Rehabilitation Strategies of the Tsunami Affected Agricultural

Areas in Nangroe Aceh Darussalam, Indonesia*

K. Subagyono1, B. Sugiharto2 and B. Jaya3

Introduction
The impact of earthquake and tsunami on people, livelihoods and landscape
has led to a need for rehabilitation. The action to reconstruct the area is urgently to be
executed otherwise there will be more other difficulties that may severely affect the
people and their livelihoods. Farming capacity is significantly decreased due to
damage of paddy field, lost of equipments and capital damage of irrigation
infrastructure. Some efforts concerning the short-term response to the people of Aceh
have been done which mainly dealt with materials for their daily live with various
helps. However, the action to ensure the efforts to meet immediate humanitarian needs
for more sustainable future than the one they have lost are considerably limit.
In the tsunami aftermath, agricultural land has degraded through several
processes including (a) salinization of soil and water, (b) de-surfacing of landscape
due to deposition of sand to clay sediments and destroying the dike of paddy fields,
and (c) destroying irrigation/drainage infrastructures and roads. Preliminary survey on
February 03, 2005 (about 5 weeks after tsunami) has shown that in general the level of
damages of the eastern part of the province was relatively lower than that of western
part of the province. However, salinity was comparable in which electrical
conductivity of 0.1 - >100 mS/cm and 7-12 mS/cm have been measured for surface
water and sediment respectively in paddy fields. In addition, the water has destroyed
the landscape and came up with de-surfacing of the landscape and it led to more than
200 thousands of people was died and many other thousands were lost. The deep
percolation of saline water may be occurred leading to groundwater recharge by saline
water, which may diminish the water supply for irrigation and other usage. Hence,
land rehabilitation in agricultural areas is a challenge to be conducted to ameliorate
soil and water qualities for better crops growth and production. Soil and water
management will be the key role in this rehabilitation measures.
Agricultural sectors play an important role to the economic development of Aceh.
Farming is the main source of income of the people, which contributes about 60% of the
income (survey March 2005). About 80% of villagers engage in agriculture and fisheries.
Unfortunately, the December 26, 2005 tsunami has destroyed the agricultural land leading
to the dis-functional area for conducting the agricultural production. As far as the land
quality is concerned, the tsunami affected areas have to be rehabilitated by such soil and
water management strategies to improve soil and water qualities. In addition, the socio-
economic aspects must be taken into consideration in

1 Center for Soil and Agroclimate Research and Development, Bogor, Indonesia

2 Special Program for Food Security (SPFS), FAOR, Jakarta, Indonesia

3 Directorate General of Food Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesia
*) Presented in “Salt-affected Soils from Sea Water Intrusion:Sstrategies for Rehabilittaion and
Management Regional Workshop”, 31 March – 1 April 2005, Bangkok, Thailand.
1
rehabilitating agricultural areas for sustainable agriculture. Therefore, rehabilitation of
agricultural sector would be essentials and urgent.
In addition, farmers’ current experiences and local ecological and
scientifically-based knowledge in land rehabilitation for such damages in the tsunami
aftermath are limited to enable improvements, and these have not guaranteed
implementation of land rehabilitation measures. Lost of many things leads to a
difficulty for Acehs' people to rehabilitate the agricultural areas in order to be able to
re-start their farm. Limited refinement and adaptation of the existing technologies for
local biophysical and socio-economic environments as well as positioning farmers at
the leading roles promise to create significant improvements. Hence, the rehabilitation
needs to be conducted on the basis of community development. The community-led
land rehabilitation strategies have a great probability of success.

Tsunami affected areas

Incredible natural phenomenon of tsunami following the powerful earthquake
having the magnitude of 8.9 has happened on December 26, 2004. The center of the
earthquake was initiated in the Indian ocean near by Meulaboh one of the severely
damaged city of the Nangroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) province, Indonesia. This
earthquake was followed by the giant wave affecting many areas in the Asia and
Africa regions, which has impacted the landscape, people, and livelihood.
In Indonesia, tsunami has affected the major coastal areas of NAD and the little
part of North Sumatra. An example of severely land damages in the coastal area near
by Banda Aceh, the capital city of NAD (Figure 1). Since there have been immediate
response to NAD areas concerning the identifying of the damages and the action
program for rehabilitation, the paper is focused to explore the data of Aceh and the
experiences in dealing with rehabilitation strategies.
FAO estimated the tsunami affected agricultural areas of NAD was about
61,816 ha including wetland and dry land (Table 1). The affected areas of west coast
were about 45,755 ha and of east coast were about 16,061 ha. About 50 % of affected
areas of east coast belong to low damage and other 50% was medium damage. Out of
the total 45,755 ha damaged 10 % with low damage (4,575.5 ha), 20 % with medium
damage (9,151 ha), 60% with severely damage (27,453 ha) and 10 % was lost (5,575.5
ha). The damages can be due to salinity, de-surfacing of landscape, and
infrastructures.

