Rice cultivation in Bali: An Energy Analysis

Sean Foley

This study applies the methods of Energy Analysis to rice production in Bali, Indonesia, where the new HYV’s of rice have been introduced during the last 10 years in an attempt to increase per hectare yields. Two major surveys were conducted in the Dam Ubud area of South Central Bali to measure the differences in inputs and outputs used for the cultivation of Traditional and HYV's. The results of these surveys showed that labour inputs were effectuvely the same for traditional and HYV's; that the mean yield for the most modern of the HYV's (IR-36) was only 9% (168 kg/ha) higher than that of the highest yielding of the traditional varieties (Cicih Beton); mean fertilizer use for IR-36 was found to be 158 kg/ha, whilst that for Cicih Beton was found to be 10 kg/ha. Energy Ratios were calculated for each of the seven varieties sampled in the surveys; the ER of IR-36 was found to be 1:2.71, and that of Cicih Beton 1:5.85. The energy content of fertilizer application was found to account for 88% of the difference in energy inputs between IR-36 and Cicih Beton. Data from historical and contemporary studies of Balinese rice production were examined. The results of this analysis showed that the ER's for the cultivation of traditional varieties not using fertilizer (Urea) sampled during this study were comparable with those for rice cultivation in 1934 and 1918; and the ER's for the sample of IR-36 was comparable with that for IR-36 grown in other parts of the island. The average yields per hectare for Bali were found to have increased by only approximately 100Kg/Ha between 1934 and 1978, whilst the use of Urea fertilizer had reduced the ER for rice cultivation from approximately 1:7 (1934 and 1948) to approximately 1:3 (1978). These comparisons showed that efforts to increase per hectare rice yields by extending cultivation of HYV's had been only marginally successful, and that the use of nitrogenous fertilizer had halved the ER for rice production. Two policy recommendations were made; the initiation of a rice breeding programme to develop insect resistant varieties not requiring nitrogenous fertilizer; and the initiation of experimentation using green manures and compost to maintain soil fertility and improve soil structure.

Rice cultivation in Bali: An Energy Analysis

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