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TOPIC

Days by days, we move closer to a crossroad of growing population and receding ability to produce agricultural commodities. While fertile land for food production is defined as optimal land, suboptimal land is the land that is less fertile but still can be used. At a glance, it seems to cannot be used for anything – be it too wet, too dry, too acidic. Recently, though, many studies have shed light on the opportunity (and challenge) to cultivate this type of land to be a productive one.

<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Along the southern coast of Indragiri Hilir, Riau, on the eastern side of Sumatra, the soil is acid sulfate in clay form, with a naturally low pH that challenges food production, making it a type of suboptimal land for agriculture. Coconut has long been the dominant crop in this region, partly because it is one of the few crops that tolerates these conditions well, and largely because it is the one crop that the community has been cultivating through generations.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Relying mainly on one crop does come with a tradeoff. When food and income depend heavily on a single source, the community becomes more exposed to shocks such as natural soil nutrient degradation or climate-related disruptions. Despite our recognition that coconut farming remains an important basis for livelihood in the region, Tay Juhana Foundation (TJF) believes that food security can be made more resilient with more diverse, accessible food sources for the local community.<span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Integrated Agriculture System (IAS) Approach<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Among several approaches to this kind of condition, TJF explores and expands on the Integrated Agriculture System, or IAS,<a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170507001718"> </a><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170507001718"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">a concept first outlined in agricultural systems research</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">. The basic idea is that different farming and fishery enterprises, such as a rice field, a fishpond, livestock, or a home garden, can be connected so that the output of one becomes a useful input for another. Crop residue can become feed, manure can become fertilizer, and water systems can be shared across enterprises. This kind of exchange helps enterprises use resources more efficiently, reduces reliance on costly external inputs, and can make the overall system more resilient to disruption than any single enterprise on its own.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">This is not a new idea. Communities working with comparable land conditions elsewhere have applied similar integrated approaches to avoid relying on a single source of income, and to make better use of limited resources. In Bangladesh&#039;s flood-prone wetland regions, farmers who<a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.farsys.2024.100127"> </a><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.farsys.2024.100127"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">combined crop cultivation, livestock, and fish farming</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> saw improvements in both income and overall livelihood. Closer to home, a<a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://doi.org/10.32535/ijabim.v10i3.4241"> </a><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://doi.org/10.32535/ijabim.v10i3.4241"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">case study on land with similarly challenging soil conditions in Minahasa Regency</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> similarly found that integrating cattle with rice and corn farming helped make more productive use of land that conventional agriculture struggled with. For a region like southern Indragiri Hilir, where soil conditions are challenging and livelihoods are concentrated around one crop, this kind of approach offers a way to diversify food sources while making the most of what is already locally available.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">TJF tries to incorporate and explore this approach through the Food Security and Sustainability Center (FOSTER), located in Tanah Merah District, Kuala Enok, Indragiri Hilir, Riau. Under this program’s umbrella, TJF aims to work toward a more sustainable and resilient food system for communities in southern Indragiri Hilir. IAS adaptation in the FOSTER program is shaped around the specific soil, water, and community conditions of Kuala Enok. The program is designed with the hope that what is learned here can also be relevant for the local communities themselves and other regions with similar land characteristics.<img src="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/images/d67eed55-6b42-4c89-9ba8-47e7ebe54a40.png" width="1920" height="2167"><span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">A First Look: Two Projects Underway<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">As an initial step, TJF began with two projects under the FOSTER umbrella, both still in an early modelling stage.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The first is a rice cultivation project, trialing different rice varieties and soil treatments on a plot of acid sulfate land in Kuala Enok, to identify combinations that perform well under the region&#039;s acidic, dry soil conditions.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The second is an aquaculture project, exploring fish cultivation in the <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">parit<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">, the waterways that run through the area, with a focus on approaches that make use of local resources and that are realistic for the community to maintain.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">For now, these two projects are running separately, each building its own base of knowledge. As both progress, FOSTER hopes to eventually bring rice cultivation and aquaculture together into a more integrated system.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Delve deeper into the integrated vision we have outlined as well as the techniques we’ve discovered for farming in the wetlands of Indragiri Hilir through our<a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/742/01KNRMYFXM9HNA1GGBB37HBF5T.pdf"> </a><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/742/01KNRMYFXM9HNA1GGBB37HBF5T.pdf"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">TJF Research Brief</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">. We will keep you updated on the projects. Don’t forget to follow us on our <a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://instagram.com/tayjuhanafoundation"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Instagram</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> and <a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://id.linkedin.com/company/tayjuhanafoundation"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">LinkedIn</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> to stay connected!

