Changes in land use and suitability of spatial planning on the paddy field in Gorontalo Regency

Abstract

Agricultural land is the main and unique factor of agricultural production because it is difficult to replace in an agricultural business process. This research is intended to conduct a spatial study of changes in land use, especially paddy fields and the suitability of spatial use with the regional spatial plan (RTRW). In this study, an analysis of land-use change was carried out by comparing multitemporal land cover data (time series), and the suitability analysis of spatial use by comparing actual land cover data with the direction of spatial use specified in the RTRW document. Both of these analyses were carried out by overlaying maps using GIS (Geographic Information Systems) spatial data processing software. The results showed that within ten years (2007-2017), an increase in the total area occurred in the plantation (1.4%), built land (41.37%), dry land/fields (1.97%), and lake/body of water land-use class (11.14%). While the area of forest, paddy fields, and shrubs are reduced by 0.12%, 5.09%, and 6.68%, respectively. The results of overlaying actual land use maps with spatial pattern maps on Gorontalo Regency RTRW show that most (65.67%) land use in Gorontalo Regency is still following the direction of spatial use which has been specified in the RTRW. Whereas 34.13% of other land uses were identified as not yet suitable (30.57%) and not suitable (3.55%) with the RTRW. Land use that is not yet suitable is still possible to change to adjust the spatial Plan in the future. Regarding paddy fields, the land-use suitability matrix with the RTRW shows that 86.18% of the paddy fields in Gorontalo Regency are following the RTRW (located in the allotment of wetland agriculture areas), while the remaining 13.82% are not following the RTRW. There is also the potential for new paddy fields with a total area of 6,293 hectares.