Environmental Awareness Analysis of Organic and Non-Organic Rice Farmers in Java Island

Abstract

Rice is a key commodity cultivated by Indonesian farmers and serves as the staple food for the population. In Indonesia, rice is produced using both organic and non-organic farming methods. This study assesses whether there is a significant difference in environmental awareness between organic and non-organic farmers. Conducted in Yogyakarta and Central Java, the research involved 150 organic and 100 non-organic farmers, randomly selected from five districts. Six key indicators were used to measure environmental awareness: knowledge of environmental impacts, water management, soil management, education and environmental support, fertilizer and pesticide use, and future goals. The results showed that the average scores for both groups across all indicators fell within the “High” category. While non-organic farmers continue to use chemical inputs, they remain aware of the environ- mental consequences of such practices. Their reliance on chemical fertilizers is likely driven by economic factors, reflecting a tension between productivity and sustainability. The Mann-Whitney test revealed a significance value of 0.000 (p < 0.05) across all indicators, confirming a statistically significant difference in environmental awareness. Organic farmers demonstrated greater awareness, highlighting the positive impact of organic farming on sustainability. These findings suggest that organic farming can enhance environmental awareness while addressing the economic challenges faced by non-organic farmers.