ASSESSING SURVIVAL FACTORS OF RICE FARMERS IN THE FLOOD-PRONE AREA: A CASE STUDY IN BOJONEGORO DISTRICT, INDONESIA

Abstract

Bojonegoro is one of the largest producing districts in East Java Province, Indonesia. However, from year to year, floods become a problem that impacts the resilience of farmers in producing agricultural products. This study found out how the farmer could survive in these uncertain times. This research method is survey research. Samples were collected from 217 rice farmers in six sub-districts. The sub-districts were selected based on their vulnerability to flooding at a medium to a high level. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is used in this study to confirm the measurement model. This study revealed that nature, man, society, and networks significantly impact the resilience of farming communities in flood-prone areas in Bojonegoro. Meanwhile, the Shell factor is the only element that does not affect rice farmers' survival in Bojonegoro flood-prone areas. These results prove that the survival of farmers is highly dependent on factors that affect their daily lives. Meanwhile, flooding is not a problem because it only occurs on average 1-2 times per year.