2
 Table 1. Estimated land damages for food crops and horticulture (FAO, 2005)
Districts Wetland (Ha) Dry land (Ha) Total (Ha)
Banda Aceh 75 50 125
Aceh Besar 6,855 9,465 16,320
Aceh Jaya 8,800 3,068 11,868
Aceh Barat 2,970 1,114 4,084
Nagan Raya 3,960 1,560 5,520
Aceh Barat Daya 3,080 4,758 7,838
Pidie 2,860 3,072 5,932
Bireuen 2,118 567 2,685
Aceh Utara 1,224 612 1,836
Aceh Timur 2,119 - 2,119
Simeuluwe 3,410 79 3,486
Total (Ha) 37,471 24,345 61,816

Agriculture Agriculture

Settlement
Settleme
nt

Forest Forest

Figure 1. Surface coverage before and after tsunami in adjacent area of Banda Aceh
(Image of IKONOS)

3
Direct impact of tsunami to agricultural land
The direct impact of the tsunami to the agricultural land has been shown by
several types of damages including (a) direct crop destruction by wave, salt poisoning,
uprooting etc., (b) de-surfacing of the landscape due to erosion and sedimentation, (c)
deposition of salted sediment, (d) trash and debris accumulation, (e) salt infiltration
and groundwater salinization, (f) fertility depletion when the top soil is eroded, (g)
biological destruction and (h) infrastructure damages.
Direct crop destruction
Direct crops destruction has occurred prior to
wave, salt poisoning (Figure 2), uprooting etc. along the
east and west coast of NAD. During the tsunami disaster,
the crops in most area have reached generative stage, and
the crops even ready for harvesting in some of the areas.
The tsunami had destroyed the crops, poisoned the soils
leading to the crops to die. The tsunami did not only
destruct the food crops, but also severely affected some
trees and forage crops. There is evidence in the west coast
of NAD that the tsunami also destructed totally some
areas of estate. It is predicted that the loss of tree crops is
not only caused by the high energy of tsunami but also
cause by the increase of salt contents in the soils. There
was evidence that the remaining survived crops are with
inappropriate growth. Figure 2. Crop destruction
due to salinity

Landscape de-surfacing
The powerful wave of
tsunami strongly destroyed
the agricultural land
surface. The turbulent wave
eroded the top soil in some
part of the land while
Figure 3. Landscape de-surfacing due to erosion and deposited the transport
sedimentation sediment to other part of
the land (Figure 3). The
results of both process is
that the landscape is
modified naturally by the
changing of topography
over the tsunami affected
areas. Farm area, farm road
and dike were eroded. In
the west coast this situation
causes the lost of land
border and may cause
difficulty to trace land
ownership.
4
Deposition of salted sediment
The powerful wave during the
tsunami transported marine sediment
further inland of about 1-2 km at the east
coast and 3- 5 km at the west coast of
NAD, which was deposited at the land
surface. This is the salted sediment having
EC values varies from 2 to more 100
mS/cm. Two types of sediments have been
identified in the land surface of the tsunami
affected areas in NAD including sand and
clay sediments. The thickness of the
sediment is varied depending upon the
distance of the location from the coast. In
east coast of NAD most sediment is clayFigure 4. Salt precipitation and sediment
(only few part near the sea is sand) with thecracking in Tanah Pasir, Aceh Utara
thickness of less than 20 cm, while in the
west coast the sand sediment is deposited
near the sea and clay sediment further inTrash and Debris
land with thicknesses of more than 20 cm.
Since the original soils are sandy soil, the The tsunami destroyed the housing
present of clay sediment may provide and village area and brought the wrecked
physical improvement such as an increase and ruined house to the agriculture area.
in water holding capacity. However, theWoods, clothes, etc. widely spread over
present of salt in the sediments is athe area. The presence of the trash and
constraint, which urgently to be leacheddebris (Figure 5) prevents the agriculture
out. During dry period, salt precipitationactivities.
was clearly identified in the field, an
example was in Tanah Pasir, Aceh Utara
(Figure 4). Observation to the sediment
indicated that salt content in the fine clay is
quite high. In the location where clay
sediment is high the salt intrusion into the
original soils is quite limited. It seems the
clay layer has prevented the percolation of
sea water to deeper zone. It was identified
as well that crack has been occurred in the
clay sediment, which may create salt
percolation to the soil profile and may
percolated deeper to the groundwater. The
process of salt percolation more easilyFigure 5. Trash and debris in Lhok Nga
occurred in the sand sediment. near banda Aceh

