A CASE STUDY OF FARMERS’ PERCEPTION TOWARDS ORGANIC RICE CULTIVATION IN BANYUMAS REGENCY

Abstract

Rice is one of the leading commodities in Banyumas Regency, but the rice cultivation system is still rarely practiced. The majority of farmers still feel unfamiliar with this organic rice cultivation. This study aims to find out farmers’ perception towards organic rice cultivation, and determine the socio-economic characteristics of farmers who confirm to adopt organic rice cultivation in the future. The research was conducted from March to July 2023, in Banyumas Regency which covers three areas, namely Kedung Banteng, Watu Agung and Sumpiuh Districts. The research location was determined purposively with the consideration that some farmers in Kedung Banteng, Cilobgok, Watu Agung and Sumpiuh subdistricts have implemented an organic rice farming system. Meanwhile, the sampling technique is a census, where the entire population is sampled in this research. Data analysis used the attributes of innovation such as relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability to measure farmers’ perceptions and cross tabs to determine the distribution of confirmation to adopting/stop adopting organic rice cultivation. The results showed that farmers’ perceptions of the relative advantage of organic rice cultivation were moderately satisfied, and very satisfied for compatibity, trialability, complexity, and observability. Respondents who confirmed to adopt organic rice cultivation had characteristics: 1) have an elementary school education; 2) have land ownership area <0.5 ha; 3) have rent rice fields ownership status; 4) have an age between 30-40 and 51-60 years, and 5) have 3-4 family members. The level of farmer satisfaction shows that there is an opportunity to continue implementing organic rice farming.