IDENTIFIKASI TEKNIK KONSERVASI TANAH DAN AIR DI KAWASAN PERSAWAHAN UNTUK MENUNJANG PENGEMBANGAN AGROWISATA KABUPATEN MINAHASA TENGGARA

Abstract

ABSTRACT

This research aimed to: (1) identify soil and water conservation techniques used by farmers/farmer groups in the
rice fields of Mbhuk, Wowol, and Kinawakan; (2) identify the difficulties faced by farmers/farmer groups in adopting and
applying soil and water conservation techniques in the rice fields of Mbhuk, Wowol, and Kinawakan; and (3) assess the
potential objects and attractiveness of the rice fields of Mbhuk, Wowol, Kinawakan to be developed as an agro-tourism
area in Southeast Minahasa Regency. The sample locations (observations) were determined by following the direction of
the transect/ path intersecting the slope. The data or information obtained during the study was classified based on the
research purposes and analyzed using qualitative descriptive analysis. The findings revealed that: 1 (a) Land use in the
rice fields of Mbhuk, Wowol and Kinawakan consists of rice fields, dry land, and dry land former of rice fields; (b) The
vegetative soil and water conservation techniques identified at the study site consist of relay cropping, intercropping, cover
crops, and green mulch. Meanwhile, mechanically identified are bench terraces and mounds; (2) The difficulties faced by
farmers in adopting soil and water conservation techniques influenced by education, agricultural area and land ownership,
as well as access to information and observerability; (3) The total value of potential objects and tourism attractions is as
much as 2.010 with an average value of 502,5. This value denotes that the rice fields of Mbhuk, Wowol and Kinawakan
are in the criteria of potential enough to be developed as an agro-tourism destination.
Keywords : Soil and water conservation, rice fields, agro-tourism