ANALYSIS OF LAND SUITABILITY FOR LOWLAND RICE COMMODITIES USING THE GIS-MCDA METHOD

Abstract

Objective: To investigate land suitability for rice by considering the matching of weighting and scoring results and map overlay to obtain land suitability classes and assess land suitability to existing rice fields.   Theoretical Framework: Rice is a staple food critical to Indonesia's food security. Its increasing demand is driven by population growth. Despite its importance, rice productivity in the area remains below the national average, necessitating innovative approaches to land use optimization.   Method: The analysis employed GIS-based MCDA, combining primary data from farmer surveys with secondary data, including soil, elevation, slope, and land use maps. The parameters influencing suitability—such as soil type, depth, texture, pH, and proximity to water sources and roads—were weighted using the Analytical Hierarchy Process.   Results and Discussion: The results reveal significant variability in expert perspectives: farmers prioritize water proximity, academics and researchers emphasize soil type, and government officials focus on soil depth. The majority of the area (79.60%) is marginally suitable, 16.69% is moderately suitable, and 3.71% is unsuitable. Existing paddy fields are predominantly under the S3 class, with profitability indicated by an R/C ratio of 1.68.   Research Implications: Soil type is the most influential parameter on land suitability, while proximity to roads is the parameter with the least influence. The opportunity for developing lowland rice is large because the use of suitable land is ≤ 1% compared to the availability of suitable land. The R/C ratio value of 1.68 indicates that the development of lowland rice in this area is promising.