5
Ground water salinization
Infiltration and percolation of salt
into a deeper layer in the soil profile and
may intrude to reach a shallow
groundwater zone. Survey conducted by
the joint mission of FAO and Ministry of
Agriculture in early March indicated that
saline water had intruded and affected
shallow ground water that usually be used
for drinking water and other domestic
purposes by the villagers. An example was
found in Tanah Pasir, Aceh Utara, where
the EC value of the well was 10.7 mS/cm.
The well is situated near by the paddy
field, which has already become saline
after tsunami.
Biological destruction
Strong salinization in soil and water
has come up with an impact on animal
living in the field. Many live creaturesFigure 6. Died Fish (above) and snake
living in the paddy field such as snake,(below) due to strong salinity
fish, shrimps, snails, and some insects have
died (Figure 6). It is assumed that
microorganisms living in the soils are also
affected.
Infrastructure damage
The powerful earthquake and wave
during tsunami has destroyed agricultural
infrastructures such as irrigation
infrastructure (Figure 7), drainage
infrastructure, and dike of paddy field.
Irrigation/drainage canals has silted and
becoming shallow.
Figure 7. Irrigation infrastructure damage
(left) and siltation in the field irrigation
canal (above)

6
Assessment and Classification of land damages
a. Basic criteria for identification
There are various parameters to be used in identifying the damages due to
tsunami. The damages can be differed from place to place depending upon the nature
and the intensity of tsunami. In agricultural areas, several damages have been
recognized including:
1. Direct crop destruction by wave, salt poisoning, uprooting etc.
2. De-surfacing of the landscape due to erosion and sedimentation
3. Deposition of salted sediment
4. Trash and debris accumulation
5. Salt infiltration
6. Fertility depletion when the top soil is eroded
The magnitude of the damages are defined by the intensity of tsunami
destructing the agricultural land, which depend on the energy of the flood, the type of
soil coverage and vegetation, and the soil hydraulic properties including the drainage
capacity (FAO, 2005). Normally, the areas near the sea addressed to severely damage
due to high energy flood. The energy of the flood decreased further inland. The more
resistance the coverage of the surface, the less damage will be. The area with higher
drainage capacity will be easily dried out.
b. Assessing the damage and the capacity
Two consecutives field survey have been conducted to assess the damages in
the tsunami affected areas of Nangroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD), Indonesia. These
activities have been done following the air survey along the coastal areas lying from
Meulaboh to Aceh Timur. The assessment has referred to the FAO guidelines "A
Framework for Reclamation Action Plan for Affected Soils, version 1", which has been
refined to the Frame Work for Soil Reclamation and Restart Cultivation, version 2
(FAO, 2005).
Attempt to have appropriate planning design for land rehabilitation and
agriculture reconstruction of NAD has been facilitated with the assessment to evaluate
the damages of agricultural land and the farm capacity of the tsunami affected areas.
First mission has worked from 28 January to 11 February 2005, which was the joint
team between FAORAP and FAOR with the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture and
the Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries to conduct the assessment. The second mission
was from 2 to 11 March 2005, which conducted more detail assessment in three
district of Pidie, Bireuen and Aceh Utara of the east cost of NAD.
FAO proposes a simple classification for assessing the damages and identifying an
appropriate course of actions for reclaiming the soil and restart cultivation. It is based on 3
main subsets of (a) field level, (b) infrastructure, and (c) farming capacity. Field level
damages assessment consists of parameters including trash and debris, erosion,
sedimentation with salted sand, sedimentation with clay, flood duration and infiltration
(Table 2). Electrical conductivity (EC) has also included as a parameter to assess the
magnitude of damage due to salinity. To have practical evaluation, those parameters will
be scored and the total scores will be divided into three (a) score < 8 for low damage,
(b) score 8-16 for medium damage and (c) score >16 for high damage.

7
 Damages in infrastructures are evaluated as well including damage of the
irrigation network, drainage network and transport and access to field (Table 3). These
parameters need to be evaluated to indicate the constraints faced at system levels that
may impede carried out civil works and field works (land leveling and watering) and
returning to a normal situation. Farming capacity damage is evaluated using the
parameters of household labor capacity, drought animals, equipment and tools for
farming, agricultural inputs availability, and local/regional labor and equipment
capacity for rehabilitation (Table 4).
Field survey has been conducted to identify those parameters. For field level,
determination of salinity status is urgently to be executed to define cropping calendar.
Since the major areas consist of salinity which is still in the level of above the
tolerable level for crop growth, cropping has not been started yet. Beside rainfall and
the present of irrigation water, cropping calendar is designed based on the salinity
status, which tends to decrease with time as long as leaching is operational.
Transects lying from the shore line to the end point of the tsunami affected area
each having 3 points observation were made in the selected village to identify all
defined parameters including field performance (vegetation, crack, salt accumulation,

Table 2. Field damage assessment (FAO, 2005)

Field damages Low Medium High Suggested ranking

Trash and
debris 1 2 3 1 low or nil
2 medium scattered
3 massive impeding restart of field works
Erosion 1 4 6 1 small erosion here and there
4 medium erosion that needs some
resurfacing
light works
6 major erosion problems such as erased
bunds,
land levelling disturbances and/or soil top
layer washed out that requires
major
intervention for restoring capacity/fertility
Sedimentation with 1 4 6 1 several centimetres
salted sand 4 more than 10 centimetres
6 more than 20 centimetres