FOSTER: Integrated Agriculture System (IAS) for Diversification and Resilience Means on Suboptimal Land

<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Indragiri Hilir, Riau, July 2026<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> – After launching its illustrated book in Jakarta among fellow organizations working on similar issues, Tay Juhana Foundation (TJF) has now brought the book back to where its story began. Between 22, 25, and 28 July 2026, TJF introduced and shared the illustrated book <a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://tayjuhanafoundation.org/resources?keyword=Serial%20Indragiri%20Hilir:%20Pak%20Kelapa%20dan%20Tanah%20Gambut&amp;page=1"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Serial dari Indragiri Hilir: Pak Kelapa dan Tanah Gambut</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> with the three communities in Indragiri Hilir, Riau, a regency on Sumatra&#039;s eastern coast, that inspired it. The launch was carried out alongside Yayasan Bahtera Dwipa Abadi (YBDA), TJF&#039;s sister foundation and co-developer of the book, reaching education communities and children in Tanah Merah District, Pulau Burung District, and Kateman District through a series of interactive forums.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The first stop was Tanah Merah District, located along the southern coast of Kabupaten Indragiri Hilir, on Wednesday, 22 July 2026. The session opened with presentations from two speakers, followed by a short talk show and an open discussion with all participants. Atin Sanita, Vice Coordinator for School Management at YBDA, spoke on contextual learning, while Dinda Sonaloka, Assistant Manager at TJF, shared the background behind the book&#039;s development.<img src="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/images/423e690e-c4d7-4632-aa87-3305b37c48a0.jpg" width="4240" height="2400"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">With representatives from schools, other learning communities, and local officials in attendance, the event received a warm response, helped along by how open TJF and YBDA were to participants&#039; input. Participants praised the book as a tool that supports contextual learning, bridging local context with research findings so that the knowledge feels close and accessible to children, the next generation of the coconut ecosystem.<img src="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/images/b2c1a60a-402d-480b-8f15-2e704165d826.png" width="1920" height="1080"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">To the north of the regency, the second stop took the launch to Pulau Burung District, folded into YBDA&#039;s Pompong Pintar program that already runs nearly every week. On Saturday, 25 July 2026, the team from both organizations traveled to Kawasan Kebun Induk I by <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">pompong<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> (the local term for a kind of wooden boat) and spent the day with around 30 children from the area. The session combined a book distribution, a group reading, and a puppet show as its closing activity.<img src="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/images/8e6239c1-b9e5-44cc-9281-f8529d1075cd.jpg" width="4240" height="2400"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Through this activity, both organizations saw firsthand how children responded to a story set in a landscape they recognized as their own. That recognition showed clearly in how excited they got seeing the book&#039;s characters riding bicycles among the coconut trees. Making puppets for the show also drew strong interest and letting the children draw the characters themselves gave them room to shape their own understanding of the story.<img src="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/images/66fd92cf-d7dc-4045-8744-c5f614551bd0.png" width="1920" height="1080"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Still in the northern part of the regency and not far from the second location, the final stop brought TJF and YBDA to Desa Air Tawar, Kateman District, at the public facility Taman Hijau. Held on Tuesday, 28 July 2026, the event paired the same interactive discussion format used in Tanah Merah for adult guests with a parallel reading group for children. As with the two earlier events, the response was warm. TJF and YBDA came away with plenty of input and support for the book&#039;s next steps, from new themes worth exploring to how the book is packaged, further collaboration and follow-up, and wider distribution.<img src="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/images/5b65f639-c116-4393-8b5f-d9cc0bd8f93d.png" width="1297" height="1080"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">By bringing the book back to the places that inspired it, TJF and YBDA have opened a new path forward. TJF, as a research institution, and YBDA, as a community empowerment organization, can keep strengthening resilience support for local communities in Indragiri Hilir, Riau. Beyond sharing research findings with a broader audience, the book is also meant to build readers&#039; reasoning skills, helping them not only understand the specific context within its pages but also adapt to today&#039;s increasingly uncertain climate.<img src="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/images/7afb8862-94a4-4bb2-a78c-bb99799c2441.png" width="1274" height="1080"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Read more about the illustrated book Serial dari Indragiri Hilir: Pak Kelapa dan Tanah Gambut through <a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://tayjuhanafoundation.org/resources?keyword=Serial%20Indragiri%20Hilir:%20Pak%20Kelapa%20dan%20Tanah%20Gambut&amp;page=1"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">this link</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">, and stay tuned for more coverage of these three events on Tay Juhana Foundation&#039;s YouTube channel. Follow us on <a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://instagram.com/tayjuhanafoundation"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Instagram</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> and <a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://id.linkedin.com/company/tayjuhanafoundation"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">LinkedIn</a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> to keep up with how we&#039;re thinking about environmental adaptation and food resilience in Indragiri Hilir, Riau.

