conditions under which four commonly planted species should be utilized in these rewetted peatlands in Central Kalimantan.…”