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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

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

The role of indigenous knowledge and local wisdom in climate adaptation : Forest farmers group in Buton, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.14361
Submitted
4 March 2026
Published
02-09-2026

Abstract

Climate change poses significant threats to smallholder farming systems, yet limited research has examined how indigenous knowledge and local wisdom shape adaptive responses in varied agroecological contexts. This study addresses this gap by analysing climate adaptation strategies among smallholder farmers in Buton Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, across upland (Kapontori), midland (South Lasalimu) and lowland (Siotapina) zones. Data were collected from 250 randomly selected forest-farmer households through household surveys, key informant interviews and focus group discussions, supported by thematic and descriptive statistical analyses. While descriptive patterns suggest spatial contrasts such as stronger reliance on experiential knowledge in Kapontori and a greater role of peer networks in South Lasalimu and Siotapina, Chi-square tests revealed that differences in information sources and climate perceptions across the three zones were not statistically significant (p > 0.05), indicating convergence rather than divergence in farmers’ climate knowledge systems. However, variation in adaptation practices remains evident; for instance, rainwater harvesting shows lower uptake in Kapontori (44 %) compared to South Lasalimu (80 %) and Siotapina (75 %), reflecting differences in water availability and perceived urgency. Recommendations include embedding indigenous knowledge into formal climate advisory services, strengthening farmer-to-farmer knowledge exchange and investing in context-specific technologies. Theoretically, the study reinforces the co-production of knowledge framework, demonstrating that resilience is enhanced when traditional wisdom and modern innovations are integrated through local institutions.

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