Pendampingan Kelompok Tani dalam Pengoptimalan Lahan Pertanian Padi Sawah di Desa Bagok, Kabupaten Barito Timur, Kalimantan Tengah

Abstract

DANIEL MARCH STEPHEN NAINGGOLAN. Pendampingan Kelompok Tani dalam Pengoptimalan Lahan Pertanian Padi Sawah di Desa Bagok, Kabupaten Barito Timur, Kalimantan Tengah. Dibimbing oleh TRI BUDIARTO dan EDI WIRAGUNA. Desa Bagok, Kabupaten Barito Timur, Kalimantan Tengah, memiliki potensi lahan padi sawah yang besar, namun pemanfaatannya belum optimal akibat keterbatasan pengetahuan petani, dominasi teknik budidaya tradisional, serta ketergantungan pada sistem tadah hujan yang rentan terhadap anomali iklim. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis situasi pertanian padi, mendeskripsikan proses pendampingan kelompok tani, serta mengkaji peningkatan pemahaman petani dalam pengoptimalan lahan sawah. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan deskriptif kualitatif yang diperkuat data kuantitatif melalui observasi, wawancara, Focus Group Discussion, kuesioner, dan dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pendampingan partisipatif mampu meningkatkan pengetahuan dan kesadaran petani terhadap praktik budidaya padi yang lebih efisien, ramah lingkungan, dan adaptif terhadap kondisi iklim lokal. Temuan baru penelitian ini terletak pada penerapan pendampingan berbasis kebutuhan lokal yang mendorong kesiapan petani untuk meningkatkan intensitas tanam dan mengelola lahan secara lebih optimal tanpa mengabaikan kearifan lokal. Implikasi penelitian ini mendukung penguatan kapasitas petani, peningkatan produktivitas padi, serta pengembangan pertanian berkelanjutan di wilayah tadah hujan.

DANIEL MARCH STEPHEN NAINGGOLAN. Assistance for Farmer Groups in Optimizing Paddy Fields Agricultural Land in Bagok Village, East Barito Regency, Central Kalimantan. Supervised by TRI BUDIARTO and EDI WIRAGUNA. Bagok Village, Barito Timur Regency, Central Kalimantan, has substantial potential for lowland rice cultivation; however, land utilization remains suboptimal due to limited farmer knowledge, reliance on traditional cultivation practices, and dependence on rainfed irrigation vulnerable to climate anomalies. This study aims to analyze the condition of rice farming, describe the farmer group assistance process, and assess improvements in farmers’ understanding of land optimization. A descriptive qualitative approach supported by quantitative data was applied through observation, interviews, focus group discussions, questionnaires, and documentation. The results indicate that participatory farmer assistance significantly enhanced farmers’ knowledge, awareness, and capacity to apply more efficient, environmentally friendly, and climate-adaptive rice cultivation practices. The novelty of this study lies in the implementation of locally based assistance that strengthens farmers’ readiness to increase cropping intensity and optimize land management while preserving local wisdom. The findings imply that structured farmer assistance contributes to capacity building, improved rice productivity, and the promotion of sustainable agriculture in rainfed farming areas.