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
1
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 treecrops 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)
Seneubouk
(Johan
Pahlawan)
Suak Raya
(Johan
Pahlawan)
Cot Darat
(Samatiga)
Reusak
(Samatiga)
Suak Timah
(Samatiga)
(27/4)
Suak Timah
(Samatiga)
(21/5)
Krung Tinggai
(Samatiga)
Suak Timah
(Samatiga)
Flooded
Period
(hours)
1-2
No
flooded
2
No
flooded
1-2
Girth
(cm)
Rambutan
Rambutan
46.5
72.8
Dead
Live
0.68
-
1.24
0.00
6
-
Rubber
73.0
0.02
0.20
Rubber
165.0
0.56
Rubber
33.0
Rubber
15.0
Rubber
Rubber
Maize
120.0
140.0
-
Defoliated &
resprouting
(2.5 ms ago)
Defoliated &
resprouting
Defoliated &
resprouting
Defoliated &
resprouting
Live
36
Tree &
Crops
Condition
Dead
Sediment
Depth
(cm)
8
Plantation
6
6
9
-
Plantation
Plantation
6
5
24
Rubber
p.swamp
1.07
7
7
11
Rubber
p.swamp
-
0.00
-
5
-
Growing
rapidly
0.09
0.68
6
7
-
Rubber
p.swamp
Ex paddy
field
0.03
0.23
6
6
6
Ex paddy
field
-
0.00
-
7
-
Paddy field
0.04
0.00
6
6
3
-
0.00
-
6
-
Evacuee
camp (all
jambu &
durian
trees was
dead)
Home
Garden
0.06
0.09
7
7
2
Home
Garden
0.08
0.48
7
7
3
Home
Garden
1-2
Maize
-
Growing
rapidly
No
flooded
2
Paddy
-
Live
Reusak
(Samatiga)
No
flooded
Kuala Baru
(Kuala)
1-2
Langkak
(Kuala)
Tree &
Crops
Species
Mangga
2
Jambu Bol
Sukun
145.0
161.0
Durian
194.0
Durian
Kweni
Kelapa
Cacao
94.0
102.0
98.0
30.0
Cacao
32.0
Cacao
46.0
Cacao
Cacao
Cacao
37.0
47.0
27.0
Durian
Pinang
Pinang
Cacao
36.0
17.7
48.0
24.0
Dead
Defoliated &
resprouting
Dead
Live
Defoliated &
resprouting
Defoliated &
resprouting
Defoliated &
resprouting
Dead
Dead
Defoliated &
resprouting
Dead
No affected
No affected
Uprooted &
dead
EC (mS/cm)
Sediment
Original
(20 cm)
0.45
1.26
pH
Sediment
Original
(20 cm)
6
6
Location
Situation
2
Leung
Tekuben
(Kuala)
No
flooded
Cacao
29.0
Cacao
36.0
Cacao
17.0
Cacao
Cacao
Cacao
Cacao
34.0
33.0
30.0
31.0
Uprooted &
dead
Uprooted &
dead
Uprooted &
dead
Live
Live
Live
Live
-
0.00
-
6
-
Home
Garden
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.
Salinity - EC
(mS/cm)
< 0.5
<1
<2
<3
<4
<5
<6
< 12
S1 (very suitable)
Tree and Annual crops Species
Rubber, kopi arabika,
Buncis, kacang panjang, kacang hijau, cacao, kopi robusta,
Paddy, cassava, bawang merah, bawang putih, nenas, pepaya, banana, kelapa sawit, tembakau,
Cabai, avocado, jeruk,
Kacang tanah, mentimun, pare, petai, semangka, melon, belimbing, cempedak, duku, durian,
jambu biji, mangga, manggis, nangka, rambutan, sawo, sukun, kapok, kencur, kunyit, lengkuas,
Terung, tomat, sirsak, melinjo, tebu, jahe, kapulaga, lada, pala
Kedelai
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
3
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
Aceh Barat
Aceh Barat
Aceh Barat
Nagan Raya
Desa
(Kecamatan)
Cot Seulamat
– Samatiga
Padang rubek
– Meureubo
Padang rubek
– Meureubo
-
Rice field
20
Annual
crops
-
Rubber peat
swamp system
60
Home garden
(cacao – coconut)
15
Livestock
and fishing
2
Shared
labour
3
20
20
-
50
-
10
20
20
40
-
-
20
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
Karet
Durian
Cacao
Rambutan
Kelapa
Pinang
Nangka
Langsat
Kweni
Meranti merah
Meranti putih
Leban
latex
fruit
fruit
fruit
fruit
fruit
fruit
fruit
fruit
timber
timber
timber
√
√
√
√√
√
√√
√√
√√
√√
Paddy
Semangka
Chili
K. panjang
K. tanah
Timun
Jagung
fruit
fruit
fruit
fruit
fruit
fruit
fruit
√√
√
√
√
√
√
√
Notes:
√
Sale
Firewoods
Tree species
√√
√√
√√
√√
√√
√√
√
√√
√
√
√
√
Annual crops
√
√√
√√
√√
√√
√√
√√
√√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
Construction
√
√
√√
√√
√√
Sale to
local trader
local trader
local trader
local trader
local trader
local trader
local trader
local trader
local trader
local trader
local trader
local trader
local
local
local
local
local
local
market
market
market
market
market
market
-√ less portion and √√ high portion
4
H. Nurseries and Development Options
Since 1990 nursery activities were conducted by KPPKP (Agricultural Extension and Food
Security Office – Agriculture Agency) in Aceh Barat district. Nursery activity was established with
mango (golek, gedong, indramayu, apel, gedonggincu, arum manis) and rambutan (binjei dan riau)
seedlings that came from Medan. In 1995, the nursery was extended until 3 Ha with adding some fruit
species like durian (12 varieties – sitokong, simas, tembaga, caney, etc), sawo medan, manggis,
melinjo in Meurebo subdistrict. Mother trees of these fruit seedlings were came from Medan and
Lampung. When tsunami disaster happened, all of the mother trees and seedlings in the nursery
damaged and dead.
The Agriculture Agency and the Plantation and Forestry Agency in Aceh Barat district found
