ASSESSING THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM DISTRIBUTION TO THE CROPPING INDEX AND RICELAND POTENCY IN NORTH TAPANULI REGENCY
Deddy Romulo Siagian, Novia Chairuman, Tumpal Sipahutar and Sri Endah Nurzannah

Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technology of North Sumatera

Abstract

The irrigation system is one of the main supporting factors to increase the production of agricultural commodity, especially rice. Recently, the significant contribution from irrigation system gave small value because of some issues such as climate change, land use change, the existing river and the infrastructure damage from the irrigation system itself. Indeed, it gives impact to the total of rice production. This paper has objectives to map the distribution of irrigation system and to observe the correlation of irrigation system distribution to the cropping index, total irrigated-area, and the total production of rice area in North Tapanuli Regency. The Geographical Information System (GIS) was applied for the mapping of the irrigation system distribution, and the SPSS was implemented as well to analyze the contribution of the irrigation system in rice cultivation. The results show that the highest of number of irrigation coverage area is located in Siborong-borong, Pagaran and Tarutung Districts by 19,10 and 9 respectively. Besides, it found that the coverage area has significant correlation with the cropping index and total irrigated area parameters. Based on the results, it needs to increase the irrigated-coverage area on the districts, which has a big opportunity to improve its future productivity.

Keywords: irrigation system, cropping index, riceland potency, north tapanuli

Topic: Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development