Determination of Alternative Cropping Patterns for Farmers in the Wawotobi Irrigation Area, Konawe Regency

Abstrak

The rice fields in the Wawotobi irrigation area utilize the potential water discharge from the Konaweha River Basin. The potential water resources for irrigation used for farming in the Wawotobi irrigation area have not been optimally and sustainably utilized. The purpose of this study is to obtain the maximum total profit by optimizing the use of the available planting area in the Wawotobi irrigation area. The problem-solving approach was carried out using simulation and optimization methods with the Quantitative System (QS) linear programming software. The optimization and simulation model used is linear programming optimization combined with the simulation of the planting area, water demand and availability, as well as farmers' capital availability. Optimization was conducted with six alternative schedules and cropping patterns. The research analysis was performed on components such as water demand and availability, production costs to meet water needs, types of crop commodities, water availability at the dam, and net profit per planting season per hectare. The results of this study indicate that among the six optimized schedules and cropping patterns, the best alternative is alternative 3. The first planting season starts in groups 1, 2, and 3 consecutively with rice commodities in January-I, January-II, and February-I. The maximum profit received by farmers is also the largest, as is the area of land utilized. The recommended type of commodity for the second planting season is rice, while for the third planting season, the suggested commodities are soybeans and corn for each group.

Kata kunci

• irrigation
• linear programming
• planting schedules and patterns