Assessing household vulnerability of smallholder farmers during oil palm replanting: a case study in West Sumatra, Indonesia

Oil palm replanting is a capital-intensive process that often disrupts household income, leading to increased livelihood vulnerability among farming communities. This study assesses the level of household vulnerability experienced by smallholder oil palm farmers in Dharmasraya Regency, West Sumatra Province, Indonesia, both before and during the replanting phase. A mixed-methods approach was used, with a census-based sample of 180 households selected from four Village Unit Cooperatives (VUCs), Associations of Farmer Groups (AFGs), and Farmer Groups (FGs) that received replanting assistance in 2018 through Indonesia’s Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (POFMA). Vulnerability was measured using the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI), which captures changes across five livelihood asset categories: human, physical, social, natural, and financial. The findings reveal a significant increase in vulnerability during the replanting period, primarily due to reduced income and shifts in household assets. These results highlight the need for targeted government interventions to strengthen household resilience and mitigate the socio-economic impacts of oil palm replanting. Policy recommendations are provided to improve the effectiveness of replanting programs in supporting rural livelihoods.