 ![Farmers in Sikka District, East Nusa Tenggara. Wahana Tani Mandiri](https://petani.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/publicationentity/a5872fd9-936b-44e3-be1f-d4644352dc9a.png)

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Small-scale farmers and __[fishers](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308597X16301427)__ are among the groups most vulnerable to climate change. Their livelihoods depend on the changing environment as they plant in __[fragile agricultural lands irrigated by rain](https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2013.0089)__. Although __[small-scale farmers](https://www.pnas.org/content/104/50/19680)__ and __[fishers](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313762400_Impacts_of_climate_change_for_coastal_fishers_and_implications_for_fisheries)__ face challenges due to climate change, they have systems and tools to keep them resilient. Farmers and fishers are more likely to adopt better climate change strategies if they are well connected to other farmers and fishers via organised groups.

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## Climate change impact on farmers and fishers

In Central America and Madagascar, climate change has caused extreme weather events and falls in crop productivity, leading to food insecurity for __[small farmers](https://agricultureandfoodsecurity.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40066-018-0209-x)__.

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In __[Indonesia](https://www.jstor.org/stable/24866009?seq=1)__, several studies have predicted interannual changes in temperature and rainfall as an effect of climate change between 2010, 2030, and 2050. These changes will drastically impact __[rice production](https://www.jstor.org/stable/24866009?seq=1)__ in __[Java](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00175550)__ and __[Bali](https://www.pnas.org/content/104/19/7752)__.

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In Sikka, East Nusa Tenggara — a remote region in eastern Indonesia — a 2020 survey by local nonprofit group __[Wahana Tani Mandiri](https://wahanatanimandiri.org/)__, reported extended drought seasons, declining soil fertility and increasing plant diseases had led to bad harvests. Farmers often delay the start of a new cycle of cultivation. The change has caused a decrease in the smallholder farmer’s income from crop production.

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In Fakfak, West Papua, interviews with seven fishers by non-profit research institute Yayasan Inobu in December 2020 revealed that artisanal fishers must now go further and take longer on every fishing trip to get the same amount in the last decade.

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## Adaptation strategies lead to better resilience

 ![Technical guidance on rice planting in the Sinar Tani farmers group. Wahana Tani Mandiri](https://petani.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/publicationentity/181c4aee-13d6-4b8c-a05e-6bc7a1be0194.png)

While farmers and fishers face daunting challenges, they have strategies to help them adapt to climate change.

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### 1. Labour reorganisation

Labour reorganisation occurs when farmers have to involve their family members in the farm’s operations. In many countries, this pattern is often used in various types of small farms or by __[family farmers](http://www.fao.org/3/i4306e/i4306e.pdf)__.

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This positively correlates with farmers’ ability to carry out __[labour-intensive tasks](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837721001502?casa_token=58UwDu5adycAAAAA:Z5AYVggZMnYn-rxD3hai6WxwdFjKI7PbqouaPszbUagz2hTfrlymtwmDhJqkD7v4FLPElIHFL3k)__, such as crop diversification and soil-water conservation, which sometimes need to be done as the climate changes.

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An example of soil water conservation is rotating crops to maintain soil fertility in __[maize-legume](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10668-018-0215-y)__ cropping in Ethiopia. It includes practices such as leaving last year’s crop residue behind to increase water infiltration.

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There is a positive correlation between the amount of male __[labour](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212096317300062)__ in the household and the decision to choose adaptation crop diversification and soil water conservation strategies. These two strategies usually need more manpower, thus can only be applied in labour-rich households.

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### 2. Livelihood diversification

In a semi-arid environment like __[Ghana](https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10584-021-03034-y.pdf)__, farmers who diversify their sources of income beyond farming are more resilient to climate change.

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Diversifying income sources minimises the risks posed by drought, flood, erratic rainfall, or storm surges. Non-farm income can also help increase farming productivity by, for example, helping fund fertiliser purchases or a broader range of crop varieties.

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We also see __[diversification](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/311857610_The_Development_of_Sustainable_Livelihoods_for_Peasant-Fisher_in_Rote_Island_East_Nusa_Tenggara)__ in East Nusa Tenggara. Interviews by Wahana Tani Mandiri revealed some cacao farmers were adding __[vanilla](https://kar.kent.ac.uk/85312/)__, nutmeg, and snake fruit to their crop mix.

