Analysis of Factors Causing Difficulties in Use of Rice Land in the Irrigation Area of the Tojo Region and West Tojo

Abstract

In one of the areas in Tojo Una-Una Regency, the rice fields are irrigated rice fields with a surface irrigation system, where the water source comes from a river which flows into the rice fields. However, in the dry season, the water demand for rice fields in these two regions cannot evenly meet the water needs of rice fields in both regions, thus affecting farmers' production results. The aim of this research is to find out what factors make it difficult for farmers to utilize rice fields in the irrigation areas of the Tojo and West Tojo regions and to find out the strategies used by farmers to overcome difficulties in utilizing rice fields in the irrigation areas of the Tojo and West Tojo regions . Respondents in this study were 281 respondents including rice field farmers in the Tojo region and farmers in the West Tojo region. Data analysis uses Factor Analysis. The magnitude of the influence resulting from all these factors reached 62,445%, while the remaining 37,555% was influenced by other factors whose influence was not significant. The strategies implemented by farmers to overcome difficulties in utilizing rice fields in the irrigation areas of Tojo and West Tojo regions include repairing irrigation networks, building groundwater irrigation pumps, improving the quality of farmers' human resources through regular extension activities, arranging planting pattern schedules, changing systems. distributing water during the dry season, and reactivating the P3A (Water User Farmers Association).