UNDIP, Tulang Bawang (September 26, 2025) – The Patriot Expedition Team from Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) conducted field research in the Rawa Pitu Transmigration Area, Tulang Bawang Regency, to study the potential and challenges of the region’s key commodities. Rawa Pitu is known as one of Lampung Province’s main food granaries, with two major potential sectors: rice farming and oil palm plantations.
Land and Production Potential
The Rawa Pitu Transmigration Area covers thousands of hectares of productive land. In agriculture, local rice fields yield an average of 5–6 tons of rice per hectare per harvest season. With a considerable planting area, Rawa Pitu produces tens of thousands of tons of grain annually, making it a crucial contributor to regional food security.
In addition to rice, the area also has hundreds of hectares of oil palm plantations. However, despite its great economic potential, oil palm in Rawa Pitu has yet to receive serious attention. As the Indonesian government currently focuses on achieving food self-sufficiency, the palm oil sector is often overlooked in national policy priorities.
Issues Identified by the Team
In their research, the UNDIP Patriot Expedition Team identified several key challenges faced by the Rawa Pitu community, including:
- Unresolved land disputes.
- Damaged road infrastructure increases the distribution costs of rice and palm oil.
- Poorly managed irrigation systems, broken canal gates, and a lack of canal maintenance in plantation areas.
- The RNP facility, which could serve as a drying and milling center, is inoperable due to stolen equipment and high operational costs.
- Absence of a distinctive Rawa Pitu rice brand, resulting in farmers selling unprocessed grain with no added value.
- Farm-gate rice prices remain below Bulog standards due to poor road access.
- The palm oil sector remains neglected by the government, leaving its economic value underutilized.
Team Efforts and Stakeholder Response
As an initial step, the UNDIP Patriot Expedition Team held meetings with all village heads and farmer group associations (gabungan kelompok tani / gapoktan) in Rawa Pitu. The team also distributed research questionnaires to map out the problems and potentials from farmers’ perspectives, while publishing preliminary research findings.
These efforts received positive responses from various parties, including the Ministry of Transmigration, which emphasized the importance of integrated management in Rawa Pitu—not only as a food production hub but also as a driver of local economic growth.
Infrastructure as the Key to Economic Growth
One central point highlighted by the team is the need to improve road infrastructure. With better access, transportation costs for rice and palm oil could be significantly reduced. This effort would increase farmers’ profit margins, accelerate the distribution of harvests, and expand market access. The domino effect of improved infrastructure is expected to sustainably boost Rawa Pitu’s local economy.
Strategic Plans of the Team
The UNDIP Patriot Expedition Team plans to develop an economic development design and business plan for creating a Rawa Pitu Rice brand. With its own branding, local rice could gain stronger competitiveness in regional and national markets. Additionally, the team seeks to attract investors to develop both the palm oil and rice sectors in an integrated manner, prioritizing sustainability and farmers’ welfare.
Rawa Pitu holds vast potential and complex challenges. The presence of the UNDIP Patriot Expedition Team opens new opportunities for synergy among farmers, government, academics, and investors to transform Rawa Pitu into a center of economic growth and a pillar of national food security.
The Team II Patriot Expedition in Rawa Pitu consists of Albertus Fajar Irawan, S.P., M.Agr., Ph.D.; Fitri Aulia Zahrani Rosadi, S.K.M.; Zullaekah, S.P.; Syahrul Mubarok; and Thomas Adika Pratama. This collaboration with the Ministry of Transmigration embodies the spirit of “Noble and Valuable UNDIP” and aligns with the Ministry’s “Diktisaintek Berdampak” program. (Public Communication/ UNDIP/ Team II Patriot Expedition in Rawa Pitu – ed.As)