Livelihood Diversity and the Impact on Farming Household Income in the Karst Region of Indonesia

Indonesia consist of diverse agroecosystems, including karst landscapes and it shapes household livelihood strategies and contribute to rural income inequality. Livelihood diversification serves as an adaptive mechanism to reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience. Currently the study about livelihood diversity in Indonesian karst agroecosystems remain limited. This research analyzes livelihood diversity patterns among farming households in the karst regions of Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta and examines their relationship with household income. Data were collected from 72 households through a census using semi-structured interviews. The results revealed that most household heads were men, with more than half being of productive age. The household heads mostly had low educational attainment. Agriculture was the main occupation (91.7%), with 77.7% of households receiving remittances. The Simpson Index indicated moderate livelihood diversification by scoring 0.48, dominated by agriculture and remittance income. Regression analysis revealed that livelihood diversity, land size, and age of household head significantly influence income generating. Livelihood diversity and land size had positive effects, while age had a negative effect. Gender, education, and remittance showed no significant effects. The study underscores the importance of enhancing livelihood diversity and integrated income strategies to strengthen household resilience and promote sustainable rural development in karst regions. © The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2025.