The Profiling of the Farmers with Semi-Intensive and Intensive Cattle Production Systems in South Konawe District, Southeast Sulawesi Province

Abstract

The study aimed at determining the profile of the beef cattle farmers with semi-intensive and intensive production systems in South Konawe district. It was expected that the results of the study could be information source for stakeholders and policymakers in developing farming resources. It was conducted in July-August 2019 using participatory rural appraisal method and involved 105 farmers selected using purposive sampling and considering production system and minimum cattle ownership. Data were quantitatively described and analyzed using independent T-test. The mean age, the cattle farming experience, the number of family members, and the cattle ownership of the farmers were not significantly different. The cattle farming motivations as savings and insurance were higher among the farmers with semi-intensive production system (P<0.05), which were 2.98±0.13 vs. 2.72±0.45, but those as primary livelihood and manure producer were higher (P<0.05) among the farmers with intensive production system, which were 2.28±0.45 and 1.46±0.50 vs. 1.62±0.53 and 1.09±0.29. The participation of the family members of the farmers in the cattle farming activity was not significantly different. It was concluded that the cattle production system related to farming motivation. The farmers with the semi-intensive production systems used cattle more as saving and insurance, while those with the intensive production system used cattle as primary source of income and manure producer.