Adaptive Strategies of Smallholder Farmers for Sustainable Livelihoods in Tasikmalaya

¹ Research Center of Social Welfare, Villages and Connectivity, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta, Indonesia
² Development Extension, Postgraduate Program, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: listyawatiandayani5@gmail.com

Abstract

Indonesia is an agricultural country where most of the population depends on agriculture for their livelihood. However, majority are smallholder farmers with limited access to land, capital, and resources. Adaptive strategies are adopted to cope with these constraints by involving household members in economic activities. This study analyzes smallholder farmers’ adaptive strategies for maintaining their livelihoods amid resource limitations. The research was conducted in Tasikmalaya Regency, West Java Province, using a qualitative approach involving 29 informants, categorized into key, main, and supporting groups. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis, and processed through data reduction, categorization, and interpretation to identify adaptive patterns. The results showed that small farmers’ adaptive strategies encompass three dimensions: institutional, economic, and socio-cultural. Institutional strategies include participation in farmer groups, access to subsidies, and social networks. Economic strategies include livelihood diversification, utilization of yard land, processed production, livestock, and involvement of family members to increase income. Meanwhile, socio-cultural strategies include cooperation practices, frugal lifestyles, and informal social networks. This study emphasizes the importance of government policy support for small farmers, such as technical assistance programs, production facilities, and expanded market access through multi-party partnerships to enhance and promote welfare.