obstacles during nurseries activities as following:
availability of high quality of germplasm (mother trees) were limited
nurseries location sandy and easy to flooded
- high pig and buffalo demaged; fence supplying was limited
- planning, budgeting support, continuing facilitation process of the government agencies for
nursery activities were limited
- political conflicts between the GAM – TNI
- coordination and communication between the commercial nursery in Aceh Barat and the
Agriculture Agency for high quality germplasm supplying and reforestation program were limited.
The KPPKP organized nursery and tree propagation workshops for the three farmer groups
(Suak Pandan, Geumpang Cot, dan Ujung Drin) in first 2004. The workshops were attended by 20
participants who have motivation on enhancement kowledge and skills in mango and durian nursery
and grafting propagation practices. The farmer groups hired the PPL in the amount of Rp, 100,000.per participant. Subjects of workshop as following:
- land selection and preparing
- determine mother tree criterias and high quality of germplasm
- root stock preparing
- seeds management practice
- determine vegetative propagation techniques based on fruit species characteristics
The Plantation and Forestry Agency in Aceh Barat district organized the rubber nursery and
grafting propagation workshop for some of members of the three farmer groups (Pintu Rimba,
Amanah, Kelompok Wanita Tani) during one week in 2004. The obstacles that found in the workshop
as followwing:
- number of participants was limited
- no continuing facilitation process that conducted by the Plantation and Forestry Agency
- grafting tools supplying was limited that came from the Plantation and Forestry Agency
- farmer have not capital to purchase the grafting tools
- availability of germplasm high quality (entress sources) was limited in farmer group level
- lack of information regarding to demand, prices, and standard quality of seeds and seedlings in
Aceh Barat market.
Farmers have high interest and need the rubber nursery and grafting propagation training
course. They also need the rubber clonal for entress resources. Most of the farmer mentioned that the
nursery and grafting propagation practices are the new technology for them. They will get three main
advantages from the knowledge and skills of nursery and grafting propagation practices as following:
- rubber and fruit clonal have high quality of germplasm (high productivity)
- harvesting period of rubber and fruit clonal have shorter than the trees that came from natural
generative
- the nursery able to meet subsistance need of the farmer and commercial oriented
Durian, rambutan, rubber, cacao, coconut, pinang, and oil palm are the main comodities in
Aceh barat and Nagan Raya districts. Except oil palm; durian, rambutan, rubber, cacao, coconut,
pinang are maintained by smallholder. According to the farmers in Cot Selamat village (Samatiga
subdistrict) mentioned that rubber, cacao, durian, and rambutan have market potential and to extend
for nursery and grafting propagation practices.
I.
Tree Garden Management and Development Options
Generally, land holding of the farmer is 1 Ha to 2 Ha with consist of paddy field (± 0.5 Ha),
home garden system (± 0.5 Ha), and rubber peat swamp system (± 1 Ha). Home garden system and
5
rubber peat swamp system were established traditionally. The management of tree garden types have
traditionally and also extractive management for latex, fruit, and timber. Lack of knowledge and skills
of farmer in utilizing of high quality of germplasm, tree maintaining, and organic and chemical
fertilizing given impact on tree garden productivity. Harvesting is the main activity in the tree garden
types compared to maintaining activities in yearly. Harvesting latex have 52 times per year (excluded
raining days), but harvesting cacao have done per week during August to March. Rambutan and
nangka have harvested for twice a year, but durian only once a year. Harvesting coconut and annual
crops have done in 4 times per year. Maintaining actiivities such as weeding, organic fertilizing, tree
pruning and thinning were almost never done in home garden system, but weeding activity in rubber
peat swamp system have done for 2 to 3 times per year. Most of the planting, weeding, organic
fertilizing activities have done for annual crops.
Species
Annual
crops
Karet
Kelapa
Cacao
Durian
Rambutan
Nangka
Sawo
Planting
Weeding
2-4
2-3
Organic
fertilizing
1
-
2-3
-
-
Chemical
fertilizing
-
