The dynamics of agricultural crop production development on land cover changes in Tinggimoncong District
T Dariati1, K Mustari2, MS Solle3, F Ulfa2, and H Iswoyo2

1Agricultural Science, Graduate School of Hasanuddin University, Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan KM 10, Makassar, South Sulawesi, 90245, Indonesia.
2Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Hasanuddin, Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan KM 10, Makassar, South Sulawesi, 90245, Indonesia.
3Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Hasanuddin, Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan KM 10, Makassar, South Sulawesi, 90245, Indonesia.

E-mail: tigindariati[at]unhas.ac.id

Abstract

Agricultural activities can lead to land cover changes in a watershed region such as in Tinggimoncong District, Gowa Regency that located in the upper stream of the Jeneberang watershed. Gradually, there has been a development in agricultural activities in the area, marked by an increase in agricultural area as well as agricultural production that led to a change in land cover in the region. A descriptive study was conducted with aim to determine the relationship between the development of agricultural activities and the increase in agricultural production with land cover changes in the upstream Jeneberang watershed. This understanding is expected to help create a more environmentally friendly agricultural environment so that it can be more sustainable. This research shows that the development of plantation crops had contributed to land cover change, due to expansion of human activities in agriculture into the forest area, thus the primary forest then turned into secondary forest. The development of agricultural activities was partly attributed to the higher selling price of agricultural products. It makes farmers excited to increase their production, including by expanding the area for planting crops that have high selling value.

Keywords: Agriculture crop production, Land Cover, Landscape Change, Jeneberang Watershed

Topic: Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development