Colonialism, Crisis, and Food Diversification: Cassava Cultivation as a Food Crop in Java During Dutch Colonial Rule

Food security is a global imperative, with food diversification emerging as a primary strategic response. This article examines the intensification of cassava cultivation in Java during the Dutch colonial period as a strategy to strengthen food security, amid the impacts of the Cultivation System and its prioritization of export crops. Utilizing the historical method, this research demonstrates that cassava cultivation in Java stimulated a significant shift in agricultural patterns beyond rice,driven by food shortages and economic disruption resulting the expansion of export plantations into traditional food-producing lands. Furthermore, cassava played a pivotal role in maintaining food availabilityduring rice shortages. Under colonial pressure to supply global commodity markets and periods of ecological stress, cassava shifted from a supplementary food source into a primary staple. This study highlights how colonial agricultural policy addressed local food security while sustaining fulfilling global market demands, revealing the intersection of colonial governance, resource management, and food sovereignty.