One of PASIH most exciting recent initiatives includes a pilot plot for agroforestry development. This pilot combines agricultural land, livestock and processing of organic fertilizer and biogas to demonstrate a model for sustainable farming and land use. The initiative combines conservation, sustainable agricultural and animal husbandry practices. Through this demonstration plot, PASIH hopes to show to local farmers is it possible to maintain profitable farming practices while at the same time taking a responsible approach to land use.

This initiative was developed in order to respond to increasing use of fertilizers and mono-culture of cash-crops amongst local farmers. While both these practices may result in short-term gains, neither guarantees a sustainable income for the farmers. The sensitive soil on Siberut Island is quickly destroyed by over-use of fertilizers, while cultivation of a single cash-crop leaves farmers vulnerable to both disease and market-fluctuations. The PASIH Agroforestry plot aims to demonstrate the economic possibilities that can be gained from environmentally responsible agroforestry based on diverse crops.

The land used for this pilot plot was a mixture of old fields (pumonean), sago plantations and vegetable farms. This plot is very rich as it contains fruit trees (durian, coconut, jackfruit, cocoa amongst other), sago plantations, and seasonal crops such as chilli, long beans and other vegetables. Wild sago and bamboo are still growing on the banks of the river and the plot is maintained with as little intervention on the natural environment as possible.

The Agroforestry Demonstration Plot is also equipped with a learning centre and training facilities. With the support of Paul K. Feyerabend Foundation and Stichting Ommersteyn, PASIH has built a 2-storey meeting-hall designated as a training center and meeting place for the community.

The meeting-hall sits on 3 hectares of land and is conveniently located within easy public access. It includes a center stage measuring 8m x 11m and is equipped with a terrace. The main room, measuring 8m x 6m, serves as the main meeting room and can accommodate up to 30 people. The building is purposely designed to be open-plan in order to keep it as an informal meeting place, open for the use of all. It is intended to be a shared communal space where farmers and others can stop by to gain or share information. It can also be used by those who might need accommodation, for example, farmers traveling from up-river.

The meeting-hall is also equipped with a learning center on the 2nd floor, which contains books, pamphlets and other reference material on agriculture, plantation, popular education, forest use, land management knowledge and information on Siberut and conservation. It is hoped that this learning center will serve to strengthen the communication of information amongst local farmers and support the sharing of knowledge and information across the local community. The development of this learning center will provide a major contribution to increasing the capacity of farmers and in developing agroforestry in Siberut to be more economically advantageous while at the same time respecting the local environment.

This agroforestry demonstration plot is located in Teitei Sinabak, Maileppet village. The land is located on the edge of the road that connects the residential complex in Block B, the village Maileppet (Jl. Raya Muara Siberut-Maileppet). This land is relatively flat lowland divided by the Maileppet Bat River.