Regional Potential Analysis Based on Agricultural Commodities of Food Crops and Their Contribution to the Economy in the Karangsambung-Karangbolong Geopark Area, Indonesia: A Location Quotient Approach

Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

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

Abstract

The Karangsambung-Karangbolong Geopark Area is located in Kebumen, one of the districts with the highest poverty rate in the Province of Jawa Tengah, Indonesia. A regional economy can be improved by optimizing existing potentials in the agricultural sector, especially food-crop commodities. This research set out to determine 1) the basic or leading food crops per sub-district, (2) the relatively potential food crops to maintain, and 3) the rating of the carrying capacity of facilities in maintaining relatively potential commodities. This research used secondary data from the BPS-Statistics Indonesia, such as food-crop commodity production and infrastructure conditions. It employed the Location Quotient (LQ) method, the LQ’s strength criteria analysis and scalogram. The analysis results showed that each sub-district has distinct basic commodities, but rice, cassava and sweet potatoes were the best potential commodities to develop. The Karangsambung-Karangbolong Geopark Area is equipped with facilities and infrastructure with fairly good to good carrying capacities supporting the development of the three commodities.