Clay deposit may affect positively soil

Sedimentation with 0 fertility
clay of sandy soil
Flood duration 1 4 6 1 limited to several hours,
4 flood lasted more than one day
6 flood lasted more than one week
Infiltration(*) 1 2 3 (**)
1 Clay soil
2 medium
3 high vertical hydraulic characteristic (well
drained soil)
Total Between 5 and 24 below 8 = Low damaged area
between 8 and 16 =Medium damaged area
above 16 = High damaged area
8
Table 3. Infrastructure damage assessment (FAO, 2005)
Infrastructure
capacity Low Medium High Suggested ranking
Irrigation network 1 4 6 1 supply from irrigation network is
operational
supply is interrupted but can be
4 restore
with minor
interventions
6 supply is stopped and needs major
interventions
Drainage network 1 4 6 1 surface drainage capacity is operational
4 surface drainage is not functional but
can be restore with minor interventions
6 surface drainage is stopped and needs
major interventions
Transport and access to 1 2 3 Access to fields and irrigation and drainage
infrastructures for farming
fields equipment and
machinery is:
1 operational
non operational and requires short
2 term
rehabilitation works to be re-established
non operational and requires major
3 long
term rehabilitation works to be
re-established
Total 3 10 15

Table 4. Farming capacity assessment (FAO, 2005)

Farming capacity Low Medium High Suggested ranking
Production means
Household labour 1 2 3 1 Capacity unchanged or slightly decreased
capacity (as fraction
of (greater than 90 % of pre-disaster)
significantl
pre-disaster capacity) 2 Capacity is y reduced to
75-90 %
3 Capacity is highly reduced to below 75%
Drought animals, 1 2 3 1 Capacity unchanged or slightly decreased
i
equipment and tools for 2 Capacity s significantly reduced
farming constraining the cropping calendar
3 Capacity is highly reduced impeding
cultivatio
n
Agricultural inputs 1 2 3 1 Availability is unchanged
availability 2 Availability is decreased
Availability is significantly decreased
3 or
nil
Local/regiona
l labour 1 2 3 1 Capacity is sufficient
and equipment 2 Capacity is insufficient but
 capacity rehabilitation
works can be carried out with
for rehabilitation minor
external
inputs
3** i
Capacity s nil and requires strong
external inputs to complete rehabilitation
works.
Total 4 8 12
** or the capacity is already over-deployed in other reconstruction activities and not available for
agriculture

9
and flood), type of irrigation (technical irrigation, semi technical irrigation, and simple
irrigation), infrastructure (irrigation network, drainage network, transport and access
to field), sedimentation (types and thickness), EC, pH, and water quality. Each point
was determined the coordinate position using GPS before all parameters are measured.
The type and thickness of sediment was observed by digging a mini pit of 20
cm deep in each point sampling along the transect. Each layer of sediment and original
soil was taken a sample for determining the EC value. EC is measured by taking a
sample of as much as 30 gram (approximately 3 tea spoon of moist soil) and is diluted
in 150 ml of clean water to get a proportion of soil : water is 1 : 5.

c. Classification of the field damage

Classification is made prior to initiate the level of the damage, which is
important for the planning design of land rehabilitation. Four classes of damages have
been defined by FAO and are adapted to the rehabilitation activity in NAD, which are
described as follow:

Class A “Low damaged area” (Score < 8)

There is no major obstacle to a rapid reclamation and salt leaching either
through rainfall or through some special allocation of surface water. The restoration of
capacity in this category should be monitored carefully but obtained without major
intervention before the beginning of the next cropping season in April and May 2005.

Class B “Medium damaged area” (Score 8 to 16)

Specific and significant interventions to reclaim soil are required, to restore
land surface properties (land leveling, trash, sediment). Salt leaching would require
high quantities of water either through rainfall or through some special allocation of
surface water. Farmers can do most if not all the rehabilitation works themselves
possibly on a “work for food program” provided that the farming capacity has not
been too much reduced.
Class C “Highly damaged area” (Score > 16)
For this category there are major obstacles to a rapid reclamation and probably
the next cropping season is out of reach. In some cases, the return to cultivation might
even be discussed and alternative production activities from natural resources use and
management (eco-systems) may be sought for these coastal lands, while compensating
current landowners and helping them reorienting/diversifying their activities on other
land or other productive activities.
Class D “Lost area”
There are fields and areas along the West coast of Aceh that have merely
disappeared. There is no longer land or land is permanently covered by sea water. This
category land is permanently lost and there is no remediation except that
compensation of land owners and relocation of activity elsewhere.

