The research was conducted by Baiq Chika Mutia Darmadja, Emi Salmah, and Baiq Saripta Wijimulawiani from the University of Mataram. Their findings were published in 2026 in the International Journal of Sustainable Applied Sciences under the title “The Impact of Agricultural Land Conversion into Residential Areas on Farmers’ Income in Gerung District, West Lombok Regency.”
The study highlights a growing development challenge across many parts of Indonesia: balancing urban expansion with agricultural sustainability. In Gerung District, West Lombok Regency, fertile rice fields are increasingly being converted into residential complexes as population growth and infrastructure development continue to accelerate.
For communities that rely heavily on farming, these land-use changes directly affect household income, employment stability, and long-term economic security.
Agricultural Land Declines as Housing Expansion Accelerates
Indonesia remains one of Southeast Asia’s major agrarian economies, with millions of people dependent on agriculture for income and food security. However, urbanization and rising housing demand have intensified pressure on productive farmland.
According to data cited in the study, harvested agricultural land in West Lombok reached 26,863 hectares in 2022, producing 135,065 tons of rice. By 2024, harvested land had dropped sharply to 24,860 hectares, while production declined to 122,867 tons.
The researchers identified Gerung District as one of the areas experiencing rapid residential development. The study focused specifically on Beleke Village and Giri Menang Hamlet, where agricultural land conversion has become increasingly visible in recent years.
The region’s strategic location near government centers and transportation infrastructure has made the area attractive for housing projects. As residential expansion continues, farmland availability has gradually decreased.
Interviews Reveal Mixed Economic Outcomes
Rather than relying only on statistical analysis, the researchers used a qualitative case-study approach to understand how farmers personally experienced these economic changes.
The research team conducted field observations, interviews, and documentation studies involving farmer group leaders, landowning farmers, and local government officials in Gerung District.
The findings showed that land conversion did not affect all farmers equally.
Some landowners benefited financially by selling their agricultural land and reinvesting the proceeds into larger or more productive farmland in other locations. Others used the money to diversify income sources or improve household assets.
However, farmers who lacked financial planning strategies often struggled after selling their land. Many spent the proceeds on daily household expenses, leaving them without long-term economic security or replacement farmland.
The study also found that tenant farmers and agricultural laborers were among the most vulnerable groups because they lost access to cultivated land without receiving direct financial compensation from land sales.
According to the researchers from the University of Mataram, economic outcomes depended heavily on three factors:
- Land ownership status
- The ability to manage land-sale proceeds productively
- Adaptation strategies after land conversion
The study documented cases where some farmers successfully purchased larger farmland elsewhere, increasing their income after relocation. Others experienced unstable earnings because their agricultural production capacity disappeared after land conversion.
Farmers Shift to Informal Work Outside Agriculture
The research also revealed a broader social transformation in rural West Lombok.
As farmland becomes less available, some farmers have started seeking alternative employment outside the agricultural sector. Several interview participants reported taking jobs as construction workers, traders, or informal laborers to maintain household income.
This shift reflects a gradual restructuring of rural livelihoods in areas affected by rapid residential growth.
Baiq Chika Mutia Darmadja and the research team noted that agricultural land conversion changes not only physical landscapes, but also social and economic structures within farming communities.
One of the study’s key insights came from farmer group leader H. Sukron Hamdani, who explained that landowning farmers generally viewed land conversion more positively because they still possessed valuable assets that could be sold or reinvested. Tenant farmers, by contrast, faced declining opportunities to continue farming.
The researchers also found that perceptions of land conversion varied significantly among farmers. Some considered residential development an economic opportunity, while others viewed it as a threat to long-term family stability.
Implications for Food Security and Regional Development
The findings carry important implications for policymakers, regional planners, and agricultural authorities in Indonesia.
The study warns that uncontrolled land conversion could weaken agricultural sustainability and reduce long-term food production capacity in regions that historically depend on farming.
For local governments, the research underscores the importance of balancing housing development with farmland protection policies.
The researchers recommended stricter land-use regulations and more consistent oversight to prevent excessive conversion of productive agricultural land into residential zones.
They also emphasized the need for farmer empowerment programs, particularly financial literacy initiatives and support systems that help farmers reinvest land-sale income into sustainable economic activities.
According to the study, development policies should not focus exclusively on housing expansion without considering the long-term economic resilience of farming communities.
The findings from West Lombok may also reflect broader trends occurring across Indonesia and other rapidly urbanizing regions in Southeast Asia, where agricultural land continues to compete with residential and commercial development.
Academic Perspective From the Researchers
The authors from the University of Mataram concluded that agricultural land conversion creates “complex impacts” on farmers’ economic conditions because income outcomes vary according to individual circumstances, adaptation capacity, and access to productive assets.
Their analysis suggests that land conversion itself is not automatically harmful or beneficial. Instead, the long-term impact depends largely on how communities and policymakers manage economic transition after farmland disappears.
Author Profiles
- Baiq Chika Mutia Darmadja — researcher in rural development and agricultural socioeconomics at University of Mataram.
- Emi Salmah — academic researcher at the University of Mataram specializing in community development and regional economic issues.
- Baiq Saripta Wijimulawiani — researcher from the University of Mataram focusing on social and economic transformation in rural communities.
Source
Darmadja, Baiq Chika Mutia, Emi Salmah, and Baiq Saripta Wijimulawiani. “The Impact of Agricultural Land Conversion into Residential Areas on Farmers’ Income in Gerung District, West Lombok Regency.” International Journal of Sustainable Applied Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 4, 2026, pp. 271–282. DOI: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijsas.v4i4.420.
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