Dissemination of portable combining machine as appropriate technological adoption for corn farming in sloping region Study case: Gorontalo Province, Indonesia

Abstract

Corn is vital crop cultivation in Gorontalo Province and becomes major export comodity from the agricultural sector. Most of corn farms are located in hilly and mountainous area known as sloping agriculture. The main aim of this study was to analyze the advantages of portable combine machine, peeling-thresher corn as appropriate technology, to support sloping agriculture, reduce cost production, and generate farmers income. This research was conducted in Tutuwoto village that involves two farmers group association (POKTAN) namely POKTAN Dusun Beringin and POKTAN Dusun Puncak. The POKTAN members stated that labour budget is the most expensive for corn production in their region. Dissemination of peeling-thresher machine is proven shorten of harvest and post-harvest steps in the current pattern. Results revealed that the technological input decreased 34.50% operational cost of harvest and post-harvest from Rp8,520,000 to Rp2,940,000. Furthermore, its application improved the farmers net profit 51.67% ha-1 and 85.01% ha-1 for own and loan capital respectively, in one growing season about 4 month. It is concluded that the proper equipment implemented in hilly farming reduces cost production and its implication redoubles revenue of the corn farmers.