Learning from Tradition: Agroforestry in Indragiri Hilir and Beyond

Since the early 20th century, the tropical peatland community in Indragiri Hilir (Inhil), Riau has relied on coconut monoculture farming to make ends meet. Over time, coconut has grown into more than just a crop—it has been filled with cultural values and economic lifelines. But this long-standing dependence on monoculture farming has left farmers increasingly vulnerable. Price fluctuations in the coconut market and the mounting impacts of climate change now threaten their livelihoods and food security.

In response to these challenges, we are exploring agroforestry—a system that, in this case, combines peat-friendly crops with coconut farming—in our ongoing research. Through this system, the community can maximize the land productivity, safeguard farmers’ economic stability, while also maintaining the ecological sustainability of the land itself.

Agroforestry Challenges in Indragiri Hilir

Tropical peatlands are among the world’s largest carbon sinks, and, surely, cultivating them comes with risks. Yet, for generations, communities across Indonesia have depended on these fragile ecosystems for food and livelihoods. For instance, our research brief shared that the Dayak people in Kalimantan and Malay people in Sumatra have long practiced small-scale peatland farming and sago planting. In Riau, local communities also cultivate sago and purun on peatlands for living.

These examples show that peatlands can potentially support community resilience through agriculture-based food production. However, it is also still important to note that without careful management, peatlands are highly vulnerable to degradation and carbon emissions—risks that are only intensifying under climate change. 

Building on these lessons, we look closer at Inhil’s case to explore agroforestry as one strategy to support community livelihoods and safeguard peatland ecosystems, compared with monoculture farming. However, during the process, we found that agroforestry is still unpopular to the peatland farmers in the area. This is partly because coconut monoculture has been deeply rooted in the local farming traditions for over a century. When agroforestry is practiced in Inhil, it is often shaped by economic considerations, rather than its ecological functions. Meanwhile, it is quite a challenge to find suitable crops for peat soils’ wet and acidic nature that also sells in the market. So far, only a handful of crops—such as areca nut, banana, cassava, pineapple, and occasionally liberica coffee—are considered both viable on peatlands and profitable in the market.

Traditional Agroforestry Practices Across Indonesia

Despite these hurdles, our findings also highlight potentials in the integration of the agroforestry system in Inhil’s coconut farms. With the right crop choices and market access, agroforestry can provide income security for farmers while protecting peatlands from degradation—especially in the face of climate change.

Although agroforestry feels new to Inhil’s peatland farmers, in reality, it has been a long-standing practice within the traditional and indigenous farming communities across Indonesia. Although common, it has taken many traditional forms under different names across Indonesia. For example, Susilawati and Nursyamsi pointed out that Banjar people in South Kalimantan, Bugis people in South Sulawesi, and Central Javanese communities have practiced surjan as a local knowledge in farming rice, mango, and citrus on tidal swampland to anticipate climate risks.

On the other hand, Tropenbos International’s 2024 publication shared multiple other traditional practices.

• Simpukng: agroforestry system where Dayak people in East Kalimantan grow rattan and fruit trees together.

• Tembawang: agroforestry system that is practiced by the other Dayak community in West Kalimantan, combining rubber with tengkawang fruits.

• Repong: agroforestry system that is carried by the local community in Lampung, centering on resin and rubber.

• Parak: spices and tree crops agroforestry that is done in West Sumatra.

• Pekarangan and talun: simpler home-based systems that blend tree crops with food and other profitable plants in Java.

Not just that, there are still many other practices like kemenyan, dusung, dukuh, lembo, and so forth.

Types of Agroforestry: From Simple Systems to Mini Forests

Not just varied by names, according to The Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), agroforestry also falls along two main categories—simple and complex systems. In the simple system, farmers intercrop trees together with one or more food crops on the same land which is usually also known as tumpangsari system. For example, growing rice or corn between young teak trees, or planting coffee under shade trees. On the other hand, complex systems usually look like man-made mini forests where tall trees, fruits, vegetables, and herbs grow together creating layers of multistrate crops. You can see this in home gardens full of fruit trees (also known as pekarangan), or in mixed farms on former forest land with rubber and resin trees. While the simple systems focus more on giving quick harvests, the complex ones are richer in variety—and thus give more diverse harvests—while also protecting the environment and providing resiliency for families in the long run.

Moreover, Tropenbos International also shared their types of agroforestry based on the purpose. It ranges from simpler intercropping systems, often seen in corporate and industrial settings, to semi-complex smallholder farms that balance productivity with income—which is also practiced in few farms in Inhil—and finally to complex family farming systems that can evolve into mini forests with deeper social-cultural contexts. While varying in form and purpose, these systems share a common thread in securing livelihoods and maintaining the long-term resilience of both communities and the land.

Moving Forward with Agroforestry in Indragiri Hilir

These examples of agroforestry practices across Indonesia show that it is not impossible for the peatland farmers in Inhil to implement this system as a way to strengthen their stability alongside improving their environment against climate challenges.

See how agroforestry can build resilience for farmers and peatlands by joining our webinar with Zentide and Greeneration Foundation on 16 October 2025here. Save the date, and stay connected with us on Instagram and LinkedIn for updates!