Cropland Conversion and Its Effect on Rice Production in Lampung Province, Indonesia

Abstract

Lampung Province is one of the national rice producers in Indonesia. This study aimed to determine the patterns of cropland conversion, specifically rice fields, and available rice fields from 2013-2018 and to analyze the effects of two independent variables (rice field area and rice field conversion rate) on the dependent variable, i.e., total rice production. The conversion rate was calculated from 2013 to 2018, then categorized into three classes, and spatially mapped with rice field area and availability. Multiple regression tests were conducted to determine the relationship between the two independent variables. Results show that while rice fields were concentrated in Lampung Selatan, Lampung Tengah, and Lampung Timur, their conversion to non-agricultural lands was found throughout the province. Rice field areas increased in the north and east but shrunk in the south, west, and center. The statistical analysis revealed that rice field area, conservation rate, and their combination do not affect the amount of rice production in most regencies/cities in the province.