Optimization of the Integrated Farming Resources to Increase Farmer’s Income: A Case Study in Indonesia

Abstract

Purpose: Farmers of beef cattle in the Regency of Bolaang Mongondow Utara often dealt with fluctuations in the production cost of crops and cattle and restrictions of production factors, resulting in relatively lower production and the obtained income from farming. Consequently, farmers conducted six integration patterns of crops and beef cattle in the dried area. The evaluation was necessarily performed to know which farming pattern was the integrated farming pattern and cattle that can result in a maximal income for farmers. Research Method: The research was conducted in two Villages, such as Sidodadi and Sangtumbolang, District of Sangkub, Regency of Bolaang Mongondow Utara, which is the largest dried area in the Regency of Bolaang Mongondow Utara; and, farmers performed the integrated farming of crops and cattle. 80 farmers were selected by purposive sampling to obtain the required information for this research. Then, data analysis employed a linear programming model with the assisting tools of LINDO software. Findings: Of six activities in the integrated farming, 3 activities of annual cultivation resulting in maximal income of Rp 57,186,127.44 were corn-corn-corn + (and cattle), onion-onion-onion + (and cattle), corn-soybean-the uncultivated field + (and cattle). The cultivation pattern of corn-corn-corn + (and cattle) was proposedly applied in the area of 0,638 hectares; for the cultivation pattern of onion-onion-onion + (and cattle), it was suggested to be applied in the area of 0,439 hectares; and, the cultivation patter of corn-soybean-the uncultivated is + (and cattle) was applied in the area of 0,296 hectares. Research Limitations: The research was limited to the integrated pattern of corn and horticulture and beef cattle in the dried field. Originality/value: The research has provided new information on the development standard of the integrated farming of crops and cattle in the dried area as a solution to lower agriculture productivity resulting in lower income for farmers.