A typological characterization of dairy farming system towards economic sustainable farm in West Java (Indonesia)

Abstract

Small scale farms play an important role in Indonesia. However, shortage of capital become the main challenge for small farms. To foster the economically sustainable farms, the diversity and the characteristic of dairy farms should be understood. This study identified farmers’ types by using typology approach based on the capital as active variables. The data were obtained from interview with experts, direct observation, formal survey to 353 farmers, and recording from the public authorities and the milk cooperatives. We performed MFA, HCA, desciptive as well as comparative analysis. The indicator of economic sustainability was chosen through in-depth interview with experts and the scoring was created. Results showed that there were five farmers’ types and farmers type 5 was the most economically sustainable type. In other words, specialized farms with higher level of capital and more productive worker were able to generate more family income and might be more sustainable economically. The study underlined the importance of typology approach to understand the diversity and the characteristic of farming system. It was also useful to identify in what condition dairy farm is economically sustainable. To have more economically sustainable farm, strategy in increasing farm capital and productive worker should be done.