A Story Returns Home through Illustrated Book Launch Across Three Communities in Indragiri Hilir

Bringing Peatland Farmers' Knowledge to the Classroom: TJF Launches Illustrated Book from Indragiri Hilir

Three Storms, One Farm: Wetland Agriculture Under Indonesia's Converging Crises

From Hormuz to Home Gardens: What Women Farmers Teach Us About Food System Resilience

Ramadan is one moment that is deeply anticipated by Muslim communities around the world, including in Indonesia. During this month, food becomes more than a daily necessity. It reflects culture, togetherness, and living traditions that connect communities across generations.As the sun sets, iftar tables across the archipelago tell different stories. In one region, families gather around bowls of kolak; in another, papeda or boiled sweet potatoes are served. Traditional market snacks, seasonal fruits, and local dishes that appear only at certain times of the year fill homes and streets alike. Without us always realizing it, these meals reveal an important truth: food diversity is neither distant nor difficult to achieve. It already lives within Indonesian society, shaped by diverse cultures, landscapes, and local wisdom across regions.Yet behind this abundance lies a question that often goes unnoticed: how resilient is the food system that sustains Indonesia&#039;s everyday meals?This question may feel far removed from the warmth of a full iftar table. But for many communities across Indonesia, it is a matter of long-term food security.A <a href="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/702/01KJC53TZ43TYAQH2K48RAEX6D.pdf">2020 TJF Brief</a> highlighted one stark example. In 2018, Asmat Regency experienced a hunger crisis that led to severe malnutrition and claimed 71 lives. The crisis was closely linked to heavy dependence on a single staple commodity, rice, without alternative carbohydrate sources as a buffer. Although Asmat is not a rice-producing region, reliance on rice had gradually displaced traditional food systems based on sago and tubers. When rice supplies declined and distribution chains faltered, the region faced acute food vulnerability.Asmat is not an isolated case. Many regions in Indonesia depend heavily on long and fragile food distribution chains, particularly areas that do not produce their own staple foods and rely primarily on a single commodity such as rice.This situation is rooted in historical policy choices. During the New Order era in the 1970s, national food self-sufficiency efforts focused heavily on rice production. Large-scale development of rice-growing centers across the country shaped public perception and firmly positioned rice as Indonesia&#039;s primary staple. Consumption patterns shifted accordingly. By 2010, rice dominance had strengthened while many local food sources became increasingly marginalized. Although food diversification initiatives were introduced, including Presidential Instruction No. 20 of 1979, their implementation struggled to balance the much stronger policy emphasis on rice self-sufficiency.<h2>Strengthening Food Security Through Diversification</h2>Recent crises have demonstrated that food security is not defined solely by high production levels. It also depends on the diversity of food sources and the accessibility of food at the local level. Food diversification that prioritizes local production therefore becomes a key strategy for strengthening national food resilience. By reducing dependence on a single commodity, diversification helps lower vulnerability to supply disruptions and external shocks.The <a href="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/702/01KJC53TZ43TYAQH2K48RAEX6D.pdf">2020 TJF Brief</a> identifies two complementary approaches: horizontal and vertical diversification. Horizontal diversification expands the variety of staple crops, for example by increasing the production of cassava and sweet potatoes alongside rice. Vertical diversification focuses on how commodities are processed and utilized. Tubers, for instance, can be developed into chips, flour, or other food products rather than sold solely as raw harvests. Beyond enriching dietary diversity, vertical diversification also creates opportunities for added economic value for farmers and local communities.<h2>How ready is Indonesia to advance these approaches?</h2>Indonesia already holds strong potential. The country has significant opportunities to develop sago, sorghum, cassava, and sweet potatoes as viable alternatives to rice-based carbohydrates. Indonesia is home to approximately 83 percent of the world&#039;s sago forests. At the same time, many suboptimal lands are already being cultivated by local communities as alternative food sources, although these initiatives often lack sufficient policy support.Positive signals are also emerging from society itself. Nationally, demand for fish, meat, fruits, and vegetables continues to increase each year, indicating growing openness toward more diverse and nutritious diets. In Papua, communities are returning to sago consumption, while in East Nusa Tenggara, sorghum is gradually reappearing on dining tables. Local food traditions that were once marginalized are slowly reclaiming their place. What is needed now is systematic government support through policies that recognize and value the diversity of local food systems across regions.Table 1. Opportunities for Alternative Staple Foods to Replace Rice and Wheat<img src="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/images/19aa88bf-df88-4e9e-9ef5-ef5e5db6c54f.png" alt="Table of alternative staple food opportunities">Source: Adapted from Ministry of Agriculture data (2018)Food diversity has long been part of Indonesian society. The challenge today is not to create it from scratch, but to protect and strengthen what already exists. This requires policies that support local food production, improve equitable access, and recognize that true food resilience cannot depend on a single commodity. Each Ramadan reminds us that diversity is a source of strength. It is time for Indonesia&#039;s food system to reflect that same principle.Tay Juhana Foundation remains committed to supporting the sustainable development of suboptimal lands into productive landscapes as part of broader efforts to strengthen Indonesia&#039;s food resilience. Learn more about our programs and research through our <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tayjuhanafoundation/?hl=en">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://id.linkedin.com/company/tayjuhanafoundation">LinkedIn</a> platforms.

