Indonesian Farmers Research Articles

RESPONSE OF LOCAL CANDLENUT GRAIN WITH DIFFERENT DRYING DURATION TO GRAIN YIELD

Candlenut is a plant that has many uses and can be utilized as a basic ingredient for kitchen spices and pharmaceutical ingredients. The increasing demand for candlenuts from other countries makes farmers in Indonesia increasingly active in making candlenuts as the main crop Candlenut seeds have very high benefits and selling value if they have gone through a good and correct peeling process. This study aims to determine the effect of the length of time drying candlenut seeds processed with a peeling machine on the yield of candlenut grain. This research was conducted in Seulimum Village, Seulimum District, Aceh Besar in April 2024. This study used a non-factorial Randomized Block Design (RBD) of 4 treatments and 6 replications resulting in 24 experimental units. The parameters observed were the percentage of intact nuclei (%) and the percentage of broken nuclei (%). The results showed that the test treatment of the length of time drying candlenut seeds with sunlight with different intervals of the number of days did not give a significant effect on the percentage of intact candlenuts, and the percentage of broken nuclei.

Private, non-profit, and plantation: Oil palm smallholders in management-assistance programs vary in socio-demographics, attitudes, and management practices.

Smallholder farmers produce over 40% of global palm oil, the world's most traded and controversial vegetable oil. Awareness of the effects of palm oil production on ecosystems and human communities has increased drastically in recent years, with ever louder calls for the private and public sector to develop programs to support sustainable cultivation by smallholder farmers. To effectively influence smallholder practices and ensure positive social outcomes, such schemes must consider the variety in perspectives of farmers and align with their priorities. We conducted social surveys on smallholder farmers in Indonesia and Malaysia with varying degrees of participation in programs that offer advice and support with plantation management ("management-assistance programs") led by an industrial palm oil producer in Indonesia and a conservation-focused NGO in Malaysia. We surveyed farmers on their demographics, attitudes, and management decisions. Our analyses act as case studies to investigate the similarities and differences between smallholder palm oil producers involved in different schemes, allowing us to determine the alignment between the intentions of partnership programs and the current realities of smallholder plantations. The relationship between heterogeneity of social factors and management decisions and degree of program involvement differed across different groups and region: Indonesian smallholders most closely partnered with the private sector were the most varied in socio-demographics and attitudes but showed little variation in management inputs, while Malaysian smallholders most closely partnered with an NGO were the most heterogenous across all survey sections. Specifically, Indonesian farmers partnered with the private sector used less herbicide, more fertilizer, and had higher yield and total household income than farmers completely uninvolved with management assistance programs. In Malaysia, farmers partnered with an NGO also had higher yield and fertilizer application than independent farmers, however they used significantly more herbicide and had lower total household income. Our findings demonstrate the wide variety of smallholder farmers in both regions, directly opposing a 'one-size-fits-all' approach to sustainability. The wide variety of existing management practices also provides a potentially valuable natural experiment to identify high-yield, environmentally-friendly management approaches. When taken in context, our findings may inform the interventions of management-assistance programs, ensuring they are approaching the most relevant farmer groups in the most effective way.

Sustainable Agriculture in Indonesia: Assessing the Impact of Fertiliser Consumption on Crop Production and CO2 Emissions

Sustainable Agriculture in Indonesia: Assessing the Impact of Fertiliser Consumption on Crop Production and CO2 Emissions

The Role of Toko Tani Indonesia (TTI) to Supply Chain and The Establishment of Rice Prices in Sragen District

This research examines the role of Toko Tani Indonesia (TTI) in the rice supply chain and price determination in Sragen Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. Using a descriptive analysis approach, the study focused on Sragen, a major rice production center. The samples for this investigation were selected purposively from datasets provided by eleven Community Food Business Institutions and Indonesian Farmer’s Stores that have been recorded in the Office of Agriculture and Food Security of Sragen Regency. The Food Supply Chain Networking (FSCN) model and rice price formation were analyzed qualitatively, while supply chain performance and value-added (VA) were assessed quantitatively. Results revealed a significant reduction in the rice supply chain stages from 6–7 to just 3, improving efficiency. Margins for partner farmers and TTI were calculated at IDR 1,600 per kilogram (51.13% of total margin share) and IDR 300 per kilogram, respectively. Inventory turnover was 12 times annually, with inventory days of supply for farmer groups at 30 days and a cash-to-cash cycle of 37 days. VA analysis showed farmers contributed 72% of total value (IDR 376,216,168), LUPM 26% (IDR 136,678,955), and TTI 2% (IDR 8,090,000). TTI supports farmers by purchasing grains at fair prices, ensuring effective marketing, maintaining rice availability, and stabilizing prices, thus playing a critical role in the community's food security efforts.

