Agricultural Land Conversion Drivers And Irrigation Conflict Impacts In Sustainable Land Protection Areas: A Case Study From Muara Beliti, Indonesia

Abstract

Agricultural land conversion threatens food security and undermines Sustainable Agricultural Land Protection (SALP) policies in Indonesia. This study investigates the socio-economic and resource-based drivers of land-use change and the exacerbating role of irrigation conflicts in Muara Beliti District, Musi Rawas Regency. A mixed-methods design combined multiple regression analysis of 60 farmer households with in-depth interviews of key local stakeholders. Independent variables included farmer age, gender, ethnicity, farming experience, irrigation availability, crop type, farm income, and labor input. Regression results demonstrate that irrigation availability, farm income, and labor supply are the primary determinants of land conversion, whereas socio-demographic factors are statistically insignificant. Limited irrigation access compels farmers to shift from rice cultivation to higher-return alternatives such as aquaculture, oil palm, rubber, or residential development. Qualitative evidence indicates that upstream fish pond constructions significantly reduce downstream water flows, provoking crop losses, social tensions, and occasional sabotage of irrigation infrastructure. These interactions create a reinforcing cycle: water scarcity accelerates land conversion, and the expansion of aquaculture intensifies competition over water, amplifying both ecological and social risks. The findings underscore that effective protection of agricultural land depends on equitable water governance, economic incentives to maintain productive farmland, and sufficient rural labor. Policy interventions should prioritize investments in irrigation infrastructure, targeted income support for farmers, and participatory water management mechanisms to mitigate conflicts. Without coordinated measures addressing both economic and hydrological constraints, the sustainability of protected agricultural land remains jeopardized.