Contribution of Small Rainwater Reservoirs to Performance Off-season Vegetable Farming

Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) has become essential in ensuring sustainable agricultural production amidst ongoing climate change. This study aims to analyze the impact of small rainwater reservoirs (SRRs) on the performance of off-season vegetable farming in Netpala Village, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. The SRRs, constructed using plastic tarpaulin with storage capacities of 3.6 m³ and 4.3 m³, were applied to support the cultivation of mustard greens, Chinese cabbage, cabbage, carrots, and eggplant during the December 2017 to April 2018 growing season. An on-farm research (OFR) approach was used to assess the effects of SRR implementation compared to traditional water management practices. Key performance indicators include cultivated land area, planting index, crop diversification, and farmer income. Results revealed that SRRs expanded the cultivated area by 21.07%, increased the planting index by 0.52 for mustard greens and 0.64 for cabbage, and boosted farmer income by 29.38%. Income levels were also influenced by factors such as market absorption, commodity prices, and land availability. These findings demonstrate that SRRs can enhance the resilience and productivity of smallholder vegetable farming systems by improving water availability during the rainy or off-season. SRRs offer a practical and scalable solution to address water scarcity and promote sustainable intensification in vulnerable agricultural regions.