Perception gaps between agroforestry farmers and local governments on climate adaptation strategies: evidence from Sumbawa Island, Indonesia

Climate change increasingly challenges agricultural systems in drought-prone regions, highlighting the need for adaptation strategies that reflect both local livelihood conditions and institutional priorities. In agroforestry landscapes, adaptation involves multiple actors whose perceptions of its urgency may influence planning and implementation outcomes. However, limited attention has been given to how farmers and government officials prioritize specific adaptation measures within shared socio-ecological systems. This study examined differences in the perceived urgency of climate adaptation strategies among agroforestry farmers and local government officials in Sumbawa Island, Indonesia. A convergent mixed-methods approach was employed, combining surveys and semi-structured interviews with 50 agroforestry farmers and 24 government officials. Quantitative data were analyzed using Mann–Whitney U tests, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically to explain areas of convergence and divergence. Significant differences were identified for high-productivity crops (U = 191, p < 0.001), drought resistant (U = 460, p = 0.089), erosion control (U = 138, p < 0.001), bore wells (U = 206, p < 0.001), rainwater collection (U = 411.5, p = 0.024) seed subsidies (U = 295, p < 0.001), labour support (U = 278.5, p < 0.001), and insurance (U = 257, p < 0.001), with government officials consistently assigning higher urgency scores than farmers. In contrast, mixed planting and irrigation showed little difference between stakeholder groups. The findings indicated that farmers generally prioritized strategies already embedded in existing agroforestry systems, whereas government officials placed greater emphasis on interventions that require infrastructure development, financial support, and institutional involvement. These results provide insights for developing adaptation planning processes that are more responsive to local conditions while remaining aligned with broader policy objectives.