Determinant factors of applying mixed crops and livestock farming in Indonesia

Abstract

Smallholder farmers have been integrating their limited resources as a strategy of sustainable farming system. Mixed Crops and Livestock (MCL) Farming becomes the most popular approach in developing countries. However, it remains a question in MCL farming system, whether farmers apply this farming practice as an income generating activity or a survival strategy. This paper aims to explore the determinant factors of MCL practice among farmers in Indonesia. A cross-sectional data of the Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS) in 2014 was used by involving 3,702 farm household (2,957 of non-MCL farmers and 745 of MCL farmers). A binary choice model was employed to estimate the probability of practicing MCL farming in Indonesia. The results showed that the cultivated land size and age of farmers negatively explained the choice of practicing MCL among farmers in Indonesia. This indicated that MCL farming tends to be practiced by younger farmers with smaller land size. The livestock asset is insignificant within the MCL farming. It indicates that crop farming is the primary farming while keeping livestock is more complementary activity among MCL farmers.