Assessment of Rice Farming Sustainability with the MDS-RAPFISH Approach: A Case Study in South Nias Regency, Indonesia

The sustainability of rice farming is a strategic issue for sustainable agricultural development, particularly in archipelagic and underdeveloped regions such as South Nias Regency, Indonesia. Rice cultivation not only fulfills food security needs but also serves as the primary livelihood source for rural communities. However, challenges including limited infrastructure, low technology adoption, environmental pressures, and weak local institutions threaten the long-term viability of the farming system. This study assesses the sustainability of rice farming in South Nias Regency through a multidimensional lens, encompassing economic, social, ecological, institutional, and technological dimensions. It adapts the Multidimensional Scaling–Rapid Appraisal for Fisheries (MDS-RAPFISH) approach to evaluate sustainability in underdeveloped island contexts that is a novel application for this region. The integration of institutional and technological dimensions expands the scope of analysis, providing a more comprehensive assessment and serving as a scientific basis for formulating context-specific, data-driven sustainable agricultural policies. Data were collected via farmer questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and literature review. Results indicate that rice farming in South Nias Regency falls within the “Unsustainable” category. Keywords: Sustainability, farming, agricultural development strategy.