Study of Optimizing Swamp Lands in the Context of Socio-Economic Empowerment of Communities in Barito Kuala Regency, South Kalimantan

Abstract

Abstract Optimizing agricultural swamp land had a positive impact on the socio-economic empowerment of the community in Barito Kuala Regency, South Kalimantan. The research was conducted from March to November 2022. This research was a descriptive study, that used the method of collecting data using an investigative survey. Data analysis carried out investigations of sharecroppers, mapping and situation surveys, surveys of land use conditions, and investigations of land tenure status. The results of the study stated that the impact of the Swamp Land Optimization program on Community Socio-Economic Empowerment, namely contributing to farmers having their rice farming land area, strengthening the structure of farmers’ income sourced from on-farm activities, and farmers being able to meet their own needs. Some of the obstacles that were still experienced by farmers are the lack of water sources to irrigate paddy fields, the condition of damaged road infrastructure, low production yields, infertile agricultural land, pests and plant diseases, and others. Advice for policymakers is to maintain the sustainability of swampland optimization activities because it provides optimal assistance to farmers in rice farming in swampland.