Enhancing food security in semi-arid eastern Indonesia through permanent raised-bed cropping: a review

摘要: Summary. Much of south-eastern Indonesia is mountainous and characterised by a semi-arid tropical environment. Soil erosion significant environmental problem facing the region, affecting both productivity land water quality. The challenge for region to secure year-round food production in such fragile More than 90% rain falls distinct wet season between November April. Therefore, cropping this dependent on matching crop growth with supply. In particular, depends efficient use rainfall during season, including avoidance waterlogging, stored soil dry season. This paper summarises results series experiments undertaken West Timor, Indonesia, 1993 1999 aimed at developing raised-bed system. objective these studies was better utilise more fertile alluvial soils that are often susceptible waterlogging allowing range crops be grown addition rice. Raised beds height 0.2 m width 1.5 were constructed either manually or an 8.5 hp two-wheeled hand tractor. A soybeans, sorghum, maize, pigeon pea, yam bean cassava successfully raised rice, indicating technology overcomes constraints Soybeans grew particularly well beds, December-sown producing almost twice yield January-sown (2.6 v. 1.4 t/ha). For rice early sown able match supply, thereby avoiding end-of-season drought. Early sowing harvesting enables drought-resistant as sorghum planted lateMarch April, utilising moisture grain also maintaining ground cover It argued systems based permanent can reduce 2 ways. First, structure and, inter-cropping relay-cropping proposed, provide all-year lowland areas. Second, if sufficient cash meet basic needs subsistence farmers, then upland steep slopes replaced variety tree species, providing additional food, fodder, firewood medicines. Together, strategies have capacity enhance security areas eastern Indonesia.