A century of traditional rice farming in tidal swamplands of South Kalimantan, Indonesia: Its impact on breeding and conservation programs

The current and future tidal swamplands are very strategic as one of the Indonesia national food barns considering the decreasing of productive land. Utilization of tidal swampland for agriculture, especially rice farming in South Kalimantan by local farmers began spontaneously hundreds of years ago. Most of the tidal swampland in South Kalimantan is still planted with local rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties. Various local rice varieties planted by farmers include Siam, Bayar, Pandak, and Lemo varieties. These local varieties have been collected, identified, and conserved ex-situ in the tidal fields of South Kalimantan. The technology of local varieties of rice cultivation from seedling to harvest is carried out traditionally and uses traditional tools. Numerous local varieties collected and conserved, undergo crossbreeding with superior varieties to generate new high-yielding varieties with flavours favoured by the local populace. The Siam Unus serves as local variety for crossbreeding, while the superior varieties include Cisokan and Dodokan. The crossing of Siam Unus with Cisokan yields Margasari variety, and with Dodokan, it produces Martapura variety. Both varieties enjoy significant popularity among farmers and the local communities in the tidal areas of South and Central Kalimantan. This paper reviews research on traditional rice farming of tidal swampland and its impact on breeding and conservation programs in South Kalimantan.