LAPPEN Dharma Palekahelu Using GIS to Map Agriculture potency in TTS Full text

USING GIS TO MAP AGRICULTURE POTENCY
IN TIMOR TENGAH SELATAN WEST TIMOR

By: Dr. Dharmaputra T. Palekahelu, M.Pd. and Ferry F. Karwur, Ph.D.

Center for Eastern Indonesian Studies
Satya Wacana Christian University - Indonesia

Research Objective
The research on Agriculture Potency and Mapping
of Land Use Suitability in Timor Tengah Selatan
(TTS) has the purpose to assess and map the
available agricultural resources and is aimed at
providing a managerial tool for the decision makers
and the prominent figures in developmental
activities, in bringing the benefits of agricultural
resources precisely and appropriately, both in
recovering food security condition and improving the
prosperity of the community, which 90.2% of them
are farmers (Susenas, 2000).


Research Methodology
The assessment on agriculture potency and
mapping of agricultural land suitability is conducted
through 2-way approaches:
• Compare the requirements needed for a certain
use with the characteristics of the resources in the
land (objective approach)
• Assess from inside out, i.e. observe the real
agricultural characteristics and potency based on
the subjective opinions from the members of the
community

Primary Variables
• Climatic Factors
• Water availability and water shortage conditions
• Land capability on the bases of land
characteristics, fertility, and limiting factors in soil
tillage, and
• Types, area grouping, and agricultural
commodities production.


Other Non-Technical Variables
• Priority of plants to work on or develop according
to the community,
• Economic values of agricultural commodities,
• Technology input factors,
• Marketing aspects,
• Human resources potency,
• Market condition and availability,
• Financial institution, and
• Area accessibility, especially the condition of
transportation means and infrastructures

Using GIS to Mapping:
(a) Land Unit System
(b) Level of Availability of Nitrogen, Phosphorus,
Potassium and Organic Matter
(c) The Limiting Factor of Soil Tillage
(d) The Availability of Water
(e) Distribution Map of Priory and

the Pattern of Agricultural Activities
(f) Land Use Suitability

Land Unit System

The 21 Land Unit System in TTS

The 558 Land Unit System at the level
of Village in TTS

Soil pH in TTS

Soil Fertility Index

Soil with Stones

Soil with Sand

!
A Hard Soil


Dry Soil

Hilly Topology

soil solumn

"

#

#

$
&
January
OELET

%
'


(

February

FATUKOPA

%
Mart

FATUKOPA

BILLA

BILLA

BILLA

BOTI


April

BILLA

May

June

$
&

%
'

July

August

October


November

(
September

December

Distribution Map of Priory and
the Pattern of Agricultural Activities during Wet Season
Maize

Manihot

Sweet Potato

Ground Nut

Distribution Map of Priory and
the Pattern of Agricultural Activities during Wet Season
Kacang Hijau


Soyabean

Red Bean (K. Merah)

Rice

Distribution Map and Priorities for Annual Plants
Satsumas/Orange

Banana

Pinang (Areca Nut)

Coconut

Distribution Map and Priorities for Annual Plants
Aleurites

Coffee


Tamarin

Piper Betle

Land Use Suitability
Upland Rice

Maize

Sorghum

Kacang Hijau

Land Use Suitability
Groundnut

Yams

Colocasia


Manihot

Land Use Suitability
Sweet Potato

Triticum

Banana

Orange

Land Use Suitability
Mango

Arabic Coffee

Coconut

Avocado


Land Use Suitability
Tamarin

Tobacco

Agroforestry

Grassland

Area Grouping

Area I: Higher Potency
(0,47%)

Area II: High Potency
(7,91%)

Area III: Medium Potency
(25,58%)

Higher to Medium
Potency (33,95%)

Area IV: Low Potency
(27,91%)

Area V: Very Low
Potency (25,12%)

Area VI: Limited
Potency (13,02%)

Low to Limited Potency
(66,05%)