10
d. Delineation of the damages and the farming capacity
The level of the damages over the selected village is mapped to define spatial
variability. GIS based maps and printed maps were produced including maps of
sediment thickness, EC maps, and the capacity maps. The maps are used for
supporting planning program of land rehabilitation and agricultural sector
reconstruction.
e. Results of the assessment
First assessment (January 30 to February 08, 2005)
The results showed that in general, the agricultural areas (especially paddy
fields) of the north-eastern part of NAD was less damage compared to that of the
south-western part. As far as sedimentation of mud, erosion and debris are concerned,
the areas can be classified to A and B class in which the thickness of sediment was 2
to 10 cm, no erosion were recorded, and less to fairly debris was observed.
It has been measured along a transect in Pante Raja (Pidie district) and
Samalanga (Bireuen district), the EC of the surface water in the paddy field ranged
between 5 mS/cm to 10 mS/cm and 0.1 mS/cm to 6.5 mS/cm. Similar condition has
also been identified in Matang Tenong village, Tanah Pasir sub-district, Aceh Utara
district where the EC ranged between 44 mS/cm to > 100 mS/cm and pH ranged
between 6.93 to 7.03 (Table 5). Salt precipitation over the surface of the paddy field
has been observed in more then 60% of the total area paddy field in Matang Tenong
village (85 ha), which visually shows high level of salinity in this area. During 5
weeks after December 26, 2004 (when the tsunami occurred) till the day of
observation, there were several times of rain (2-3 times) with various intensity, and
leaching of salt has occurred. However, the level of salinity was still high showing that
the rate of salt leaching was lower than that of salt formation.
Fine clay sediment covering the surface of paddy field has blocked up the
saline water to discharge into the groundwater. This is the reason why saline water
stand longer (around a week) in the field. However, during the observation this
sediment has cracked, which will allow the salt to enter the soil profile to reach
groundwater when the rain has come or when the field has been irrigated. The saline
groundwater may influence the surface during which the salinity rises up to the root
zone during the dry season.
Re-planting of paddy field is determined by salinity levels and other
constraints (Table 6). Depending upon the opportunity to have leaching by rain or
irrigation water, the rice can be planted under different time, which varies between
April and September 2005.
Second assessment (March 3 to 11, 2005)
Land and water survey and need assessment have been conducted more detail
than that of first assessment. This assessment was carried out in three districts of Pidie,
Bireuen, and Aceh Utara, which covered many aspects of land and water, socio
economic condition, fisheries, and farmer perceptions. The assessment has come up
with the results, which not only useful for intervention planning but also valuable for
refinement of the first version of framework.
The results showed that the salinity level tends to decrease with time depending on the
availability of water for leaching either rainfall or irrigation water. The distinct of EC

11
values between two different times is presented in Table 7. Most of the areas are
rainfed paddy fields in which the success of leaching is determined by the rainfall
intensity. During a period of about 2 months when the rainfall occurred about 3-4
times with various intensities, the salinity level decreased to about one fourth. The rate
of the leaching was also determined by the drainage capacity of the fields. Since in
many cases the paddy fields are not installed yet ditches and drainage canals, the
leaching rate is relatively low.
Field survey has been conducted to assess the cropping calendar by designing
the cropping season is restarted in the end of April and June. Depending upon the
salinity level and the water percolation rate that is estimated about 70% of rainfall,
cropping seasons are varies with areas. The class of damages of the current time when
the field survey was conducted and the one at the end of April and June have been
defined.
Table 5. pH and EC water and sediment in several locations along the major part of
east cost and part of west cost in NAD
p
Location Site/sample H EC (mS/cm)
Water
Ds. Matang Tunong, Tanah Pasir Point 1 7.02 58
Point 2 7.03 89.7
Point 3 6.97 44.1
Point 4 6.94 88
Point 5 6.93 > 100
Ds. Matang Lada, Seunuddon Surface water-1 nd 97.4
Groundwater-1 nd 25.3
Surface water-2 nd 82.1
Groundwater-2 nd 10.9
Ds. Punti, Syamtalira Bayu Surface water nd 4
Drainage canal nd 0.75
Well nd 38.1
Ds. Buangan, Merah Dua,Pidie Surface water nd 0.65
Irrigation canal nd 0.22
Ds. Miru Taman, Darussalam Surface water nd 15.81
Aceh Besar
Sediment
pH H2O 1:5 EC (mS/cm) 1:5
Ds. Matang Tunong, Tanah Pasir Sediment 7.7 10.24
Ds. Matang Lada, Seunuddon Sediment 7.5 8.23
Ds. Punti, Syamtalira Bayu Sediment 7 7.84
Ds. Buangan, Merah Dua,Pidie Sediment 6.3 0.36
Ds. Miru Taman, Darussalam Sediment 8.1 0.95
Pante Raja Sediment 7.1 0.74
Calang 1 Sediment 1 6.8 1.78
CaLang 3 Sediment 3 7.4 11.07
nd : no data
12
 Table 6. Level of damages of the tsunami-affected agricultural areas in several districts
along the north-east coastal areas of NAD and recommendation for intervention
Location Level of damages Fields condition Recommendation for
intervention
drainag
Aceh Utara Moderate to ﾕ End of rainy ﾕ Improve e for
heavy (very high season better leaching
salinity, fine clay ﾕ No irrigation ﾕ Develop new irrigation
sediment 2-10 facility system to improve
cm, fairly debris)
leaching
ﾕ Crops tolerance to salinity
ﾕ Provision of tractor with
disk
plowing
o ca
ﾕ 30% f area n be
planted by April 2005,
other 70% by September
2005
drainag
Bireuen Moderate (high ﾕ Rainy season still ﾕ Improve e for
salinity, fine clay occur leaching
sediment 3-5 cm, ﾕ Low damage of ﾕ Crops tolerance to salinity
negligible debris) drainage facility ﾕ Provision of tractor with
disk
plowing
o ca
ﾕ 70% f area n be
planted by April
2005
Low to Optimiz drainag
Pidie moderate ﾕ Rainy season still ﾕ e e and
irrigatio syste
(moderate occur n m for
salinity, fine
clay ﾕ Irrigation water is leaching
sediment 3-5
cm, available ﾕ Crops tolerance to salinity
negligible debris)
ﾕ Farmers have done ﾕ Provision of tractor with
disk
their land plowing
preparation ﾕ 70% of area can be
planted by April
2005
Aceh Besar Heavy (a lot of ﾕ Totally damage of ﾕ Reconstruction of paddy
field
debris, sediment irrigation and s
 o
deposition, drainage ﾕ Introducing f suitable
de-surfacing of infrastructures land use
landscape
ﾕ Loss of farmers

