Analisis Faktor Penyebab dan Dampak Budidaya Jagung di Kawasan Hutan Desa Talonang Baru Kabupaten Sumbawa Barat - Putra, Arya Syah; Markum, Markum; Wulandari, Febriana Tri (Lembaga Penelitian dan Pemberdayaan Masyarakat (LITPAM), 2024)
Budidaya jagung di kawasan hutan Desa Talonang Baru, Kecamatan Sekongkang, Kabupaten Sumbawa Barat, menjadi praktik yang meluas dan memberikan dampak signifikan terhadap lingkungan serta perekonomian lokal. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis faktor penyebab dan dampak dari kegiatan budidaya jagung tersebut, menggunakan metode kualitatif deskriptif dan pendekatan DPSIR (Drivers, Pressures, State, Impact, Response). Sampel diambil secara acak dari 231 populasi petani, dengan 37 responden dipilih menggunakan rumus Slovin dengan tingkat kesalahan 15%. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa faktor sosial, seperti ajakan antar kerabat dan budaya turun-temurun, serta faktor ekonomi, seperti harga jual jagung yang tinggi dan keterbatasan lapangan kerja alternatif, menjadi pendorong utama budidaya jagung di kawasan hutan. Kebijakan pengelolaan hutan yang memberikan akses mudah kepada petani juga berkontribusi pada alih fungsi lahan hutan. Luas lahan yang digunakan untuk budidaya jagung mencapai 168,45 hektar dari 446 hektar total kawasan hutan yang dikelola. Dampak lingkungan yang ditimbulkan meliputi erosi tanah, degradasi lahan, peningkatan suhu udara, serta berkurangnya populasi satwa liar seperti rusa dan babi. Krisis mata air juga terjadi akibat hilangnya tutupan vegetasi hutan. Meskipun ada upaya mitigasi, seperti penanaman pohon, praktik budidaya jagung terus berkembang. Berdasarkan hal tersebut maka diperlukan kebijakan lebih ketat untuk mengendalikan alih fungsi hutan, serta perluasan sistem agroforestry untuk mengurangi dampak lingkungan. Edukasi dan peningkatan kesadaran masyarakat tentang pentingnya pengelolaan hutan yang berkelanjutan juga sangat diperlukan. Analysis of the Causes and Impacts of Corn Cultivation in the Forest Area of Talonang Baru Village, West Sumbawa Regency Abstract Corn cultivation in the forest area of Talonang Baru Village, Sekongkang District, West Sumbawa Regency, has become a widespread practice, having a significant impact on both the environment and the local economy. This research aims to analyze the causes and impacts of this corn cultivation activity using a descriptive qualitative method and the DPSIR (Drivers, Pressures, State, Impact, Response) approach. Samples were randomly taken from a population of 231 farmers, with 37 respondents selected using the Slovin formula with a 15% margin of error. The results indicate that social factors, such as family encouragement and generational traditions, along with economic factors, such as the high selling price of corn and the lack of alternative job opportunities, are the main drivers of corn cultivation in the forest area. Forest management policies that provide easy access to farmers also contribute to the conversion of forest land. The area used for corn cultivation has reached 168.45 hectares out of a total of 446 hectares of managed forest. The environmental impacts include soil erosion, land degradation, increased air temperatures, and a reduction in wildlife populations such as deer and wild boar. A water crisis has also occurred due to the loss of forest vegetation cover. Despite mitigation efforts, such as tree planting, corn cultivation practices continue to expand. Based on these findings, stricter policies are needed to control forest land conversion, and agroforestry systems need to be expanded to reduce environmental impacts. Public education and increased awareness of the importance of sustainable forest management are also urgently needed.