Local traditions, customary institutions and agricultural downstreaming in Agrarian communities of Prabumulih, South Sumatra

Abstract

Abstract This study examines how local traditions and customary institutions shape agricultural downstreaming in agrarian communities of Prabumulih City, South Sumatra. While downstreaming is often promoted as a strategy for value addition, market integration, and rural income improvement, empirical evidence on how sociocultural institutions mediate farmers’ capacity to adapt to these transformations remains limited. Using a qualitative case-study approach, this research collected data through in-depth interviews with 20 informants, participatory observation, and document analysis across five villages (Karya Mulya, Karang Jaya, Tanjung Telang, Muara Sungai, and Pangku) with strong agricultural potential. Data were coded and analysed thematically using QDA Miner 6, guided by Social Capital, Institutional, and Value-Chain Theory. The findings indicate that successful downstreaming depends on the comprehensive integration of production, distribution, and marketing, which local traditions, customary institutions, and cross-actor coordination strongly mediate. However, challenges persist in tripartite collaboration, where government support remains insufficiently integrated with local institutional arrangements, and gaps in market access constrain the economic resilience of farming households. The study contributes to agrarian sociology by demonstrating that downstreaming should not be treated solely as a technical or market-based intervention, but as a sociocultural process requiring institutional alignment, trust-based coordination, and context-sensitive policy support.