Table 7. Comparation between EC of January and March 2005 in three district of

Pidie, Bireuen and Aceh Utara
Location Electrical conductivity/EC (mS/cm)
January 2005 March 2005
Pidie 5-10 0,2-2
Bireuen 0.1 – 6.5 0,1-3.2
Aceh Utara 44 - > 100 7-17

13
 The salinity level was determined by using of electrical conductivity (EC) index,
which was calculated as follow (Table 8):
R=AxD (1)
S=BxE (2)
T=CxF (3)
U=R+S+T (4)
EC index = U x 0,4 (5)
where,
A : Thichness of clay sediment (cm)
D : EC clay sediment (mS/cm)
B : Thickness of sand sediment (cm)
E : EC sand sediment (mS/cm)
C : Thichness of original soil (cm)
F : EC of original soil (mS/cm)

If the EC index < 4, land is classified into class A and there is no significant
intervention before sowing and transplanting are started. If the EC index > 4, the
analysis is continued by introducing different scenario of sowing and transplanting if
EC index < 4, 4<EC index < 6, 6<EC index < 10 and EC index > 10, and the decision
is taken according to the criteria as mentioned in Table 9. When the criteria related
salinity has not enough to be used in defining the class of damage, the analysis is
continued using criteria of the infrastructure damages and the water quality. The
decision is, then, taken as mentioned in Table 10.

Table 8. Calculation of current EC Index

Thickness (cm) EC (mS/cm) Value
Clay (A) x (D) (R)

Sand (B) x (E) (S)

Original (C) x (F) (T)

Total (R)+(S)+(T) (U)

EC Index (U) * 0.4 (V)

Decision point :
ﾕ If (V) is less than 4, then the land is class A and no technical intervention is needed
before resuming
0• If (V) rice 4,
more than cropping.
detailed analysis need to be done
0• Decision A : Class A or Not

14
 Table 9. Salinity remediation by rainfall and puddling
Required percolation (for EC<4) mm
Required percolation (for EC<6) mm
Required percolation (for EC<10) mm
Monthly rainfall March mm Percolation mm
(70%)
April mm mm

May mm mm

June mm mm

Expected last date of

sowing

Accumulated rainfall before sowing mm

Remediation outlook by sowing

date EC<4, 4<EC<6, 6<EC<10, EC>10
Expected last date of transplanting

Accumulated rainfall
before mm
transplanting
Remediation outlook by EC<4, 4<EC<6, 6<EC<10, EC>10
transplanting date
Decision for technical
Table 10. intervention
Sowing date
EC<4 EC<6 EC<10 EC>10
dat
e EC<4 Decision (a) Decision (a) N/A N/A

EC<6 N/A Decision (a) Decision (b) N/A

Tr
an
spl
ant
in
g

EC<1
0 N/A N/A Decision (c) Decision (c)

EC>1
0 N/A N/A N/A Decision (c)

ﾕ Decision (a): the land is Class A and the required technical interventions are early
 cultivation and surface drainage
ﾕ Decision (b): the land is Class A and the required technical interventions are early
cultivation, surface drainage and special desalinization for nursery preparation
0• Decision (c): proceed with the following analysis (Table 11)
0• Decision B : Class A or Not

15
Table 11. Decision for technical intervention
EC value of irrigation water
EC<0.5 0.5<EC<2.0 EC>2.0
w
at
er 3 Decision (d) Decision (e) Decision (f)

infrastr 4-6, no'3'points

of ucture in Decision (e) Decision (e) Decision (f)
sc
or
e any item

T
ot
al With '3' points in at Decision (f) Decision (f) Decision (f)
least one item

