Farmers Interpretations of Market Uncertainty in Shaping Agricultural Livelihood Strategies

Vicente Manuel Luis Guterres (Faculty of Tourism, Arts, Creative Industries and Culture, National University of Timor Lorosae, Dili)
Vicente de Paulo Correia (Agriculture Faculty, National University of Timor Lorosa’e, Dili)
Joana da Costa Freitas (Agriculture Faculty, National University of Timor Lorosa’e, Dili)
Celso Ximenes (Agriculture Faculty, National University of Timor Lorosa’e, Dili)

Formosa Journal of Science and Technology (FJST)
Vol. 5 No. 4 (2026): April 2026

Uncertainty in the price of agricultural commodities is the main challenge faced by farmers in the Indonesia-Timor Leste border area, especially in Belu Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. This study aims to analyze how corn farmers interpret market uncertainty and its implications for their livelihood strategies. This research uses a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews and field observations of small-scale farmers in the 2024 harvest season. The results show that farmers not only view uncertainty as a risk, but also as a strategically anticipated condition. Farmers' interpretations are influenced by limited access to information, dependence on collectors, and cross-border market dynamics. This condition encourages adaptive strategies such as business diversification, crop storage, and the use of informal marketing networks. This research emphasizes the importance of strengthening access to market information and price stabilization policies to increase the livelihood resilience of farmers in border areas