Peatland Management for Food Security in Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract The population’s need for food can be met by utilizing peatlands for food crop farming. This article aims to describe the potential and use of peatlands for food security in Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan Province. The research was conducted in Rasau Jaya Dua Village in August-October 2017 through interviews with 46 respondents, observations, and data updates in 2022. The research shows that the majority of the Rasau Jaya Dua Village people are transmigrants from Java who use peatlands for cultivating food plants in the form of vegetable plants (chili, green beans, corn) and fruit plants (pineapples and watermelon). The peatland used by the community for agricultural activities has a depth of ± 2 m. Farmers determine the type and number of plants mainly influenced by the area of land owned for agricultural activities and capital ownership. Farmers with large areas of land and a lot of capital ownership tend to apply polyculture rather than monoculture planting patterns.