A study on rice field farmer implementation of rice straw composting

Abstract

Rice straw is an abundant material which can be utilized as an ingredient in organic fertilizer or compost. Especially since various laboratories test also found that rice straw, which tends to be viewed as farm waste, contains beneficial nutrients, which aid in plant growth and in maintaining soil fertility. In actual practice, rice straw often left wasting unused, disposed mostly by burning. Hence it necessitated a survey to learn the percentage of farmers that compost rice straw within an area to be undertaken, especially at regions that have been designated as rice cultivation center. The study was conducted in three districts in Klungkung region, e.g., Banjarangkan, Klungkung, and Dawan. Klungkung region was chosen as a research site due to its inclusion as one of the areas where the national program of rice, corn, and soybean (Pajale) development was being undertaken. The survey for this study was conducted by giving out questionnaires and interviews. The survey was conducted with 89 respondents. The results found in this study revealed that there was no farmer who composted rice straw. It was found that 97.75% of farmers admitted not to compost their rice straw due to their lack of knowledge on the way and means of rice straw composting. In fact, it was found that 74.16% of farmers have no notion that rice straw could be turned into compost. This data was in line with results found from interviewing 12 extension worker officials who fully admitted that they were never done any socializing effort on rice straw compost at all. It was found that 97.75% of farmers admit not to compost their rice straw due to their lack of knowledge on the way and means of rice straw composting.