Palu – The SP Janja Transmigration Area in Janja Village, Tolitoli Regency, Central Sulawesi, has been identified as having significant potential for sustainable maize cultivation. This finding was reported by Arian Musmuliadin, Patta Tope, and Rifai Mardin from the Master's Program in Rural Development, Graduate School of Tadulako University, in a study published in 2026 in the East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (EAJMR). By integrating the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the researchers developed a land suitability map that can support evidence-based agricultural planning and policymaking in Tolitoli Regency.
Maize is one of Indonesia's most strategic food commodities, playing a crucial role in strengthening national food security, supporting livestock feed production, and supplying raw materials for agro-industries. As demand for maize continues to increase, maximizing land productivity has become increasingly important. In transmigration areas, ensuring that agricultural land matches its biophysical characteristics is essential for improving crop yields while maintaining environmental sustainability.
The SP Janja Transmigration Area covers approximately 97.83 hectares and has been developed as an agricultural production zone for transmigrant communities. However, the area's land characteristics vary considerably. Differences in temperature, rainfall, soil texture, slope, drainage, and erosion risk mean that not all parts of the area are equally suitable for maize cultivation. These conditions prompted the researchers to conduct a comprehensive land suitability assessment to provide more accurate recommendations for agricultural development.
The study employed a descriptive quantitative approach by combining Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology with the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Data were collected through field observations, land surveys, documentation, structured interviews with experts, and spatial datasets obtained from the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG), the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG), Statistics Indonesia (BPS), and the Indonesian Center for Agricultural Land Resources Research and Development. Eight biophysical parameters were evaluated, including temperature, rainfall, wet months, slope, drainage, soil texture, erosion hazard, and land use.
The analysis identified temperature as the most influential factor affecting land suitability for maize cultivation, accounting for 29.90 percent of the total weight. Rainfall ranked second at 20.20 percent, followed by drainage (13.20 percent), wet months (12.00 percent), soil texture (11.20 percent), slope (5.70 percent), erosion hazard (4.50 percent), and land use (3.10 percent). The consistency test produced a Consistency Ratio (CR) of 0.027, well below the accepted threshold of 0.10, indicating that the expert assessments used in the analysis were reliable and scientifically consistent.
Using the weighted overlay technique in ArcGIS, the researchers generated a spatial land suitability map for maize cultivation. The results showed that 68.71 hectares, or approximately 70.23 percent of the study area, fall into the Moderately Suitable (S2) category. The remaining 29.12 hectares, or 29.77 percent, were classified as Marginally Suitable (S3). No areas were categorized as either Highly Suitable (S1) or Not Suitable (N). These findings indicate that nearly the entire transmigration area has considerable potential for maize production when supported by appropriate land management practices.
The study also identified several limiting factors that may reduce agricultural productivity. High annual rainfall, prolonged wet seasons, inadequate drainage systems, and moderate erosion risks remain the primary challenges affecting parts of the area. According to the researchers, these constraints can be addressed through improved soil conservation practices, better drainage infrastructure, balanced fertilization, and adaptive land management strategies that match local environmental conditions.
According to Arian Musmuliadin and colleagues from Tadulako University, integrating AHP with GIS provides a more objective and scientifically robust approach than conventional land evaluation methods. Besides identifying the most suitable locations for maize cultivation, the integrated framework enables local governments to prioritize agricultural development based on actual field conditions. This evidence-based approach can improve planning efficiency while supporting more sustainable regional development policies.
The research offers valuable practical implications for local governments, agricultural extension officers, and farming communities. The resulting land suitability map can be used to determine priority cultivation areas, improve agricultural productivity programs, and guide sustainable land-use planning. Furthermore, the AHP-GIS approach presented in this study can serve as a reference for evaluating agricultural land in other transmigration areas across Indonesia with similar environmental characteristics.
Overall, the study concludes that the SP Janja Transmigration Area possesses substantial potential to become an important maize production center in Tolitoli Regency. By combining modern spatial technologies with scientific land evaluation methods, agricultural productivity can be increased while ensuring the long-term conservation of natural resources. The findings provide valuable scientific evidence for strengthening sustainable agricultural development and supporting Indonesia's national food security agenda.
Author Profile
Arian Musmuliadin – Master's Program in Rural Development, Graduate School, Tadulako University, Palu.
Patta Tope – Master's Program in Rural Development, Graduate School, Tadulako University, Palu.
Rifai Mardin – Master's Program in Rural Development, Graduate School, Tadulako University, Palu.
Research Source
Article Title: Land Suitability Evaluation of the Transmigration Area: SP Janja, Janja Village, Tolitoli Regency
Journal: East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (EAJMR), Vol. 5, No. 7, 2026.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v5i7.239
Journal Website: https://journaleajmr.my.id/index.php/eajmr
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