ﾕ Decision (d): the land is Class A and the required technical interventions are early
cultivation, surface drainage and extra irrigation for desalinization (with/without
nursery preparation)
0• Decision (e): the land is Class B but reclamation may be faster depending on
how quickly the water infrastructure and/or water quality is improved.
0• Decision (f): the land is Class B, and will be reclaimed by the end of the year.
The technical interventions will be decided in the Land Reclamation Strategy
(Class B) form (Table 12)
Table
12. Land Rehabilitation strategy
Parameter Value Input needed?
Area of total paddy field ha
(A)
Number of labor force person
(B)
Number of labor force per person / ha
hectare (B)/(A)
Number of hand tools per pcs / person More hand tools needed?
person
Number of hand tractors pcs
(C)
Number of hand tractors pc / 100 ha More tractors needed?
per 100 ha (C)/(A)*100
o
Number f farmer who person Training needed?
can operate of water pump
Number of water pump pcs
(D)
Number o water pump pc/100 ha More pumps needed?
 f
per 100 ha (D)/(A)*100
Number of rice mills pcs
(E)
Number of rice mills
per pc/100 ha More rice mills needed?

16
100 ha (E)/(A)*100

Detailed survey for assessment has been conducted in three districts situated in
the east costal areas of NAD including Pidie, Bireuen and Aceh Utara. The results
showed that as large as 542 ha, 1548 ha and 1896 ha of the total tsunami affected areas
respectively for Aceh Utara, Bireuen and Pidie will start transplanting at the end of
May 2005 .
The salinity levels have decreased in all three districts observed (Aceh Utara,
Bireuen, and Pidie) during periode of March to May 2005 (Figure 8). This condition
changed the classes of the land and consequently to the areas that can be restarted
planting at May 2005. The analysis showed that 65% of agricultural areas in all
districts would be desalinized through rainfall toward acceptable level with the EC
index of less than 4.0 (Figure 9).
(a)
Aceh Utara
(h
a)
1,000 May
Ar
ea 500

0
0-4 4-6 6 - 10 > 10
EC Index
(b)
2,000 Bireuen
Marc
1,500 h
(h
a)
May
1,000
Ar
ea
500

(c) 0
0-4 4-6 6 - 10 > 10
EC Index

2,000 Pidie
1,500
(h
a)
1,000 March
Ar
ea May
500

0
 0-4 4-6 6 - 10 > 10
EC Index

17
Figure 8. Assessment of desalinization by rainfall and irrigation in (a) Aceh Utara, (b)
Bireuen, and (c) Pidie

100%
90%
above
80% 10
70%
8-10
60%
Rat
io 6-8
50%
4-6
40%
2-4
30%
0-2
20%
10%
0%
Beginning of March End of May
Month

Figure 9. Assessment of desalinized areas with acceptable level of EC index up to

May 2005
f. GIS based of damage assessment
Three main maps have been produced based on GIS database system
including tsunami intensity map, tsunami damage map, and needs assessment map as
summarized in the diagram (Figure 10). In accordance with the quick ground truth, the
area was classified into three: high, middle, and low damage intensity. The criteria
used in classifying the tsunami intensity are elevation and the tsunami height as
presented in Table 13. The tsunami intensity map was produced using these criteria
through GIS manipulation (Figure 11). The tsunami damage is closely related with the
height of tsunami and ground elevation. In this study, the combination of those two
factors with multiplying certain coefficients expressed using linear equation is defined
as tsunami intensity.

Tsunami Intensity = P1 x Height of Tsunami + P2 x Ground Elevation (6)

18
 Figure 10. Outline of GIS database

Table 13. Criteria used for producing tsunami intensity map

Tsunami Intensity Elevation Tsunami Height
High Below 5 m 2-5 m
Middle 5-15 m or 2-5 m
below 5 m 1.5-2 m
Low or no affected Above 15 m or 2-5 m
Above 5 m 1.5-2 m

Rehabilitation of the saline damage in agricultural land of the tsunami affected

areas is the key factor for recovering the agricultural sector in NAD. Electric
conductivity (EC) has been use to identify the salinity level. Collected data was
inputted using Excel format and imported to ArcView for visualization. Visualizing
this data has made possible to understand a current situation of land damage due to
salinity. Data from three districts (Aceh Utara, Bireuen, and Pidie) have been collected
for GIS purpose to produce the saline damage map.
Reconstruction strategy should be in conformity to the needs and capabilities
of local population. Therefore, in parallel with soil survey, current situation as well as
community needs are investigated from socio-economic aspect to damages on
fisheries and livestock sectors, and farmers’ perception for resuming of farming and
plan for remediation. Those items are surveyed in both qualitative and quantitative
manner using questionnaire. The results are also imported and processed in Excel
format, overlaid and visualized using GIS.

