IMPACT OF THE TSUNAMI DISASTER ON TREE-CROPS SURVIVAL AND MARKETING ASSESSMENT: THE ECOLOGICAL RECOVERY IN ACEH BARAT AND NAGAN RAYA DISTRICTS, NAD PROVINCE
A. Background
The Tsunami’s greatest impact has been on rural coastal communities. Before the tsunami, the men, women, and children in these communities were highly dependent on coastal fisheries, agriculture, aquaculture and agroforestry. But the natural resources supporting these livelihoods were already severely depleted due to unsustainable practices.
ICRAF – as the part of CGIAR Centre – planned for helping these community through recovering the ecological constraints and enhancement livelihood. In first step, ICRAF conducted a survey to assess the impact of tsunami disaster on tree-crops survival and also to appraise the skills and awereness of local community and local government regarding to tree-crop selection and uses, tree nursery activities, tree system establishment and management, tree product production, and marketing linkages based on pre-tsunami disaster, current environment and opportunities.
In implementing the survey, ICRAF collaborated with local government and local-International NGOs – who already existed in Aceh Barat and Nagan Raya districts – for sharing data and information regarding to rehabilitation and reconstruction program. Especially with some International NGOs – who working with agricultural livelihood recovery program, ICRAF shared roles for agroforestry recovery and rehabilitation of farmer’s livelihood.
B. Objectives
· To assess the impact of tsunami disaster on tree-crops survival differentiated by tree-crops species, landscape position, and soil salinity
· To appraise the skills and awareness of local community, local government, and market agents regarding to tree-crop selection and uses, tree nursery activities, tree system establishment and management, tree product production, and marketing linkages based on pre-tsunami disaster, current environment and opportunities
· To recover the ecological constraints through availability of extension programs and planting materials
C. Methodology
The survey implemented during two weeks (May 14-27, 2005) at the sites which were flooded during the tsunami disaster. There are three sub-districts (kecamatans) in Aceh Barat and Nagan Raya districts covered the survey that is Samatiga, Johan Pahlawan, and Kuala.
Rapid assessment for salinity concentrate (Electrical Conductivity – EC) in the soils was measured by the Dinas Pertanian officers (that already trained by the Centre of Soil Research team). Measurement salinity sediment was implemented in under tree-crops stands, to assess salinity concentrate after five months of Tsunami disaster.
The PRA method and/or simple interview were used for appraising the perceptions of local community and local government regarding to tree-crop selection and uses, tree nursery activities, tree system establishment and management, tree product production, and marketing linkages based on pre-tsunami disaster, current environment and opportunities. To understand the marketing linkages system for the agroforestry products based on pre-tsunami disaster, current environment and opportunities, we interviewed market channels who leaved in Aceh Barat and Nagan Raya districts.
D. Landfarming Degraded in Post-Tsunami
FAO (2005) mentioned that landfarming degraded (annual crops and horticulture) was caused by Tsunami disaster achieved 61,816 Ha (included wet-land and dry-land) in NAD province. Landfarming degraded in western-part of NAD (45,755 Ha) was more in serious condition compared to the eastern-part (16,061 Ha). In eastern-part, there are 50% of 16,061 Ha was light degraded and 50% was medium degraded. In western-part, 10% (4,575.5 Ha) of 45,755 Ha was light degraded, 20% (9,151 Ha) was medium degraded, 60% (27,453 Ha) was serious degraded, and 10% (5,575.5 Ha) was permanent flooded.
E. Tree-crops Survival and Soil Salinity in Post-Tsunami
The tree crops have generally suffered little damage: coconuts as well as other palms (traditionally: sago, pinang palm; more recent: oil palm) are productive (above normal) in as far as they were not uprooted and washed out. Tree species such as akasia, asam jawa, jengkol, leban and cemara laut have suffered little damage, too. Rubber lost leaves but is generally resprouting. Only a number of fruit trees (especially rambutan, but also durian and jambu) appeared to have died after inundation. Cacao, kweni, kapuk, sukun, jeruk, nangka, kedondong appears to recover and resprouting. Tree-crops survival concerning on Tsunami disaster was very influenced by the tree-crops species performance. Rainfall intensity, drainage density, flooded time-period have influenced salinity concentrate in the soil sediment. Salinity measurement that conducted in May 21, 2005 shows salinity concentrate in soil sediment becoming lowest (< 0.7 mS/cm or average 0.24 mS/cm).
