Roles of local farmers’ organization in supporting food security: case of Subak in Bali, indonesia

Abstract

In Indonesia, agricultural development plays a significant role in economic development. The management of rice farming in Bali is closely related to the social, cultural and religious aspects of the community, especially in the management of irrigation. These traditional values with local wisdom are applied by subak as a farmer organization that has a role in realizing agricultural development goals, such as food security. This study aims to determine the role of subak in achieving and sustaining food security, particularly rice. This research was conducted in two subaks in Gianyar Regency, Bali. Respondents who were interviewed were all subak administrators (chairman, deputy chairman, secretary, treasurer, general assistant, and head of sub-subak, called tempek. A total of 40 farmers were sampled (20 farmers within each subak) who were selected using non-proportional random sampling technique. Data were collected using interview guidelines and questionnaires through interviews/surveys, observations and documentation. Data were fully analyzed using descriptive methods. The results showed that subak had several roles in increasing farmers’ productivity and income. These include (i) managing the distribution and allocation of irrigation water; (ii) regulating cropping patterns and annual cropping schedules; (iii) mobilizing resources for irrigation, agriculture, social and culture, and ritual ceremony; (iv) managing subak finances/cash; (v) carrying out economic activities; and (vi) implementing government programs related to agricultural development.