19
Figure 11. Tsunami intensity in districts of Pidie, Bireuen and Aceh Utara

Rehabilitation Work Plan

a. Significance of land rehabilitation
Three major types of damages have been identified including (a) salinization of
soil and water, (b) de-surfacing of landscape due to deposition of sand and clay
sediments and destroying the dike of paddy fields, and (c) destroying
irrigation/drainage infrastructures as an impact of earthquake and powerful tsunami.
The first type of damage can be rehabilitated by leaching. Water management plays an
important role in flashing out salt. The success of the leaching is determined by the
availability of water which may come from rainfall or other sources with an
implementation of surface irrigation. The second and the third types can be recovered
by civil works through reconstruction of the damaged infrastructures.
Land rehabilitation is significance to recover those particular damages through
salt leaching, tillage and civil works. Since salt and salted sediment are the major
problems, rehabilitation is based on the principle of salt leaching and tillage by
puddling. The level of salinity in agricultural land can be depleted by a proper
rehabilitation strategy through the leaching. Rehabilitation provides a direct benefit for
farmers through cash for work. Farmers receive money when they work for
rehabilitation purposes in their land.

20
b. Land rehabilitation strategies
Land rehabilitation is executed based on the degree of damages which has been
classified and delineated. The strategies of land rehabilitation are described according
to the class of damages as follow and rehabilitation plan is summarized in Table 14:
Class A
Recovery of this area is obtained without major intervention. The salinity level
is normally in the level of tolerable to crops. Net water balance between January and
April, will be enough to flush out the salt from the field. The irrigated rice area is
generally belongs to this class. The availability of surface water to flush out the salt is
the key factor. Restart cropping can be done in March and April.
Class B
Recovery will take some more time and more specific interventions, at least
one full cropping season and/or a full monsoon season will be required to recover. Net
water balance between January and June is required for flushing out the salt. Restart
cropping can be done in June. FAO proposed several strategies for this class including
salt tolerant varieties of usual crops to allow cropping in not fully cleaned soils,
delayed start of the season with varieties having shorter period of growth, temporary
changes in the production system to compensate for the expected losses of food
production and incomes in the coming seasons.
Class C
Major works of rehabilitation are required either within the field or in the near-
by infrastructures. For the major part of these fields return to cultivation cannot be
reached immediately and solutions must be found to allow farmers to temporary
cultivate in other un/less affected lands; and to diversify land and natural resources
management in order to provide them with alternative means of production and food
security (FAO, 2005).
Class D
FAO described these areas where massive erosion or land subsiding has
occurred and these fields are no longer part of the land domain but of the sea domain
and must be considered has permanently lost for agriculture. There is no remediation
except that compensation of land owners and relocation of activity elsewhere.

21
 Table 14. Summary of rehabilitation plans
Agronomic
Situation Crops/Farming support
required
Class A “Low Return to normal Usual crops Monitoring salinity
damaged area” expected for the Seeds and inputs
next season starting supply, equipment
in APRIL 2005 supply if needed
Class B “Medium Delayed return to Cultivation of salt Support for seeds
damaged area” normal to allow tolerant rice and inputs
enough time for varieties Compensation for
specific recommended. reduced yields
interventions Support for
diversification.
Class C “Highly No return to normal Major temporary or Compensation for
damaged area” this year. permanent land abandon [C2]
Major rehabilitation diversification of Support to
works needed farming system diversification
Possible
reorientation of
land uses
Class D No longer part of Relocation of Support for
“Permanently lost the land domain but farmers/owners relocation and
land” of the sea domain. elsewhere diversification
Source: FAO (2005)

Recommendations
a. Immediate actions
Immediate actions for land rehabilitation and agricultural reconstruction are
urgently to be executed to recover agricultural system and economic development.
Since the rainy season has not ended yet, natural salt leaching by rainfall is possible.
However, salt leaching will not be effective if the land has not been installed the
drainage system. Field drain by digging ditches should be built in the agricultural
areas. This work provides a benefit for farmers through the cash for work.
To support restarting of cultivation, farming capacity need to be recovered.
Immediate actions for this purpose are by supporting agricultural inputs (seeds,
fertilizers, pesticides, tractor and other required agricultural machinery etc.), training
for farmers in dealing with assessment of the damages and executing the land
rehabilitation strategies.
b. Institutional building
The success of land rehabilitation and agricultural reconstruction in such
communities is not merely depend on the technical approach, but building up and
strengthening the farm institutions will provide benefits for success. Several institutions
need to be created to succeed the land rehabilitation implementation. When the farming
system development has been restarted, several institutions have to be created

22
included input institution, farmer group institution, agriculture machinery/post harvest
institution, extension institution, market institution, and capital institution.

References

FAO, 2004. Strategy and Program Planning Framework for Rehabilitation and
Reconstruction of the Agriculture Sector in the Tsunami Affected Areas of North
Sumatrea, Indonesia. 19pp.
FAO, 2005. Framework for Soil Reclamation and Restart of Cultivation, Aceh-
Indonesia. Version 2: 1-16.

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