Village (Kecamatan) / Flooded Period (hours) / Tree & Crops Species / Girth (cm) / Tree & Crops Condition / EC (mS/cm) / pH / Sediment Depth (cm) / Location SituationSediment / Original
(20 cm) / Sediment / Original
(20 cm)
Seneubouk
(Johan Pahlawan) / 1 - 2 / Mangga / 36 / Dead / 0.45 / 1.26 / 6 / 6 / 8 / Plantation
Rambutan / 46.5 / Dead / 0.68 / 1.24 / 6 / 6 / 9 / Plantation
No flooded / Rambutan / 72.8 / Live / - / 0.00 / - / 6 / - / Plantation
Suak Raya
(Johan Pahlawan) / 2 / Rubber / 73.0 / Defoliated & resprouting (2.5 ms ago) / 0.02 / 0.20 / 6 / 5 / 24 / Rubber p.swamp
Cot Darat
(Samatiga) / Rubber / 165.0 / Defoliated & resprouting / 0.56 / 1.07 / 7 / 7 / 11 / Rubber p.swamp
Rubber / 33.0 / Defoliated & resprouting
Rubber / 15.0 / Defoliated & resprouting
Reusak
(Samatiga) / No flooded / Rubber / 120.0 / Live / - / 0.00 / - / 5 / - / Rubber p.swamp
Rubber / 140.0
Suak Timah
(Samatiga) (27/4) / 1 - 2 / Maize / - / Growing rapidly / 0.09 / 0.68 / 6 / 7 / - / Ex paddy field
Suak Timah
(Samatiga) (21/5) / 1 - 2 / Maize / - / Growing rapidly / 0.03 / 0.23 / 6 / 6 / 6 / Ex paddy field
Krung Tinggai
(Samatiga) / No flooded / Paddy / - / Live / - / 0.00 / - / 7 / - / Paddy field
Suak Timah
(Samatiga) / 2 / Jambu Bol / 145.0 / Dead / 0.04 / 0.00 / 6 / 6 / 3 / Evacuee camp (all jambu & durian trees was dead)
Sukun / 161.0 / Defoliated & resprouting
Durian / 194.0 / Dead
Reusak
(Samatiga) / No flooded / Durian / 94.0 / Live / - / 0.00 / - / 6 / - / Home Garden
Kweni / 102.0
Kelapa / 98.0
Kuala Baru
(Kuala) / 1 - 2 / Cacao / 30.0 / Defoliated & resprouting / 0.06 / 0.09 / 7 / 7 / 2 / Home Garden
Cacao / 32.0 / Defoliated & resprouting
Cacao / 46.0 / Defoliated & resprouting
Cacao / 37.0 / Dead
Cacao / 47.0 / Dead
Cacao / 27.0 / Defoliated & resprouting
Durian / 36.0 / Dead
Pinang / 17.7 / No affected
Pinang / 48.0 / No affected
Langkak
(Kuala) / 2 / Cacao / 24.0 / Uprooted & dead / 0.08 / 0.48 / 7 / 7 / 3 / Home Garden
Cacao / 29.0 / Uprooted & dead
Cacao / 36.0 / Uprooted & dead
Cacao / 17.0 / Uprooted & dead
Leung Tekuben
(Kuala) / No flooded / Cacao / 34.0 / Live / - / 0.00 / - / 6 / - / Home Garden
Cacao / 33.0 / Live
Cacao / 30.0 / Live
Cacao / 31.0 / Live
According to the Centre for Soil and Agroclimates Research Bogor (Djaenudin et al, 2000) mentioned that the Land Suitability Class for S1 (very suitable) class have lowest of salinity concentrate limited, when we compared to S2 (sufficient suitable), S3 (margin suitable) and N (no suitable). Based on the reference, salinity concentrate in the soil sediment was under the limit that have accepted by all tree-crops species. Means all tree-crops species in the tsunami area able growing rapidly with very suitable (S1) soil condition.
S1 (very suitable)Salinity - EC (mS/cm) / Tree and Annual crops Species
< 0.5 / Rubber, kopi arabika,
< 1 / Buncis, kacang panjang, kacang hijau, cacao, kopi robusta,
< 2 / Paddy, cassava, bawang merah, bawang putih, nenas, pepaya, banana, kelapa sawit, tembakau,
< 3 / Cabai, avocado, jeruk,
< 4 / Kacang tanah, mentimun, pare, petai, semangka, melon, belimbing, cempedak, duku, durian, jambu biji, mangga, manggis, nangka, rambutan, sawo, sukun, kapok, kencur, kunyit, lengkuas,
< 5 / Terung, tomat, sirsak, melinjo, tebu, jahe, kapulaga, lada, pala
< 6 / Kedelai
< 12 / Kelapa
F. Land Use Types
1. Rubber Peat Swamp System
- Tree density highest (± 900 trees per Ha)
- Basic on rubber tree and almost monoculture
- Extractive - traditional management (low inputs: fertilizer, germplasm, trainings)
2. Home Garden (including annual crops)
- Kapuk, kweni (Mangifera sp), rambutan, nangka, kedondong, langsat and rambe (Lansium sp), durian, coffee, manggis, bamboo, rumbai (sagu) are tree species that used for subsistance oriented and a part was for sale
- Cacao, pinang, coconut are tree species that used for commercial oriented
- Kacang panjang, kacang tanah, gambas, terung, timun, maize, semangka and labu are annual crops that use for commercial oriented.