Pesticide
application
<1
Tree
management
-
-
-
-
crops
4
Harvesting
fruit
timber
latex
52
4
32
1
2
2
2
Fruit tree species dominated in home garden system than timber tree species. A few number
of timber tree species was found in home garden system. Compotition of the fruit tree species and
number of fruit tree have been affected by smallholder strategy, that is for maintained the continuing
of fruit productivity and incomes. The strategy given impact on increasing of fruit tree species and
number of fruit tree ownership. Fruit species priority in home garden system as following: durian,
cacao, coconut, pinang, rambutan, sawo, kweni, rambe, nangka, and pala. But in rubber peat swamp
system, rubber tree was dominant with highest tree density (± 900 trees per Ha) and low latex
productivity. Meranti rawa (Shorea sp.), bakau rawa, and leban (Vitex pubescens) have found in the
rubber peat swamp system with a few number.
Utilizing germplasm have still limited on local germplasm with low productivity. Except the
durian Bubon tree in Samatiga subdistrict have high quality of germplasm and able produced around
500 fruits per harvest season. Improvement germplasm have done by farmer through replacement
activity with using natural regenerated seedlings and grafted seedlings. They bought the grafted
seedlings such as rambutan, durian, sawo, and cacao from Medan.
White root disease is the main disease for rubber trees in rubber peat swamp system. High
humidity and flooded yearly caused the disease attacked intensively. Beside that, pig is the main pest
for annual crops and paddy.
Species
priority
Tree number
(per Ha)
Karet
500-900
Durian
Kelapa
Cacao
5
30-50
50-100
Kweni
Nangka
Rambutan
Paddy &
annual crops
15
25
10
Pest – disease
Germplasm
problems *
quality *
Tree Species
√√
√
White root disease
√
√
√
√
√
√√
Hama penggerek
batang
√
√
√
√
√
√
Annual Crops
√√
√√
Pig damage
Extension
involved *
Reforestation
program *
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√√
Notes: *√ less and √√ good (intensively)
Extension for improvement tree garden management (rubber peat swamp system and home
garden system) have never accepted by farmer from the Agriculture Agency and the Plantation and
Forestry Agency. In post tsunami period, farmers in Cot Selamat village (Samatiga subdistrict) have
high interest and need for the improvement tree garden management. They need to replace the
rubber trees with rubber clonal which produced high latex, adapted with peat swamp area, and also
6
produce rubber timber. Another alternative that farmer needed is species diversification in rubber peat
swamp system through substitution of the unproductive rubber tree with meranti rawa (Shorea sp.),
manau (rattans), and leban (Vitex pubescens). White root disease management and tapping
improvement training courses are needed by smallholder, too.
Innovation agroforestry for the home garden system have addressed to germplasm
improvement. Germplasm improvement have implemented through nursery and grafting propagation
practices. Beside that, product diversification for the fruit products (tempoyak, sirup, keripik, manisan,
etc) needs to consider. But before promoting the ‘value-added processing’ option need to make sure
that there is a market, that the farmers can provide a steady (reliable) supply to meet demand and
that the farmers can provide the necessary quality.
To reduce the impact of tsunami disaster on farmer and their properties, preferable in a long
of coastal – that already existed with the coconut trees – need to establish the Green Belt area that
function as the protector. In the green belt area will be planted with a various tree species that priority
for the farmer’s livelihood and also appears to recover and resprouting when the tsunami disaster
finished, as following: cacao, pala, kweni, sawo, sukun, nangka, kapuk, akasia, asam jawa, and
pinang
J. Marketing and Development Options
Generally marketing channels for the agroforestry products in Aceh Barat and Nagan Raya
districts consist of farmer (producers), local trader, collector (home industry), regional trader, and
industry in Medan that shows by the matrix below. The matrix shows that a big difference prices
between farmer and collector (home industry). The collector with his home industry able to sale the
higher price of agroforestry products than the farmer. In the home industry, the collector makes drying
processing for the cacao, coffee, pinang, and coconut products; and also crumbing processing for the
latex product.
COMMODITY
Farmer
Cacao
Rubber
Local
Trader

