Development Strategy of Rice Farming Areas Based on Farmer’s Preferences and Land Resource in South Bangka Regency

Abstract

As the highest rice producer in the Province of Bangka Belitung Archipelago, South Bangka Regency has not until now capable of being selfsufficiency. Increasing activities in tin mining and plantation trigger farmers to switch their profession and/or to convert the usage of their farmlands, so that it can be an obstacle in establishing food security in the Province of Bangka Belitung Archipelago. Food security is a determining factor of national stability of a country. Various social and political instability can be happened if the food security is disturbed. Therefore, a comprehensive rice farmland development strategy is needed. This research aimed at to: (1) analyze priorities of rice farming development strategy based on hierarchy analysis of the farmer’s preferences, (2) identify land resource for rice farming development based on Landsat image interpretation, land suitability and rice farming spatial pattern of the regency regional spatial arrangement plan, and (3) compose strategy direction of rice farmland development in South Bangka Regency to achieve rice self-sufficiency. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to arrange strategy priority of the rice farming area development that based on the farmer’s preference. The strategies and actions analyzed in AHP was referred to the Law No.41/2009 and Government Ordinance No.12/2010 that were chosen based on land suitability and conditions as well as culture of the rice farmers in South Bangka Regency. To identify the available land resources for rice farming area development the GIS analysis was performed by overlaying the actual land cover, rice farming spatial pattern of the regency regional spatial arrangement plan, and land suitability for rice farming. Results of the farmer’s preference analysis and the available land recources were finally sinthesyzed to get development strategy of the rice farming area. The first two of the farmer prioritized strategies were the development of agricultural infrastructures and the increase in rice production facilities. Farmers of the moderately developed area also considered product marketing improvement as an important strategy, while those of the undeveloped area preferred an increase in the government incentives. Land resource suitable for wetland rice farming were identified with suitability class of S1, S2, and S3 covering area of respectively 8,680, 30, and 3,070 ha, while for upland rice farming with suitability class of S3 covering area of respectively 10,390 ha. The development strategy for the moderately developed area was directed primarily to increase the farm business productivity, while for the undeveloped area was to protect the existence of rice farming activities. By implementing land extensification and intensification scenario, rice self-sufficiency at South Bangka Regency and Province of Bangka Belitung Archipelago level can be achieved in respectively year 2017 and 2032.