From Rice to Oil Palm: The Historical Evolution of Peatland Reclamation in the Berbak Delta, Indonesia
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Berbak delta,
land-use change,
oil palm plantation,
rice fields,
transmigration program
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Abstract
The Berbak Delta in Jambi Province, Indonesia, underwent large-scale peatland reclamation in the 1970s to develop rice fields through a transmigration program. Initially, rice production averaged 3–4 tons/ha but declined to less than 1 ton/ha due to the conversion of peat soils into acid sulfate soils. This decline was attributed to soil acidification resulting from pyrite oxidation, leading to a decrease in soil pH. Currently, rice cultivation persists in areas near rivers influenced by tidal brackish water. In response to declining yields, a technological package for acid sulfate soil management, including canal water management, pH improvement, and fertilizer application, was introduced. This increased rice yields to over 5 tons/ha in a 100-ha pilot project in 2005. However, by 2008, farmers began shifting to oil palm plantations due to higher income potential. This study examines the land-use change from rice fields to oil palm plantations and its impact on the livelihoods of the Berbak Delta communities. Land cover change analysis from 2013 to 2023 revealed a decrease in rice fields from 58.30% to 25.79% and an increase in oil palm plantations from 15.37% to 55.70%. Oil palm cultivation has demonstrated sustainability on reclaimed acid sulfate soils, leading to economic prosperity through improved infrastructure, housing, and increased private vehicle ownership.
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