Diversity at the Iftar Table: Why Indonesia’s Food Resilience Is Not Just About Rice

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">In the Indragiri Hilir Regency, often referred to as Inhil, farming has long been more than a livelihood. It is a way of life. For generations, communities here have relied on agriculture, even though nearly 90 percent of the land is peat, an ecosystem widely known for being challenging to cultivate. Peat soil is formed from layers of ancient plant material that have accumulated over thousands of years in waterlogged areas and have not fully decomposed. This makes peat soils consistently moist and generally less fertile for conventional farming. Yet rather than turning away from these conditions, communities in Inhil have continued to adapt, learning how to live and farm in close relationship with peat landscapes.<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Cultivating peat requires more careful and intensive management than most other soil types. One key aspect is regulating the water level so the soil is not overly saturated. In practice, however, the most common approach has been to drain peatlands completely to make them cultivable. This method can significantly increase the risk of fires and trigger the release of large amounts of stored carbon, posing environmental consequences, especially in the context of today’s climate crisis.<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">This brings us to a crucial question: how can communities in Inhil sustain their livelihoods while also safeguarding the ecosystems that support them?<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Local agricultural activity and peatland conservation are not mutually exclusive. When approached responsibly, they can move forward together. <a href="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/691/01KHJAAQV7DM7YV27S7TGGN2M2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Research</a> conducted by Tay Juhana Foundation, or TJF, highlights two key considerations.<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">First, peat characteristics matter. Peatlands with a depth of less than three meters tend to present lower environmental risks for cultivation. The composition of the peat is also important. Areas where the peat has partially to fully decomposed and sits atop a clay layer are generally more suitable for farming. While deeper peat can sometimes be cultivated under specific conditions, these areas carry higher ecological risks and are better prioritized for conservation.<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Second, water management is essential. Peat behaves much like a giant sponge. It absorbs and retains water easily, remaining wet for long periods, but can also dry out quickly in the absence of rainfall. For farming purposes, peat needs to be slightly drier, but not completely drained. Total drainage not only stresses crops by reducing available moisture, it also increases environmental vulnerability. The more sustainable approach is careful water regulation, ensuring the soil is neither too wet nor too dry.<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">In Pulau Burung, this principle has been put into practice through a canal network known as <a href="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/451/alleviating-peatland-fire-risk-using-water-management-trinity-and-community-involvement.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Water Management Trinity (WMT)</a>. Here, canals are not designed to drain the land entirely, but to regulate groundwater levels through a system of water gates. Water can be stored during dry seasons and safely released to rivers or the sea during periods of heavy rain. <a href="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/691/01KHJAAQV7DM7YV27S7TGGN2M2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TJF&#039;s research</a> indicates that peat subsidence in plantation areas under this system can be minimized to below two centimeters per year. By comparison, peat subsidence in other common agricultural areas typically ranges between 2.4 to 7.4 centimeters per year.<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">In addition, and contrary to common assumptions, certain food crops have been introduced in some areas as part of efforts to rehabilitate degraded peatlands. <a href="https://be.tayjuhanafoundation.org/storage/691/01KHJAAQV7DM7YV27S7TGGN2M2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TJF&#039;s findings</a> show that rice is among the initial alternatives. This approach has also been implemented by Badan Restorasi Gambut dan Mangrove, or BRGM, in Papua, where peat restoration initiatives include planting rice and sago as part of ecosystem recovery efforts.<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">By aligning farming practices more closely with ecological conditions, peat-based agricultural livelihoods can continue in a way that strengthens both community resilience and local food security. Importantly, these efforts are not driven by outside intervention alone, but also by farmers in Indragiri Hilir who are actively adapting, blending local wisdom with evolving environmental realities.<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Keep up with TJF&#039;s latest insights on sustainable peatland agriculture, particularly in Indragiri Hilir, on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tayjuhanafoundation/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://id.linkedin.com/company/tayjuhanafoundation" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">LinkedIn</a>.

