Bali’s Snake Fruit Agroforestry System Is an Agricultural Heritage

The tropics have a lot of delicious fruits to offer, including the snake fruit or salak from Indonesia. One of the most important things to highlight is how the fruit is cultivated, as it is linked with agricultural systems and various life aspects. In this context, the snake fruit agroforestry system in Bali, Indonesia, is recognized as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). 

Snake Fruit Cultivation

Bali, Indonesia, is famous for its tourism with natural landscape, rich culture, and friendly locals. Beyond that, Bali also has many local fruits to enjoy, like snake fruits or salak. 

The first source of snake fruit cultivation in Bali comes from the Sibetan Village in Karangasem Regency, known as the driest part of the island. This village sits 500–600 meters above sea level, with dry land, wet climate, and primarily laterite soil. With time, snake fruit cultivations spread to other regencies like Gianyar, Bangli, Badung, Tabanan, and Buleleng. 

The snake fruit itself is diverse. In the Sibetan Village alone, there are at least 15 cultivars of snake fruits, such as salak gondoh, salak getih, salak cengkeh, and many others. Each variety has its own distinct flavor, color, texture, tree size, and leaf shape. 

Bali’s Snake Fruit Agroforestry 

Unlike the general snake fruit cultivation, Bali, especially the Karangasem Regency, utilizes the traditional agroforestry system. It integrates snake fruit cultivation with other plants like mangos, bananas, coconuts, and medicinal plants. This system was developed by Bali’s Indigenous communities using subak, a traditional water management system. Snake fruit trees grow under taller trees that protect the water source, creating an agricultural landscape with rich biodiversity that combines cultural values and ecological sustainability. 

This way, snake fruit trees grow healthier and protected from pests, with a more stable soil moisture. The snake fruit agroforestry method also helps maintain topography, prevent erosion, save water, absorb carbon, and support food security as well as conserving local cultural heritage and livelihood. 

Rooted in Bali’s traditional philosophy like “Tri Hita Karana” and “Tri Mandala”, this system reflects harmony among human, nature, and spirituality, as noted on the UNESCO’s Cultural Landscape. Bali’s snake fruit agroforestry system has been passed down from generation to generation. With this, Balinese people cultivate snake fruits without destroying their forests. They also utilize all parts of the snake fruit tree to minimize waste. 

In September 2024, FAO recognized Bali’s snake fruit agroforestry system as one of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). This addition came together with the carp pond farming in Austria and the cacao agroforestry system in Sao Tome and Principe. With these three additions, the GIAHS list has 89 agricultural systems from 28 countries. 

Mainstreaming Nature-based Agricultural Systems 

The agricultural sector is one of the most strategic sectors due to its intersection with history, livelihood, food security, nature conservation, and others. Bali’s snake fruit agroforestry system has emphasized that nature-based agricultural systems can be a worthy solution amidst widespread ecological destruction, particularly caused by unsustainable agriculture. Regions with rich natural resources, like Indonesia, have significant potential and opportunity to develop similar systems. Of course, successful implementation requires support, action, and commitment from all stakeholders in the sector. 

Translator: Nazalea Kusuma

The original version of this article is published in Indonesian at Green Network Asia – Indonesia.

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