Rice-field Conversion and its Impact on Food Availability

One of causes such reduced rice-field area is rice-field conversion, which is not proportional to establishment of new rice-field. The research was a survey method, which was intended to: (1) identify the causal factors of the rice-field conversion, (2) calculate the rice-field conversion development, and (3) predict the loss of potential rice production as a result of rice-field conversion. Population of the research was farmers who apply such rice-field conversion at Pangkep Regency, South Sulawesi. Samples were determined using incidental sampling method, performed land quality analysis, land conversion, and prediction the loss of potential unhulled-rice production using time series data. Results of the research showed that, the causal factors of rice-field conversion to non rice-field (turned into embankment) include lower productivity of rice-field, low quality of land, and higher economic values of the land that belonged to the competitors. Rice-field conversion at La’bakkang Subdistrict in Pangkep Regency that had occurred for 5 years (2009–2014) covered the area of 124.5 hectares or for about 24.9 hectares per year. Meanwhile, the loss of potential rice production, since that period as a result of rice-field conversion was 1,571,129 kg or 314,225.8 kg per year. Such condition has occurred cumulatively, permanently, and progressively, which meant that loss of food production (particularly rice), which was caused by land conversion, was very huge and cannot be recovered anymore.