Factors Affecting the farmers to still practicing SRI in Malang Regency, Indonesia

Abstract

The objectives of this research are to study the role and function of the SRI project, socioeconomic characteristics and factors affecting the farmers status (still practicing SRI or Non SRI). Descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency, and percentage were used to analysis the socioeconomic characteristics, and agricultural production system of the farmers, and independence tests Chi-Square statistic to analyze the relationship among socioeconomic or other factors that are independent variables and the farmers status that is a dependent variable. The results revealed that there are three roles and functions of the SRI project. First, increasing rice yield, means that practice of SRI on rice farming is able to enhance productivity compared with the conventional method. Second, input saving, minimizing input used, such as water, seeds and others. Third, environment sustainability, practicing this method will help to recover soil fertility, and maintain the sustainability of field production. Concerning the socio-economic characteristics of farmers were male, at an average age of 49 years. Most of the SRI farmers finished secondary school, while nearly half of the Non SRI (N-SRI) farmers finished elementary school. There were also members of an agricultural group. The relationship among socioeconomic or other factors and farmers status revealed that age, size of rice field, labor, single or double seedling, soil organic fertilizer, farmer practices and drought had a significant relationship (P=0.000-0.050) with farmer status (SRI or N-SRI farmers). Meanwhile, the marital status, the level of formal education, main occupation, second occupation, and land holding had no significant relationship with the farmer status.