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Vanilla tolerates heat and drought well, unlike cacao. __[Nutmeg plants](https://ab.pensoft.net/article/1141)__, which can grow tall, can increase shade for cacao. __[Snake fruit](http://edepot.wur.nl/192242)__ is highly adaptable and the __[harvested waste](http://repository.umy.ac.id/bitstream/handle/123456789/5208/NASKAH%20PUBLIKASI.pdf?sequence=11&isAllowed=y)__ from this crop can become organic compost. So this kind of crop diversification brings broader benefits.

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### 3. Indigenous knowledge

 ![Local communities in Patimburak Village (Kokas District, Fakfak Regency) process fish catches. Kaleka (previously Yayasan Inobu)](https://petani.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/publicationentity/f1135da8-e505-4125-b6d8-81a4916d3d3b.png)

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Indigenous knowledge can help manage fish stocks in the sea. In West Papua, fishers know they have to give some time for the “sea to rest” before going fishing again. The practice is called “Sasi Laut,” known as stock recovery, and has successfully been integrated into __[marine ecotourism management](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/21568316.2019.1604424?journalCode=rthp21)__. Stock recovery could be achieved using different fisheries management such as traditional management, fishing quota, and stock enhancement.

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Another powerful management tool for fisheries management in rural areas vulnerable to climate change is __[stock enhancement](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11160-005-1886-7)__. It involves restocking, augmentation, and adding fish stocks by releasing fish for the public good (also known as restorative aquaculture).

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## Farmers need to strengthen their social relationships

Climate change is a global challenge farmers face in their communities, so adaptation strategies also need community involvement.

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One __[study](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X16301427)__ showed strengthening social relationships among fishers in Asia, Europe, and Africa improved communal adaptation towards climate change in coastal villages. __[Social networks](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0743016721000668?casa_token=fzpLGAEoYW0AAAAA:MLPbKSnpj3RIR_pUEJIHAzmZxkZqN5hBH6Wuclwxz64LSlHRD7uVAf8LJ7Vurk5yDyBfiYvj1Ns)__, social trust, and social norms also affect farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies.

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 ![Farmers group in Korobhera village in Sikka District. Wahana Tani Mandiri](https://petani.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/publicationentity/619f994f-c441-4617-b054-c278b74bd980.png)

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In East Nusa Tenggara, most farmers see farmers groups as essential to help them navigate climate variability because farmer group members help each other.

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In Fakfak district, West Papua, individual approaches to restorative aquaculture have not worked well. Restorative aquaculture is likely to be more effective when farmers groups and traditional village leaders at the village level are involved.

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Farmers groups are not a panacea. But combined with good access to information, capacity building of community leaders in the field, and the willingness to adopt new approaches in the face of climate change, they can increase farmers’ resiliency. \n 

*This article has been published on The Conversation and can be seen at the following link:*

*<https://theconversation.com/farmers-groups-lead-the-way-in-adapting-to-a-changing-climate-166341>*

 ![Petani di Sikka, NTT. Wahana Tani Mandiri](https://petani.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/publicationentity/7d5e9327-3f76-4c4a-86f5-73e587ebcda3.png)

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Petani skala kecil dan nelayan merupakan kelompok yang rentan terhadap perubahan iklim. Pasalnya, petani kecil kerap bercocok tanam di kawasan yang __[rentan](https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2013.0089)__, misalnya karena curah hujan yang rendah atau kualitas tanah yang menurun. Nelayan pun bernasib hampir sama seiring dengan menurunnya keragaman biota laut __[akibat pemanasan global](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313762400_Impacts_of_climate_change_for_coastal_fishers_and_implications_for_fisheries)__. Kendati demikian, dua kelompok ini sebenarnya memiliki sistem kerja dan berbagai metode yang meningkatkan peluang adaptasi di tengah iklim yang berubah. Peluang tersebut dapat semakin tinggi jika mereka giat bekerja sama dan mengorganisasi diri untuk menyusun strategi menghadapi pemanasan global.

