Spatial distribution of agricultural land carrying capacity in Purworejo Regency

Geography and Environmental Sciences, Departement of Environmental Geography, Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: sdrajat@ugm.ac.id

Abstract

The increasing population in Purworejo Regency has a negative impact on the availability of agricultural land. As a result, available agricultural land is decreasing it’s carrying capacity, in producing food for the population. Based on these problems, the study was carried out to analyze the spatial temporally distribution trends of the carrying capacity of agricultural land in the Purworejo Regency area from 2009–2018. The study used secondary data 2009–20018 and analyzed descriptively qualitatively. Spatially the results of the study found that there were variations in the spatial distribution patterns of the carrying capacity of agricultural land in Purworejo Regency from 2009–2018, while judging by the trend, there was a tendency for the carrying capacity of agricultural land in each sub-district, the trend of which increased, decreased and some remained . The results of this study also found that the carrying capacity of agricultural land in each sub-district in Purworejo Regency was between 1-≤2.46. If the trend of decreasing the carrying capacity of agricultural land is allowed to continue, the ability of the sub-district to produce food will decrease, so that the availability of local food will decrease. For this reason, it is natural for the Purworejo Regency Government to adopt a policy to control agricultural land so that the sub-districts that become food storage can be maintained.