Farmers' responses to organic rice farming in Indonesia: Findings from central Java and south Sulawesi

Abstract

Organic rice farming (ORF) is getting more attention from many parties because conventional rice farming (CRF) has environmental issues and because people's awareness of healthy food is increasing. The social, economical, and environmental challenges make ORF a potential path forward. This study aims to understand farmers' responses to ORF. Data were collected through interviews with 37 respondents from Central Java and 67 respondents from South Sulawesi. The respondents, chosen randomly, represented 40.38% CRF farmers and 59.62% ORF farmers. A mean was used to present the difference between CRF and ORF farmers' responses in each variable. Multiple linear regression was used to describe the factors affecting these responses. Results showed that ORF farmers' mean on all response variables was higher than CRF farmers', except market opportunity (MKOP), which showed only a slight difference in means at 4.357 (CRF) and 4.371 (ORF). MKOP is the one area of trust for both CRF and ORF farmers. Both responses from CRF and ORF farmers have value for use by stakeholders to develop Indonesian ORF.