South Kalimantan region is currently dominated by swamp land. Based on the data Department of Food Plant and Horticulture of Kalsel Province, the area of the provincial land reaches 4,9 million hectares consists of peatland, the swamped land and the lebak cartilage.
In the middle of the disposal, Banjar society has developed a farming system that is able to adapt to the harshest conditions, namely rice apung. This agricultural innovation is a creative idea of citizens to stay matching to grow while maintaining food resistance.
Rice apung, with its ability to grow in water, promises solutions for farmers who face the limits of peasland install massage and peat. The system does not only ensure a stable supply of food, but also optimizes the potential of the previously incorporated land.
The agricultural land announcements for sale in peat, Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan.
Photo air aerial swamps in South Kalimantan.
Suparlan (55) is a real example of this innovation success. After experiencing harvest failure due to the large flood of 2021 in Sampurna Village, Jejangkit District, Barito Kuala Regency. He then rises by applying a floating padi technique.
Using 76 styrofoam sheets as a floating medium, it grows more than 1,500 rumpun rice on the water. Styrofoam serves as a supporter, and wood poles that prevent crop shifting, allowing rice to grow optimally.
According to Suparlan, the Apung Rice power budi requires extra attention, similar to hydroponic. "Every day, the growth of plants should be noticed by telaten," he said.
Petani grows conventional rice in swamp land in South River Hulu Regency, South Kalimantan.
Petani padi apung Suparlan with wife posing at home dep facen in Sampurna Village, Barito Kuala Regency, South Kalimantan.
In May 2023, Suparlan became the only farmers in the village that managed to harvest Rice Apung, produce about 240 kilograms of dried rice from rice fields of 340 square meters.
Rice Apung not only introduces new agricultural technologies, but also becomes a vital alternative to the face of climate change and new agricultural land solutions. With its ability to grow in the prosperous land, Rice Apung demonstrates great potential to maintain food resilience in Indonesia and utilizes more effective land.
Photos and text : Bayu Pratama S
The equipment for planting floating rice.
Petani using boat preparing floating media to plant floating rice in the Northern River Hulu Regency, South Kalimantan.
Petani prepares the floating media to plant a floating rice in the Northern River Hulu Regency, South Kalimantan.
The floating rice seed grows above water in North River Hulu Regency, South Kalimantan.
Petani Suparlan shows the roots of apung rice in Sampurna Village, Barito Kuala Regency, South Kalimantan.
Petani Suparlan harvesting padi apung.
The Suparlan Farm lifts the floating padi that has been harvested.
Petani Suparlan showed rice from a floating padi that has been harvested.
Editor : Prasetyo Utomo
The caption is automatically translated by application. Click here for the Bahasa Indonesia version.