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## Dampak bervariasi bagi nelayan dan petani

Di Amerika bagian tengah dan Madagaskar, pemanasan global mengakibatkan terjadinya cuaca ekstrem yang menurunkan produktivitas pertanian. Kondisi akhirnya mengganggu ketahanan pangan bagi __[petani kecil](https://agricultureandfoodsecurity.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40066-018-0209-x)__.

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Sementara, __[sejumlah studi](https://www.jstor.org/stable/24866009?seq=1)__) juga menaksir perubahan cuaca dan temperatur akan terjadi di Indonesia setiap beberapa tahun pada 2010, 2030, dan 2050. Cuaca yang berubah-ubah akan mempengaruhi __[produksi beras](https://www.jstor.org/stable/24866009?seq=1)__ secara drastis di __[pulau Jawa](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00175550)__ dan __[Bali](https://www.pnas.org/content/104/19/7752)__.

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Di Kabupaten Sikka, Nusa Tenggara, lembaga nirlaba di sektor pertanian, __[Wahana Tani Mandiri/WTM](https://wahanatanimandiri.org/)__, melaporkan kekeringan yang berkepanjangan, penurunan kesuburan tanah, dan serangan penyakit tanaman yang memperburuk kualitas panen.

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Akibat kejadian-kejadian tersebut, petani kerap menunda aktivitas penananaman sehingga pendapatan mereka jauh berkurang.

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Sementara, dalam wawancara yang dilakukan lembaga riset Yayasan Inobu, nelayan di Fakfak menyatakan harus menempuh pelayaran lebih jauh guna mempertahankan jumlah hasil tangkapan mereka.

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## Strategi khusus kian dibutuhkan

 ![Bimbingan teknis penanaman padi di kelompok tani Sinar Tani. Wahana Tani Mandiri](https://petani.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/publicationentity/3ebef3b5-2f89-4e63-9927-ad8ec779ee0d.png)

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Di tengah kondisi yang semakin menantang, nelayan maupun petani sudah memiliki beragam strategi. Berikut ini adalah ragamnya.

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### 1. Reorganisasi pekerja

Reorganisasi pekerja terjadi ketika petani melibatkan anggota keluarganya untuk bercocok tanam. Metode ini sudah jamak diterapkan petani kecil di banyak negara dalam pekerjaan yang membutuhkan lebih banyak orang. Misalnya pekerjaan perawatan tanah dan air maupun diversifikasi tanaman.

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Petani di Etiopia merawat tanah dan air dilakukan melalui rotasi penanaman jagung dengan kacang-kacangan. Petani setempat pun terbiasa membiarkan sisa-sisa panen di ladang mereka untuk menjaga kemampuan tanah menyerap air.

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Nah, penerapan pekerjaan semacam ini biasanya ditentukan oleh faktor jumlah laki-laki dalam suatu keluarga. Sebab, aktivitas rotasi tanaman maupun perawatan tanah dan air lebih membutuhkan banyak pekerja.

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### 2. Alternatif sumber pendapatan

Petani yang memiliki sumber pendapatan alternatif di luar pemasukan hasil panen mereka akan beradaptasi lebih baik terhadap perubahan iklim.

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Di Ghana, beragam sumber pendapatan yang dimiliki petani mampu mengurangi risiko keuangan dari gangguan panen akibat kekeringan, banjir, hujan ekstrem, maupun badai. Pendapatan dari sumber non-pertanian juga dapat dimanfaatkan untuk memperbanyak jenis tanaman yang dikembangkan, ataupun pembelian pupuk agar produktivitas ladangnya meningkat.

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Selain diversifikasi sumber pendapatan, upaya mengkombinasikan berbagai jenis tanaman juga menjadi strategi adaptasi yang efektif.

Di Nusa Tenggara Timur, para petani coklat–dalam wawancara kepada Wahana Tani Indonesia–menyatakan turut menanam vanili, pala, dan salak untuk menambah variasi hasil pertanian mereka.

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Tak seperti coklat, vanili dan salak dikenal sebagai tanaman yang tahan terhadap cuaca panas dan kering. Sisa hasil panen \[salak\] pun (<http://edepot.wur.nl/192242>) dapat bermanfaat untuk pupuk organik.

