UTILIZING CROPPING CALENDAR IN COPING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE

Abstract

One implication of climate change is shifting of the onset and the end of the season that has adverse impacts on cropping pattern and crop productivity, particularly seasonal crops. To assist farmers in adjusting cropping pattern and planting time, produced of cropping calendar maps is imperative. The objective of this study was to develop new cropping calendar map for seasonal crop, principally paddy rice field in Java based on climate variability (wet, normal and dry years). The cropping calendar map was developed through several steps: (a) actual planting time analysis, (b) potential planting time analysis, and (c) completion of cropping calendar map. The analyses were made by using climatic data from 1983 to 2006 and rice planted area period data from 2003 to 2005 in Java Island. The results showed that there was a considerable different of cropping calendar among wet, normal, and dry climate conditions. The peak of cropping calendar of first crop (MT I) in wet year are almost the same within normal year i.e. on Oct 2/Oct 3. For dry year, the peak of cropping calendar is on Dec 2/Dec 3. Analytical results also show the intensity of crop- ping practices in Java differ among provinces particularly West, Central and East Java. The differences indicate the season onset in each region varies significantly. This condition implies to the agricultural inputs distribution schedule. Hence, untimely distributions of seed, fertilizer and other inputs can be avoided, because the proper time of germination the seed can be expired, cost of storing fertilizer and degradation of fertilizer quality. For a better planning of cropping time and pattern, these cropping calendar maps were developed at the scale of 1:250.000 at the sub-district level and furnished with a detail description of cropping time. Those cropping calendar maps which were compiled in an atlas can be used as a guideline for extension workers and farmers in exercising their farming practices.