Farming with Peatlands: Reflection from Indragiri Hilir

<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">How can Indonesia’s coconut supply chains become more sustainable and resilient?<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">This research examines the complex dynamics of coconut agriculture in Indragiri Hilir, Riau, where smallholder farmers operate across peatland and tidal landscapes. Using a socio-ecological systems framework, the study explores how farmers, middlemen, processing industries, local institutions, infrastructure, and ecological conditions interact to shape the sustainability and resilience of the coconut supply chain.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Based on in-depth interviews with 75 informants across eight districts, the research identifies emerging practices and adaptations within the supply chain, including industrial collecting points, changing relationships between farmers and middlemen, collaborative initiatives, and efforts to strengthen farmers’ autonomy and benefits.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The study highlights that building a sustainable and resilient coconut supply chain requires more than economic efficiency. It depends on understanding the interconnected social, economic, and ecological factors that shape how the system functions and adapts to change.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Download the full research article to explore the dynamics shaping coconut agriculture and its supply chain in Indragiri Hilir.

Exploring Supply Chain Sustainability and Resilience in Coconut Agriculture: The Case of Indragiri Hilir, Indonesia

<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">We are pleased to introduce <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Indragiri Hilir Series: Pak Kelapa dan Tanah Gambut<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">, an illustrated book that brings readers closer to the unique relationship between people, peatlands, and sustainable agriculture in Indragiri Hilir.<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Through engaging storytelling and illustrations, this book introduces the role of traditional <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">parit<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> systems, local knowledge, and sustainable water management in supporting both community livelihoods and healthy peatland ecosystems. Designed to make complex environmental topics more accessible, it offers an enjoyable way to learn about the importance of living in harmony with nature.<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Download the illustrated book through the file available on this page and discover the story behind sustainable peatland agriculture.

Serial Indragiri Hilir: Pak Kelapa dan Tanah Gambut

<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Global food systems are facing mounting pressures, from fertilizer supply disruptions and geopolitical tensions to growing concerns over long-term resource security. These challenges highlight the need for agricultural systems that are more resilient and less dependent on increasingly uncertain external inputs.<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The June 2026 edition of the TJF Research Brief examines these global dynamics through lessons from wetland agriculture in Indragiri Hilir, Indonesia. By exploring sustainable nutrient management and locally adapted farming practices, the brief highlights how resilience can be built by working with ecological processes rather than relying solely on external resources.<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Discover how local experience can offer valuable insights for strengthening food security in an increasingly uncertain world. Download the full TJF Research Brief through the file available on this page.

TJF Research Brief | Wetland Agriculture Amid the Global Phosphorus Crisis: Lessons from Indragiri Hilir

<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">The June 2026 edition of TJF Commentary examines how a weakening rupiah can expose deeper vulnerabilities within Indonesia&#039;s food system. Beyond rising food prices, the issue highlights broader challenges related to import dependency, agricultural productivity, and long-term food resilience.<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Drawing on recent economic developments and food system dynamics, this commentary explores why strengthening domestic production, optimizing suboptimal lands, and supporting climate-resilient local food sources are essential for building a more resilient future.<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Download the full TJF Commentary through the file available on this page.

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FOSTER: Integrated Agriculture System (IAS) for Diversification and Resilience Means on Suboptimal Land

A Story Returns Home through Illustrated Book Launch Across Three Communities in Indragiri Hilir

Bringing Peatland Farmers' Knowledge to the Classroom: TJF Launches Illustrated Book from Indragiri Hilir

Three Storms, One Farm: Wetland Agriculture Under Indonesia's Converging Crises

Diversity at the Iftar Table: Why Indonesia’s Food Resilience Is Not Just About Rice

Farming with Peatlands: Reflection from Indragiri Hilir

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FOSTER: Integrated Agriculture System (IAS) for Diversification and Resilience Means on Suboptimal Land

A Story Returns Home through Illustrated Book Launch Across Three Communities in Indragiri Hilir

Bringing Peatland Farmers' Knowledge to the Classroom: TJF Launches Illustrated Book from Indragiri Hilir

Three Storms, One Farm: Wetland Agriculture Under Indonesia's Converging Crises

Diversity at the Iftar Table: Why Indonesia’s Food Resilience Is Not Just About Rice

Farming with Peatlands: Reflection from Indragiri Hilir

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