Sustainability Issues and Possibilities in Smallholder Ginger Production in Tropical Highland Agroclimatic Conditions

Abstract

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) cultivation in tropical highland areas offers economic potential and sustainability challenges, especially amid climate variability, market asymmetries, and limited technological access. Sukabumi District in West Java, Indonesia, covering 300 hectares and involving over 1,800 smallholder farmers, represents a key case of ginger production facing ecological degradation, institutional fragmentation, and socioeconomic constraints. Despite its growing role in food and industrial sectors, holistic sustainability assessments remain limited. The economic, social, environmental, technological, and institutional aspects of ginger farming sustainability are assessed in this study using a modified version of the rapid appraisal for fisheries (RAPFISH) methodology. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) was used to evaluate 48 qualities, with leverage analysis and Monte Carlo simulations providing support. Stakeholders' focus group, field observations, and expert judgment were used to gather data. The overall sustainability index reached 47.56%, categorized as “less sustainable.” The economic dimension (63.7%) was mainly influenced by the limited market access attribute with 16.34% leverage, the environmental dimension (57.27%) by poor crop rotation (3.34%), and the social dimension (55.81%) by traditional farming practices (5.13%). Meanwhile, the institutional (37.93%) and technological (23.08%) dimensions scored lowest, primarily due to limited credit access (8.41%) and machinery use (10.88%). These findings highlight the urgent need for evidence-based, context-specific interventions aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, promoting sustainable practices, and fostering innovation. The framework established in this study serves as a replicable model for evaluating sustainability in tropical commodity agriculture. In conclusion, this study contributes a replicable framework for assessing sustainability in smallholder commodity-based agriculture and provides critical insights for policymakers, development actors, and researchers. The results emphasize the importance of comprehensive actions that strengthen institutions and promote wider adoption of technology to support the long-term sustainability of smallholder ginger cultivation systems in tropical highland areas.