Sedangkan tanaman pala yang dapat tumbuh tinggi mampu melindungi pohon coklat dari sinar matahari yang menyengat. Pada akhirnya, kombinasi keempat tanaman ini dapat mengisi pundi-pundi keuangan petani.

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### 3. Kearifan lokal

 ![Warga Desa Patimburak, Distrik Kokas, Kabupaten Fakfak ) memproses hasil tangkapannya. Kaleka (sebelumnya Yayasan Inobu)](https://petani.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/publicationentity/46591b48-9c71-4fa9-8f99-beb8a4faa6e9.png)

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Para nelayan telah menggunakan kearifan lokal untuk melestarikan ikan-ikan laut. Di Papua, para nelayan diajarkan secara turun-temurun untuk memberi jeda dalam menjala ikan agar laut dapat “beristirahat.” Praktik pemulihan sumber daya perikanan (*stock recovery*) ini dikenal sebagai Sasi Laut. Tak hanya bagi aktivitas perikanan, Sasi Laut juga diterapkan ke __[pengelolaan pariwisata](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/21568316.2019.1604424?journalCode=rthp21)__.

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Guna menghadapi perubahan iklim, sektor perikanan tradisional juga dapat menerapkan upaya __[peningkatan stok(](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11160-005-1886-7)*[stock enhancement](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11160-005-1886-7)*[)](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11160-005-1886-7)__. Langkah lainnya adalah penambahan (*restocking*) dan pengembangan stok, hingga pelepasan ikan kembali ke laut–yang dikenal sebagai *restorative aquaculture*.

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## Relasi antar-nelayan menjadi vital

 ![Kelompok Tani di desa Korobhera di Kabupaten Sikka, NTT. Wahana Tani Mandiri](https://petani.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/publicationentity/3ed0ede5-b36e-48bc-a3b1-7b2abb8d4eec.png)

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Perubahan iklim bukan hanya persoalan yang melanda petani secara individu, tapi juga komunitasnya. Karena itu, kelompok-kelompok tani harus menyusun strategi untuk menghadapinya bersama-sama.

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Hal yang sama juga berlaku bagi komunitas nelayan. Riset menunjukkan __[ikatan sosial yang kuat](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X16301427)__ di kalangan nelayan di pesisir Asia, Eropa, dan Afrika, mampu meningkatkan kemampuan mereka beradaptasi terhadap perubahan iklim.

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Tak hanya ikatan sosial: kemampuan berjejaring, tingkat kepercayaan dan __[norma-norma sosial](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0743016721000668?casa_token=fzpLGAEoYW0AAAAA:MLPbKSnpj3RIR_pUEJIHAzmZxkZqN5hBH6Wuclwxz64LSlHRD7uVAf8LJ7Vurk5yDyBfiYvj1Ns)__, juga turut mempengaruhi pilihan-pilihan tindakan yang diambil para petani.

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Di Nusa Tenggara Timur, para petani juga menganggap kelompok tani sebagai sarana utama untuk menghadapi beragam fenomena dalam perubahan iklim. Hal ini terjadi karena rasa tolong-menolong di antara sesama anggota.

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Sebaliknya, kegiatan budi daya perikanan yang berkelanjutan (*restorative aquaculture*) yang dilakukan nelayan di Fakfak secara individu terbukti belum optimal. Sebab, pendekatan ini dapat efektif jika terdapat keterlibatan warga dalam kelompok dan kepala desa setempat.

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Pendekatan kelompok memang bukanlah satu-satunya andalan bagi petani dan nelayan untuk menghadapi perubahan iklim. Aspek ini harus dibarengi dengan akses informasi yang memadai, peningkatan kualitas bagi para pemimpin di tingkat komunitas, dan kesediaan para nelayan serta petani untuk menggunakan pendekatan baru.

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*Tulisan ini sudah dimuat di The Conversation dan dapat dilihat pada link berikut ini:*

*<https://theconversation.com/petani-dan-nelayan-tak-bisa-menghadapi-pemanasan-global-sendirian-harus-berkelompok-168618>*

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Farmers Groups Lead the Way in Adapting to a Changing Climate

Petani dan Nelayan Tak Bisa Menghadapi Pemanasan Global Sendirian, Harus Berkelompok