The Farmers’ Perception of The Natural Farming System in Bulukumba, East Indonesia

Abstract

Salassae Village, Bulukumba district is an organic village by the application of agriculture organic farming since 2011. The application of organic and conventional farming system is closely related to each farmers’ perceptions. This research aims to determine the perception on farmers on the application of natural farming system, analyze the factors that related to farmers ‘perception on natural farming system, and analyze the farmers’ effort in Salassae Village. This research was carried out by interview and questionnaire method to 67 farmers, divided by 25 organic farmers and 42 conventional farmers. This research uses descriptive analysis techniques, and spearman rank correlation test. The results of the analysis show that the farmers' perception on natural farming system has different perception. Perception of natural farmers is categorized good, while perception of conventional farmers is categorized good enough. Overall, farmers' perception of the application of the natural farming system shows a good category with a score of 75%. The factor of farmers’ perception on the application of natural farming system is social interaction. Farmers need a convincing understanding that organic rice farming is not difficult. Thus, social interaction needs to be improved in shaping the perception of rice farmers towards organic rice farming.