Partisipasi Petani dalam Perlakuan Benih untuk Peningkatan Kualitas Bibit Tanaman Padi Sawah

Abstract

Seed treatment is strived to secure and improve the growth and development of lowland rice plants. It is done because lowland rice plants’ production does not meet the expectations; the low productivity of lowland rice plants is 61.35 kW/ha/th/GKP. The study aims to describe the level of participation of farmers in seed treatment, analyze factors related to farmers' participation in seed treatment, and develop strategies to increase farmer participation. The study was conducted from April to July 2019 in Tambaksari District, Ciamis Regency, West Java. The target is farmers who are members of the farmer group with the commodity paddy. The total respondents were 71 farmers. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with closed questionnaires and direct observation. Descriptive analysis is used to describe the level of farmer participation, while correlation analysis is used to find out factors related to farmer participation. Paddy farmers' involvement in seed treatment activities is included in the "medium" category. Factors related to farmers' participation in seed treatment are the government's willingness, ability, and support and the availability of agricultural production facilities. Need to be done: increasing the intensity of extension activities, training in how to give treatment to lowland rice seeds, making seed selection, and measuring soil pH to achieve the goal of improving the quality of rice field seedlings and more optimal plant development. The procurement of production facilities is needed by farmers in superior seeds, water reservoirs, and growth regulatory substances.