Direction and Strategy for Wetland Ricefield Extensification in Coastal Development Region of West Kalimantan Province

Abstract

The Coastal Development Region (DR) is the rice production center and supplier even for the other three DRs of West Kalimantan Province. However, by assuming cropping index of 130%, risk of harvest failure of 5% per year, and conversion of wetland ricefield of 9.8% per year, then the milled rice production of the Coastal DR in 2016 was predicted to achieve 460,178 ton that resulted in a deficit up to 9,922 ton out of the consumption requirement of its population that amounted to 470,100 ton. If it is not complemented with wetland ricefield extensification, then its role as the rice supplier for the three other DRs will also be finished in 2016 and it the food security condition in West Kalimantan Province will be affected. Therefore, a comprehensive planning, direction, and strategy for wetland ricefields extensification is needed in the Coastal DR of West Kalimantan Province. The location of this research consisted of seven regency/city included in the Coastal DR of West Kalimantan Province, namely Regency of Sambas, Bengkayang, Pontianak, Ketapang, Kayong Utara, Kubu Raya, and city of Singkawang. The objectives of this research were to: (1) identify potential lands for wetland ricefield extensification, (2) identify regional wetland rice production center based on comparative and competitive advantages, (3) identify cluster and typology of regional development level for wetland ricefield extensification, and (4) formulate regional cluster-based direction and strategy for wetland ricefields extensification in Coastal DR of West Kalimantan Province. Analysis was started with preparation of landuse map 2013 based on interpretation of Landsat 8 imagery using on screen digitation method. Potential area for wetland ricefield extensification was identified by overlaying landuse map 2013, land suitability map for wetland from RePPProt, and provincial RTRW map. The basis and/or leading region of wetland rice production was determined based on the results of Location Quotient (LQ) and Shift Share Analysis (SSA). Cluster and typology of the region was derived from the results of Cluster Analysis and Discriminant Analysis based on rice farming activity characteristics. Direction of priority region for wetland ricefield extensification was based on synthesis of results of the preceding analyses by referring to the Minister of Agriculture Regulation Number 50/2012 concerning Guidelines for development of agricultural region, and SWOT analysis was used to determine strategy priority. Landuse types in the Coastal DR consisted of mixed plantations covering area of 1,143,710 ha (20% of the total provincial area of 5,664,580 ha), swampy shrubs of 582,700 ha (10%), bushes and shrubs of 308,590 ha (5%), drylands of 243,660 ha (4%), wetland ricefields of 189,420 ha (3%), and waterlogged swamps of 184,940 ha (3%). The largest swampy shrubs, and bushes and shrubs were found in Ketapang Regency. Waterlogged swamps were only found in Ketapang Regency. Drylands and wetland ricefields were dominantly found in Sambas and Kubu Raya Regency. Based on the results of recapitulation of the existing and potential areas, it was identified available lands that could be used for wetland ricefield extensification amounted to 411,960 ha; mostly (>50%) were in Sambas and Ketapang Regency. The conditionally potential lands were identified to be 230,560 ha and those classified as not potential lands were 4,862,950 ha. The results of LQ and SSA analysis showed that five regencies/city were classified as basis regions and three of them were as leading regions for wetland rice production. Results of cluster analysis of the regional development level formed three clusters of region, namely developed region (Sambas and Kubu Raya regencies), moderately developed region (Bengkayang and Pontianak regencies), and less developed region (Ketapang, Kayong Utara regencies and Singkawang city). The first and second priority for wetland ricefield extentification were directed respectively to Sambas and Kubu Raya regencies, followed by the others. The priority strategy for cluster I was to increase the availability of and access to technology, capital and outreach program; for cluster II was to increase the quantity and quality of the products with the application of cultivation and postharvest technology; and for cluster III was the improvement of competitive-ness of the rice downstream industry, marketing, and industrial orientation.