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Medicinal Plant Production System Management in Rural Java, Indonesia: Views of Local Actors from a Participatory Rural Appraisal Approach

Forest and Society · Vol. 9 No. 1 (2025) · pp. 20–47

DOI
10.24259/fs.v9i1.31352
ISSN
2549-4333, 2549-4724
Published
2025-01-03
Publisher
Forestry Faculty, Universitas Hasanuddin
Language
en
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Abstract

Medicinal plants’ production systems in Indonesia’s rural Java play a crucial role in sustaining local livelihoods and healthcare needs. Medicinal plants are managed by locals independently based on household preferences and endowments through wild gathering and cultivation-based production systems. However, these situations create a continual problem of weak bargaining positions. Thus, this study aimed to assess local needs and potential in supporting medicinal plants production systems management in Java, Indonesia, with the view to advance local actors' perspectives in a multistakeholder platform. The Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) approach proved useful in incorporating local knowledge in the planning and development of strategies. We implemented PRA techniques, such as problem identification based on a cause-and-effect diagram, group discussion and brainstorming, preference ranking of priority species, and a Venn diagram based on stakeholders' classification. These were carried out with 150 local actors from four villages. Results reveal that Candlenut tree are the preferred species in the wild gathering system, while Javanese turmeric and Broadleaf plantain are preferred in the cultivation-based production systems. Urgent interests include more lucrative gathering and cultivation, a remunerative market, and a reliable local economic institution. The PRA results demonstrate that local actors' involvement is highly required in administering production systems to enhance medicinal plants’ sustainable production and management.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

9 authors · 24 co-authorship links · 12 across different organisations

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  • National Research and Innovation Agency
  • Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut
  • Technische Universität Dresden
  • University of Indonesia
  • Different organisations
  • Same organisation
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Thicker line = more joint articles · bigger circle = more articles
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Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Ibnu NadzirNational Research and Innovation Agency2
Setiawan Khoirul HimmiNational Research and Innovation Agency2
Adhis TessaUniversity of Indonesia2
Rosita Novi AndariNational Research and Innovation Agency2

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/fs/oai, first harvested 5 Nov 2026, last seen 8 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en">Medicinal Plant Production System Management in Rural Java, Indonesia: Views of Local Actors from a Participatory Rural Appraisal Approach</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Astutik, Sri</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Ahimbisibwe, Vianny</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Hintz, Kendisha Soekardjo</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Purwanto, Purwanto</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Humaedi, Muhammad Alie</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Medicinal plants</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Multi-stakeholder platform</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Participatory rural appraisal</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Production system</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Rural livelihood</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">Medicinal plants’ production systems in Indonesia’s rural Java play a crucial role in sustaining local livelihoods and healthcare needs. Medicinal plants are managed by locals independently based on household preferences and endowments through wild gathering and cultivation-based production systems. However, these situations create a continual problem of weak bargaining positions. Thus, this study aimed to assess local needs and potential in supporting medicinal plants production systems management in Java, Indonesia, with the view to advance local actors' perspectives in a multistakeholder platform. The Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) approach proved useful in incorporating local knowledge in the planning and development of strategies. We implemented PRA techniques, such as problem identification based on a cause-and-effect diagram, group discussion and brainstorming, preference ranking of priority species, and a Venn diagram based on stakeholders' classification. These were carried out with 150 local actors from four villages. Results reveal that Candlenut tree are the preferred species in the wild gathering system, while Javanese turmeric and Broadleaf plantain are preferred in the cultivation-based production systems. Urgent interests include more lucrative gathering and cultivation, a remunerative market, and a reliable local economic institution. The PRA results demonstrate that local actors' involvement is highly required in administering production systems to enhance medicinal plants’ sustainable production and management.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Forestry Faculty, Universitas Hasanuddin</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2025-01-03</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
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	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/fs/article/view/31352</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.24259/fs.v9i1.31352</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">Forest and Society; Vol. 9 No. 1 (2025): JUNE; 20-47</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2549-4333</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2549-4724</dc:source>
	<dc:language>en</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/fs/article/view/31352/12404</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2025 Forest and Society</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</dc:rights>
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