The tradition of farming in the State Forest Area: lesson learned from Batulanteh’s Production Forest Management Unit, West Nusa Tenggara Province

Abstract

Abstract The research is targeted to identify the motivation of farming, the history of occupation, and the effects on the farmers’ livelihood employing an ex-ante approach that provides potential clues about tenurial factors. Data are collected through interviews and focus group discussions with 34 farmers and 10 key persons and analyzed descriptively. The research revealed that the farmers’ residential status are mostly migrant from Lombok Regency. They have been farming for 22 years since Perhutani Company recruited laborers for reforestation program. Economic pressure is presumably being the most reason for farmers to migrate to and cultivate the state forest areas. The changes authority of forest from Perhutani to forestry service, change the policy of forest management too, and unsettle the farmers. This anxiety can be decreased by increasing the sources of farmers’ income through training such as how to produce beverage juice from cashew fruit flesh and raising honey bees. In this regard, cooperation between industrial ministry, trade ministry, local government, and farmer groups is required, particularly for forest product marketing assistance. Additionally, a forest conservation agent is urgent to regenerate from the local farmers.