- Extractive - traditional management (low inputs: fertilizer, germplasm, trainings)
3. Padi Ladang Tadah Hujan (intercropping with annual crops)
- Paddy – paddy – annual crops (or paddy – paddy – paddy)
- Paddy – bera (no activity)
4. Oil Palm Plantation and Rambutan Plantation
- Owned by private sectors
- Commercial oriented
5. Secondary Forest (fallow system)
- Dominated by Leban trees (Vitex pubescens)
- Some of old rubber trees and enau trees are secondary forest components
- Existed in peat swamp area
G. Tree-crops Uses and Livelihood Resources
Utilizing of tree-crops products have not difference in the pre and post tsunami disaster periods. Local community in Aceh Barat and Nagan Raya districts have used the paddy for food security. In the Nagan Raya district, paddy was a main income resource. Permanent irrigation system that established in Nagan Raya district have supported the NAD province for the food secure. In Aceh Barat district, rubber peat swamp system have produced latex that function as the main income resource until 40 to 60% of total farmer’s incomes. But in Nagan Raya district, rubber peat swamp system provided only 5% of total farmer’s incomes. Below is the table of percentage (%) of livelihood resources estimated.
District / Desa (Kecamatan) / Rice field / Annual crops / Rubber peat swamp system / Home garden (cacao – coconut) / Livestock and fishing / Shared labourAceh Barat / Cot Seulamat – Samatiga / 20 / - / 60 / 15 / 2 / 3
Aceh Barat / Padang rubek – Meureubo / 20 / 20 / - / 50 / - / 10
Aceh Barat / Padang rubek – Meureubo / 20 / 20 / 40 / - / - / 20
Nagan Raya / - / 70 / - / 5 / 20 / 5 / -
Home garden system provided income to smallholders until 15 to 50% of total farmer’s incomes in Aceh Barat district, but only 20% of total farmer’s incomes in Nagan Raya district. In both of the districts, fruit products from home garden system function as social incomes, means the products have used for meets subsistance need of the farmer and neighbours firstly, then another part of the products for sale to local trader. Most of the fruit products from home garden system function as the social bundle in between farmer and his neighbours. Durian, rambutan, coconut, pinang, and langsat are fruit tree species that was consumed by farmer and neighbour in limited number, and then a big part of these parts have sold by the owner to the local traders. But most of nangka and kweni fruits was consumed by farmer and neighbours as the social bundle. Cacao trees that most planted in under of coconut trees was function as the supplementary income in after order of latex product. Timber products from meranti merah, meranti putih, and leban tree – that most have grown in peat swamp area – used by farmer for meets construction subsistance need. Annual crops, like watermelon, chili, soybeans, peanuts, cucumber, and maize are most for sale to the local market and Meulaboh. At the same time, raise chickens and ducks have used to add the main income.
Considering to the rise in prices of the latex and fruit products during last five years, so farmer predicted that latex and fruit products of rubber, cacao, pinang, coconut, rambutan, durian, chili, watermelon, soybeans, and pineapple have very potential to develop for commercial incomes in smallholder level for next 5 to 10 years. Because of that, farmer will priority to utilize the rubber and fruit trees for improvement their income.
Species priority / Main product / Subsistance / Sale / Firewoods / Construction / Sale toTree species
Karet / latex / √√ / √√ / local trader
Durian / fruit / √ / √√ / √ / √ / local trader
Cacao / fruit / √√ / √ / local trader
Rambutan / fruit / √ / √√ / √ / local trader
Kelapa / fruit / √ / √√ / √ / √ / local trader
Pinang / fruit / √ / √√ / local trader
Nangka / fruit / √√ / √ / √ / local trader
Langsat / fruit / √ / √√ / √ / local trader
Kweni / fruit / √√ / √ / √ / local trader
Meranti merah / timber / √√ / √ / √ / √√ / local trader
Meranti putih / timber / √√ / √ / √ / √√ / local trader
Leban / timber / √√ / √ / √ / √√ / local trader
Annual crops
Paddy / fruit / √√ / √
Semangka / fruit / √ / √√ / local market
Chili / fruit / √ / √√ / local market
K. panjang / fruit / √ / √√ / local market
K. tanah / fruit / √ / √√ / local market
Timun / fruit / √ / √√ / local market
Jagung / fruit / √ / √√ / local market
Notes: -√ less portion and √√ high portion