Strategy for adaptation of rice plant management on the climate changes impacts in Soppeng Regency, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia

The global climate change resulting in shifting patterns distribution of rain was influenced to growth and development of rice plant. The aims of this study were to guide the implementation of rice cultivation technology based on climate change, to change the mind set of farmers from the hereditary habits to better system according to the climate change model, and to formulate the adaptation strategy to climate change impact in the management of rice plant in Soppeng Regency. The study began in January to April 2017 at 8 (eight) sub-districts in Soppeng Regency, South Sulawesi Province. The study employed descriptive quantitative study with survey model. Eighty farmers were selected purposively as respondents who are assumed to be able to answer the aspects studied such as production variables, diffusion of innovation, climatic elements, and government policy. Data analysis was descriptive quantitative analyzing rainfall according to Schmidt-Ferguson, SWOT analysis, and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) with expert choice program 11. The results of analysis with AHP method indicate that cultivation technology adaptation that can be applied to the rice planting management in Soppeng Regency was based on the sequence of priority scales. The component of the planting schedule has the highest weight of 18.8%, followed by the improvement of planting patterns 15.8%, the use of improved varieties 15.6%, water management 14.6%, 14.0% system improvement, 7.9% fertilization, pest control 7.7%, and harvesting component of 5.6%. Some alternative activities or programs on climate change adaptation strategy in rice cultivation are: (1) field school activities; (2) cultivation technical training; (3) participatory pest surveillance; (4) site-specific climate information procurement; (5) climate change socialization activities; (6) creation of experimental farm; (7) matching cultivation variety with climate condition; (8) diversification and crop rotation; (9) seed procurement; and (10) budgets of farmers’ groups.