Does The Greenhouse Adoption Improve Farmers’ Welfare? Evidence from Melon Farmers in Indonesia

Greenhouse technology presents a promising solution to the challenges of agricultural productivity and sustainability, particularly for small-scale farmers facing climate change, resource constraints, and unpredictable weather conditions. This study was the first attempt to investigate the impact of greenhouse adoption on farmers’ welfare which focused on household income per capita and food security status. The samples of this study were conducted 201 melon farmers in East Java, Indonesia. This study analyzed data to discern the effects of greenhouse adoption on farmers’ welfare by employing endogenous switching regression to address potential endogeneity issues. The analysis revealed that greenhouse adoption significantly and positively affected household income per capita and food security status. Through rigorous data analysis, this research had contributed valuable insights into the socio-economic implications of adopting greenhouses in agricultural practices. The results highlighted the role of greenhouses in boosting farmers’ resilience, improving livelihoods, and enhancing food security, providing a strong case for promoting greenhouse technology in rural agricultural practices.

Promoting sustainable performance of smallholder oil palm farmers: an analysis of key determinants and strategic priorities

PurposeThis study investigates the factors affecting the performance of smallholder oil palm farmers in Indonesia, with an emphasis on sustainable productivity.Design/methodology/approachThe study involved interviews with regulators, practitioners and experienced farmers in Riau, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and the Bangka Belitung Islands, Indonesia. A confirmatory and explanatory approach was used to explore the relationships among farmer competency, social capital, institutional support, sustainable productivity and overall performance. Data from 757 farmers were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), while the analytical network process (ANP) method identified strategic priorities.FindingsThe results indicate that the sustainability of oil palm farming was low. Social capital, institutional support and sustainable productivity are the key performance factors. Sustainable productivity mediates these relationships. Farmers’ competence indirectly affects performance through sustainable productivity, social capital and institutions. Institutional support needs to be improved.Research limitations/implicationsThis study suggests expanding sustainability indicators by following the latest standards of RSPO principles and criteria, simplifying language for better farmer understanding and assessing sustainability before and after policy implementation.Practical implicationsThe proposed policy framework emphasizes social capital, institutional support and sustainable productivity to improve sustainability and effectiveness.Social implicationsThis study highlights the critical role of social capital, institutional support and sustainable productivity in enhancing Indonesian palm oil farmers’ sustainability and performance.Originality/valueThis unique integrated approach combining PLS-SEM and ANP methodologies provides a comprehensive understanding of the factors affecting smallholder performance and data-driven strategic priorities for policy interventions.

The moderating effect of halal certification awareness on farmers’ behaviour for halal rice: an extended theory of planned behaviour

Purpose The Indonesian Government demanded that all beverages and food products, including rice, be halal-certified. Farmers play a crucial role in the rice halal certification procedures. The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors influencing farmers’ intentions and behaviours towards halal rice production. Design/methodology/approach Partial least squares–structural equation modelling was used to analyse survey data collected from 278 rice farmers in Indonesia. Findings This study indicates that farmers’ intentions and perceived behavioural control have a favourable and significant impact on their behaviours towards halal rice farming. Importantly, halal certification awareness can operate as a moderator to improve the effects of attitude on farmers’ intentions to comply with halal requirements in rice production. Practical implications This study’s results hold significant practical implications for stakeholders interested in encouraging farmers to purchase halal-certified rice seeds and sell paddy to halal-certified rice milling companies. Efforts to improve farmers’ knowledge and awareness of halal certification include organising halal certification courses, creating a supportive social environment, sharing farmers’ success stories and establishing support mechanisms to assist farmers in incorporating halal concepts into their businesses. Originality/value Research on halal certification from producers’ perspectives, particularly among farmers, remains limited. This study addresses this gap by exploring farmers’ behaviours towards halal rice production and contributing insights for stakeholders interested in promoting halal rice certification.