Rp 6.000/kg
Pinang

Rp 4.250/kg

Industry
(Medan)


Rp 500/fruit

Rp 21.000/kg

Rp 3.200/kg

Rp 10.000/kg

Rp 10.000/kg
Rp 350/kg
Coconut (local)
Regional
Trader

Rp 10.000/kg  Rp 12.000/kg 

Rp 7.000/kg
Rp 17.000/kg




Rp 3.800/kg
Coffee
Market Channel
Collector
(Home Industry)



Rp 1.000/fruit or
Rp 3.000/ bottle
Lack of knowledge and skills of farmer in utilizing of germplasm high quality, nursery and
grafting propagation practices, composs uses, and tree maintaining have given impact on the
productivity of home garden system and rubber peat swamp system that becoming low. Beside of
that, lack of knowledge and skills of farmer in post-harvesting and marketing for agroforestry products
caused decreasing motivation and ability of the farmer to improve the productivity of home garden
system and rubber peat swamp system. Marketing problems for smallholder agroforestry products
level as following:
- information of price of the agroforestry product was limited in each market channel level
- information of product specification of the market demand was limited
- no difference on price for the product with different quality
- list information of trader who will collect smallholder agroforestry products was limited
- difference perceptions between farmer regarding to marketing group
- the IJON system
7
high transportation cost caused by political conflicts between GAM – TNI
Farmer realized that the IJON system could be vanished and replece it with a Cooperative
Enterprise (soft-loan service) – Koperasi Simpan Pinjam. In the Cooperative Enterprise, all members
of farmer group have united in marketing group activity for latex, cacao, pinang, coconut, coffee
products. The important thing is all members have got opportunities for soft-loan service from the
Cooperative Enterprise.
-
8