Penajam Paser Utara Borders IKN To Draft Raperda To Prevent Transfer Of Sawah Function

The North Penajam Paser (PPU) Regency Government in East Kalimantan Province (Kaltim) has prepared a draft regional regulation (Raperda) in an effort to protect rice fields so that they do not become converted.

"The district government is currently drafting a draft regional regulation related to rice fields," said Head of the PPU Regency Agriculture Service, Andi Trasodiharto when asked about the conversion of rice fields in Penajam, Sunday, June 15, which was confiscated by Antara.

The regulations or regulations that are being drafted by the district government, he continued, are to prevent the conversion of rice fields into plantations and settlements.

The preparation of a draft regional regulation document regarding the protection of sustainable food farming land, he said, is targeted to be completed this year and is proposed to enter the DPRD legislation to be discussed and stipulated as a definitive regional regulation.

The drafting of the regulation refers to the Regional Regulation of East Kalimantan Province Number 13 of 2016 concerning Amendments to the Regional Regulation of East Kalimantan Province Number 1 of 2013 concerning the Protection of Sustainable Food Agriculture Land.

Then referring to Law Number 41 of 2009 concerning the Protection of Sustainable Food Agriculture Land.

"Also coordinating with the team to prepare a regional spatial plan (RTRW) 2024-2044 North Penajam Paser Regency regarding the determination of agricultural areas," he said.

The protection of sustainable agricultural land does need to be fortified by regulations, he said again, because agricultural land that has changed its function to oil palm and rubber plantations reaches hundreds of hectares.

It is estimated that the area of rice fields in Penajam Paser Regency has changed its functions in Penajam District 310 hectares, Waru District 238 hectares, and 400 hectares in Babulu District.

Currently, he said, North Penajam Paser Regency which is directly adjacent to the capital city of Nusantara (IKN) has 8,000 farmers consisting of 700 farmer groups, with 9,020.26 hectares of productive rice farming land.

"Infrastructure of agricultural land irrigation sources is also important to protect agricultural land from conversion because so far agricultural land only relies on rain that is one of the factors that encourages farmers to transfer land functions," said Andi.