The decrease of rice-field area is one of causes of decreasing rice production in Indonesia. Physical development in many sectors has been converting rice field area into others such as industry, high ways, settlement and other agricultural areas. Because of limited possibility to extent rice field area, one of the efforts of increasing rice production is to implement intensification program.
Rice paddy intensification program relates to "green revolution". Reaching success in 1984 indicated by rice self sufficiency in the year of 1984. This modernization is considered of new rice farming technology application, which is popular by the term of Panca Usaha Tani (Pranadji, 1993). Five elements of Panca Usaha Tani are well soil preparation, prime seed, irrigation sufficient and regular, optimal application of fertilizer and pesticide.
Karawang is one regency in West Java Province that considered as one of national rice producing areas. This region is strategic, because it is relatively flat and located in the area of Jatiluhur irrigation. These are the reasons of Karawang chosen as a model of rice paddy intensification program.
The research title is "Pemodelan Indeks Tingkat Keberhasilan Intensifikasi Sawah di Kabupaten Karawang MT 1998/1999 dan MT 1999". The objective of the research is to determine successfulness index of rice paddy intensification in Karawang Regency. The index is based on qualification of existing soil quality, efforts conducted, and rice production. By comparing each index of each kecamatan, it can be seen level of successfulness of the kecamatan in implementing intensification program, and it can be identified what factors must be improved in order to increase rice production in those kecamatan.
The research questions are (1) Where is the highest and lowest of successfulness index in Karawang on growing season of the year 1998/1999 and 1999? and (2) How is the consistence of the index?
The research method employed is GIS, using overlay, classification and scoring techniques with kecamatan as analytical unit.
The results indicate that the highest indeces are in the southern part of Kabupaten Karawang, especially in the area of "excellent" and "poor" soil quality. Those are Kecamatan Cikampek and Telukjambe. The lowest indices are in the Northern and central of Karawang Regency, particularly on the "excellent" soil quality, Those are Kecamatan Tirtajaya and Rengasdengklok.
The results also indicate that the values of indices are consistence in measuring the level of successfulness in rice paddy intensification program in Karawang Regency in growing season of the year 1998/1999 and 1999.