intensifikasi

Intensification is the process of increasing the intensity of resource use or production to achieve higher outputs per unit of input or land. In agriculture, it means raising yields on existing farmland through better management, technology, and inputs rather than expanding cultivated area.

The term has different meanings across fields. In agriculture, intensification involves irrigation, fertilizers, high-yield seed varieties, pest management, and mechanization. In urban planning, it refers to higher land-use density and building intensity to curb sprawl. In forestry or land management, it denotes increasing productivity of managed lands through silvicultural practices and improved stewardship.

Common approaches include input-based strategies (more water, fertilizer, machinery), knowledge-based practices (extension services, training), and system changes such as improved cropping rotations, agroforestry, and integrated pest management. Sustainable intensification seeks to raise output while reducing environmental impact, aligning productivity with ecological considerations.

Benefits can include higher yields, improved food security, and less pressure to convert additional land. Drawbacks include soil degradation, water pollution, biodiversity loss, and social inequities if access to capital and technology is unequal. The balance between gains and costs often motivates careful planning and governance.

Policy discussions emphasize sustainable or climate-smart intensification to balance production with ecological resilience. Relevant metrics include yield per hectare and resource-use efficiency, supplemented by environmental indicators to monitor impacts on soil, water, and biodiversity.