Potential Analysis of the Agricultural Sector in the Development of an Agropolitan Area in Maros Regency

Abstract

This research was conducted to analyze the potential of the agricultural sector as a driver of economic growth in the Maros Regency. In the plantation sub-sector, coffee is one of the leading commodities that is very promising and is believed to be able to make a significant contribution to the regional economy. The Regional Government is optimizing Mallawa Subdistrict as a coffee-producing center in Maros Regency, characterized with regional economic growth, formulation of sustainable economic policies, and research sequences: identification of leading sectors, formulation of economic growth models and strategies, determination of strategic priorities, and preparation of road maps. This study uses a quantitative-qualitative method using location question (LQ) analysis. SWOT analysis was used to develop a development strategy for the Mallawa Subdistrict as an agropolitan area. The analysis results revealed that the agricultural sub-sectors with superior LQ values > 1 were horticultural plants (vegetables), food crops, fruit plants, plantation, livestock, and fisheries. Mallawa District can be developed as an agropolitan area. The strategy for developing agropolitan areas in the Mallawa Subdistrict using SWOT analysis concludes that the strategy for developing agropolitan areas in the Mallawa Subdistrict is in Quadrant I. One of the agricultural sub-sectors that is very promising and contributes significantly to the regional economy is agropolitan. This sub-sector plays an important role in providing employment, especially in rural areas in Maros Regency after the COVID-19 pandemic.