National Land Agency BPN - Republic of Indonesia (1995):
International Workshop on the Implementation of Rural Land Consolidation

6. Implementation of Agricultural Land Consolidation in Rawa Sragi, Province of Lampung, Indonesia

by Drs. Soelarso, Head of Regional Office of the National Land Agency Province of Lampung

6.1 Background

6.1.1 History of Land

Rawa Sragi covers 22,000 hectares land area. Previously, this area was a swamp land as production forest. The swampy land was resulted from flood which came from Way Sekampung River and its branches. The height of flood reached 1.5 to 2 meters, which caused the area neither available nor productive. Besides, its status was a production forest; however, it was not producing woods anymore. Since it was covered by grass and pales trees (kind of palm), the area was not suitable for agriculture because of high flood.

In 1951, about 200 households from West Java joined in the National Reconstruction Bureau, they came and settled in around Rawa Sragi.

Beside that new comers, previously there had been staying the settlers from South Sumatera who reside on river banks by catching fish, and the Bugis tribe live in Muara Way Sekampung and work as fishermen.

Because of sediment made from flood and Mount Krakatau ashes erupted in 1883, this area developed as fertile land.

Until 1924, the government through Ministry of Public Works, started developing this area to be agriculture area. In the area, the could be opened up amounted to 1,000 hectares in Way Pisang Sekampung. Meanwhile, in 1979, this project was developed continuously with the grant from the Netherlands Government, whereas its contribution ended in May, 1991.

At the same time with the opening of this project, other settlers came spontaneously by opening up rice field area and this phenomenon gradually grew year by year.

In 1982, Rawa Sragi area where previously a productive forest was changed into non-production forest area and then it was decided as Landreform object.