Strategies for overcoming farmers’ lives in volcano-prone areas: A case study in Mount Semeru, Indonesia

Abstract

Mount Semeru is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia and the highest mountain in Java Island. Although the island is prone to volcanic eruptions, it is densely populated and also home to several farmers. The aim of this study is to analyze the strategies for overcoming farmers’ lives in Mount Semeru. This study involves 150 farmers who were randomly selected from terrains located at altitudes between 6 and 10 km in Mount Semeru. This study shows that farmers benefit significantly from the fertile lands resulting from volcanic eruptions. And they are highly motivated to engage in mitigation activities to reduce the impacts of eruption; therefore, they tend to participate in mitigation education or programs organized by government or private institutions. Support with the information and financial access regarding any mitigation strategies can help farmers a lot. Coordination among stakeholders to support mitigation strategies is necessary because all the parties are equally responsible for alleviating the impacts of volcanic eruptions. Any strategies for overcoming farmers’ lives in volcano areas also can be supported by community resilience.

Analysis of impact of the 2021 eruption of the Semeru Volcano in Lumajang Regency, East Java Province, Indonesia

“…Land in volcanoes faces the impact of primary and secondary hazards in the form of land damage. Damage also occurred to the socio-economic activities of the community in the disaster area [22,23]. The ground surface in areas of volcanic eruptions is generally covered by lava, pyroclastic flows, tephra (volcanic dust) and lahar.…”

Livestock farming sustainability and forage production in volcanic-hazard prone areas of Indonesia’s active volcano

“…More than 8.6 million Indonesians live in the high-risk volcanic zones 10 km from the eruption center (FAO, 2020). The high-risk zones are generally inhabited by small-scale family farmers who make a living from subsistence agriculture and livestock farming (Rozaki et al, 2022a). The volcanic mountains are climatically and ecologically diverse, resulting in a wide range of agricultural and livestock farming practices (Wilson et al, 2012).…”

“…The first eruption is likely to be followed by a sequence of further outbreaks during the upcoming weeks, months, or even years, resulting in varied and complex impacts on small-scale farmers, farm animals, and forage plants living in high-risk volcanic zones. Agricultural farming and other economic activities (trading, mining, tourism) could be inactive for a long time due to severe damage to crop plants, properties, and public and agricultural infrastructure of roads, bridges, and waterways (Naspiah et al, 2017;Utami et al, 2018;Rozaki et al, 2022a;Dede et al, 2022).…”