Rice Cultivation Technology at the Farmers' Level in North Bolaang Mongondow District, Indonesia

Abstract

The increase in Indonesia's population every year is accompanied by an increase in rice consumption. To balance the increase in rice demand, it must be balanced with an increase in national rice production. Paddy fields are the mainstay for producing paddy (rice), the main commodity supporting food security. An effective and efficient way to increase national rice production sustainably is to increase productivity through accurate selection of technological components by taking into account the conditions of the biotic environment, abiotic environment, and optimal land management by farmers. Lowland rice farmers generally use conventional systems by using chemical fertilizer and pesticide inputs as often as possible, thus affecting land quality and grain yield. A farmer's maturity in farming will influence the characteristics of the farmer. The characteristics of farmers and their competencies are an illustration of the farmer's ability to manage farming based on effective and efficient planning by plant cultivation techniques to realize food security and independence. The research aims to study the characteristics of farmers in applying cultivation techniques to increase lowland rice production Survey research and data collection were carried out on groups of farmers who own paddy fields in North Bolaang Mongondow Regency (Sangkub District, Bintauna District, and Bolangitang District). The data taken in this research were age, education level, rice cultivation techniques, and farming experience. The research results showed that the production per hectare obtained according to farmers' cultivation techniques was 1-2 tonnes/ hectare by 45% of farmers and 3-4 tonnes/ hectare by 55% of farmers. Financial conditions influence the application of rice cultivation techniques in North Bolaang Mongondow Regency, Indonesia.