Multidimensional sustainability assessment of Indonesia's emerging konjac agrifood system: A case study in Sidenreng Rappang

Abstract

Konjac ( Amorphophallus muelleri ), locally known as porang, is an emerging bio-based commodity with the potential to support rural livelihoods, export diversification, and domestic value addition in Indonesia. However, production expansion may not generate sustainable outcomes unless ecological suitability is supported by technological capacity, resilient markets, inclusive social arrangements, and effective institutional coordination. This study assessed the multidimensional sustainability and transition readiness of the konjac agrifood system in Sidenreng Rappang Regency, South Sulawesi. Transition readiness was diagnosed from dimensional performance, disparities among dimensions, root mean square leverage scores, and policy priorities. An adapted RAPFISH multidimensional scaling approach termed RAP-Konjac assessed 27 attributes across economic, social, environmental, technological, and institutional dimensions using 32 purposively selected key informants. The system was moderately sustainable overall (mean index 57.41), but varied substantially across dimensions. Environmental sustainability achieved the highest index (67.73), whereas technology was the lowest (48.80) and was the only less sustainable dimension. Monte Carlo analysis confirmed classification stability. Leverage analysis identified supply chain efficiency, export market dependence, industrial processing, agricultural extension, partnership effectiveness, seed variety conservation, and pest and disease management as priority intervention points. The findings demonstrate that ecological potential alone is insufficient for sustainable transformation. Policy should prioritize post-harvest and processing technologies, domestic value addition, market diversification, extension, inclusive partnerships, and ecological safeguards. Nevertheless, the assessment is limited by its case study scope, purposive informant selection, stakeholder scoring, and cross-sectional design; thus, findings are context-specific and require validation through longitudinal research and applications in other konjac-producing regions.

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