Efforts to Improve Rice Milling Capacity in Tidal Swamp Agroecosystem in Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra

Abstract

Compared to when the rice planted once in a year, now the increase of rice cropping index (CI) does not have much impact on the increase of rice milling work capacity in tidal swamp agroecosystem. This study aims to identify the causes of rice milling work capacity decrease and provide suggestions to increase the working capacity of rice milling. The survey was conducted in 2019 in Muliasari Village, Tanjung Lago Sub District as an easily accessible location and Sumber Hidup Village in Muara Telang Sub District as a relatively difficult location to reach, both located in Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatera Province. Descriptive data analysis quantitatively and qualitatively was done as comparisons. The results of this study indicate that: There are insufficient time and labor to carry out grain drying due to the immediate replanting of paddy fields to increase CI. Reactivating rice milling gives an impact on the use of leftovers such as husks and bran so that the added value can be used in the village. Policy suggestions through this activity are 1) guaranteed more favorable selling prices for rice, 2) rice processing diversification, and 3) reactivating post-sale activities through the use of food barns.