Rubber-Based Agroforestry Systems Associated with Food Crops: A Solution for Sustainable Rubber and Food Production?

Andi Nur Cahyo, Ying Dong, Taryono, Yudhistira Nugraha, Junaidi, Sahuri, Eric Penot, Aris Hairmansis, Yekti Asih Purwestri, Andrea Akbar, Hajar Asywadi, Risal Ardika, Nur Eko Prasetyo, Dwi Shinta Agustina, Taufan Alam, Fetrina Oktavia, Siti Subandiyah and Pascal Montoro ()
Additional contact information
Andi Nur Cahyo: Indonesian Rubber Research Institute, Sembawa, Banyuasin 30953, Indonesia
Ying Dong: Centre International de Recherhe Agronomique Pour le Développement, UMR AGAP Institute, F-34398 Montpellier, France
Taryono: Faculty of Agriculture, Gadjah Mada University, Bulaksumur, Sleman, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
Yudhistira Nugraha: Research Centre for Food Crops, BRIN, Cibinong, Bogor 16911, Indonesia
Junaidi: Sungei Putih Research Unit, Indonesian Rubber Research Institute, Galang, Deli Serdang, Medan 20585, Indonesia
Sahuri: Indonesian Rubber Research Institute, Sembawa, Banyuasin 30953, Indonesia
Eric Penot: UMR Innovation, CIRAD, F-34060 Montpellier, France
Aris Hairmansis: Research Centre for Food Crops, BRIN, Cibinong, Bogor 16911, Indonesia
Yekti Asih Purwestri: Biotechnology Research Centre, Gadjah Mada University, Bulaksumur, Sleman, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
Andrea Akbar: Indonesian Rubber Research Institute, Sembawa, Banyuasin 30953, Indonesia
Hajar Asywadi: Indonesian Rubber Research Institute, Sembawa, Banyuasin 30953, Indonesia
Risal Ardika: Indonesian Rubber Research Institute, Sembawa, Banyuasin 30953, Indonesia
Nur Eko Prasetyo: Getas Research Unit, Indonesian Rubber Research Institute, Salatiga 50702, Indonesia
Dwi Shinta Agustina: Indonesian Rubber Research Institute, Sembawa, Banyuasin 30953, Indonesia
Taufan Alam: Faculty of Agriculture, Gadjah Mada University, Bulaksumur, Sleman, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
Fetrina Oktavia: Indonesian Rubber Research Institute, Sembawa, Banyuasin 30953, Indonesia
Siti Subandiyah: Faculty of Agriculture, Gadjah Mada University, Bulaksumur, Sleman, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
Pascal Montoro: Centre International de Recherhe Agronomique Pour le Développement, UMR AGAP Institute, F-34398 Montpellier, France

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-20

Abstract: Agroforestry is often seen as a sustainable land-use system for agricultural production providing ecosystem services. Intercropping with food crops leads to equal or higher productivity than monoculture and results in food production for industry and subsistence. Low rubber price and low labor productivity in smallholdings have led to a dramatic conversion of rubber plantations to more profitable crops. The literature analysis performed in this paper aimed at better understanding the ins and outs that could make rubber-based agroforestry more attractive for farmers. A comprehensive search of references was conducted in March 2023 using several international databases and search engines. A Zotero library was set up consisting of 415 scientific references. Each reference was carefully read and tagged in several categories: cropping system, country, main tree species, intercrop type, intercrop product, level of product use, discipline of the study, research topic, and intercrop species. Of the 232 journal articles, 141 studies were carried out on rubber agroforestry. Since 2011, the number of studies per year has increased. Studies on rubber-based agroforestry systems are performed in most rubber-producing countries, in particular in Indonesia, Thailand, China, and Brazil. These studies focus more or less equally on perennials (forest species and fruit trees), annual intercrops, and mixed plantations. Of the 47 annual crops associated with rubber in the literature, 20 studies dealt with rice, maize, banana, and cassava. Agronomy is the main discipline in the literature followed by socio-economy and then ecology. Only four papers are devoted to plant physiology and breeding. The Discussion Section has attempted to analyze the evolution of rubber agroforestry research, progress in the selection of food crop varieties adapted to agroforestry systems, and to draw some recommendations for rubber-based agroforestry systems associated with food crops.

Keywords: industrial crop; annual crop; fruit tree; intercropping; plantation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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