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Plant Science Today (PST)

Review Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp7 (2026): International Conference on Agricultural Sustainability

Socio-economic values and potential of jamblang (Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels) for social forestry and community development in Nusantara

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.14349
Submitted
4 March 2026
Published
15-09-2026

Abstract

Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels, locally known as jamblang, is a multipurpose tropical fruit tree of the Myrtaceae family with ecological, nutraceutical and livelihood relevance. This narrative review explores the socio-economic values and development potential of jamblang as a species for social forestry and community development in Indonesia. Literature was collected from Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed and relevant institutional sources using predefined keywords related to S. cumini, jamblang utilisation, pharmacological properties, livestock use, economic value and social forestry. The selected literature was synthesised thematically and assessed through strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) and threats, opportunities, weaknesses and strengths (TOWS)-based interpretation. The review indicates that jamblang can support community livelihoods through fresh fruit trade, processed food products, natural colorants, pharmaceutical raw materials, livestock-related uses and agroforestry-based income diversification. Its bioactive compounds, including phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanins and terpenoids, strengthen its value for nutraceutical and biopharmaceutical development. However, its commercialisation is constrained by limited cultivation data, weak market mapping, limited processing technology and insufficient farmer-level promotion. Government support should therefore prioritise cultivation standards, post-harvest and processing guidelines, product safety standards, farmer group assistance, market-chain development and technical innovations for nursery management, fruit processing, seed flour, natural colorant production and biomass-based livestock feed. Jamblang is best positioned as a complementary multipurpose tree species in social forestry schemes, particularly community forests, village forests, forestry partnerships and privately owned people’s forests.

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