Online Communities of Practises as Agricultural Information Platforms: A Case Study of Indonesian Shrimp Farmers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study examines the potential of Online Communities of Practises (OCoPs) for providing agricultural extension services. Using a unique dataset of 1,574 shrimp farmers, including members of one of Indonesia's largest public OCoP Facebook groups, we found that despite the pandemic, Indonesian farmers continue to rely primarily on their neighbours for farming information, utilising OCoPs only as a complementary resource. This reliance may stem from the fragmented and codified nature of information shared by OCoP members, making it challenging to access specific and useful farming information, particularly on shrimp disease, and difficult to revalidate practices in the field. Consequently, farmers prefer to observe their neighbours’ practices and replicate their farming success, given similar ecological prerequisites. To compensate for these shortcomings, it is recommended that context-specific and timely information from conventional extension services be integrated into OCoPs.

From Bean to Benefit: How Indonesian Intellectual Property (IP) Law Protects the Coffee Farmers in Indonesia?

This study addresses the urgent question: How can legal protections for Geographical Indications (GIs) as a form of Intellectual Property (IP) enhance the welfare of coffee farmers in Temanggung, Indonesia? Coffee is a vital agricultural product in this region, yet farmers face challenges in maximizing its economic potential. The research positions itself within the framework of empirical legal studies, analyzing the interplay between legal protections and agricultural sustainability. The paper discusses the issue by first examining the current state of GI protection in Temanggung, identifying both obstacles faced by farmers and the government. Through qualitative analysis, the study evaluates effective strategies for implementing GI protections and their implications for farmer welfare. The main findings indicate that while there are significant challenges in enforcing GI protections, targeted strategies—such as regular training and outreach for farmers, improved marketing initiatives, and the establishment of local regulations—can substantially enhance their livelihoods. Moreover, the research highlights the importance of increasing awareness and knowledge among farmers to leverage GI protections effectively. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of agricultural law's role in rural development, providing actionable insights for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to support Indonesia’s coffee farmers.

Transformative Islam and Peasant Independence: Experiences from an Indonesian Village

Indonesian peasants have been dependent on market forces and global phenomena since the establishment of the New Order (1966), and this has been detrimental to their welfare. However, this phenomenon has long been ignored by scholars, and thus the government has received little feedback regarding the creation of fairness and justice in agricultural management. This study, thus, seeks to empower farmers by transforming their traditional understanding of Islam into a transformative one. This study involved participatory action research, cycling twice through five strategies: imparting knowledge of transformative Islam, cultivating new understandings, developing strategic action plans, implementing these action plans, and reflecting/gathering feedback for further action. This study finds that peasant empowerment can be realized by transforming their religious understandings, and that the five strategies identified above can be employed fruitfully. At the same time, this study provides important feedback to the government and academics, offering a means of sustainably and systematically empowering farmers in Indonesia and around the world, thereby changing their fates and creating justice in agriculture.

Morphometric characteristics of Mojosari and Alabio ducks in Indonesia

This study investigated the morphometric characteristics of Mojosari and Alabio ducks, indigenous breeds recognized for their genetic value in Indonesian agriculture. A total of 456 ducks, comprising 254 Mojosari and 202 Alabio ducks, were assessed for body weight (BW), shank length (SL), breast circumference (BrC), and back length (BcL) at 10 weeks of age. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize morphometric traits, and the Mann?Whitney U test was applied to evaluate differences between sexes due to the nonnormal distribution of the data. Additionally, Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationships between body weight and morphometric traits, identifying reliable predictors across sexes and breeds. Significant breed- and sex-specific variations were observed, with male Alabio ducks showing superior body weights, whereas female Mojosari ducks presented distinctive shank proportions, reflecting potential adaptive differences. Correlation analysis highlighted back length and breast circumference as strong predictors of body weight, with a greater association observed in female Alabio ducks. These findings provide a foundational understanding of morphometric diversity in Indonesian ducks, supporting their conservation and potential for targeted breeding programs to increase productivity, resilience, and adaptability.

Pentuple Bottom Line in Seaweeds Cultivation: An Environmental Accounting Review

This study explores the role of environmental and sustainability accounting in promoting sustainable seaweed farming in Indonesia. Environmental accounting records and reports the environmental impacts of economic activities, while sustainability accounting integrates economic, social, and environmental dimensions under the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) and Pentuple Bottom Line (PBL) frameworks. The research highlights how these tools can enhance seaweed farming's global competitiveness, support blue economy development, and address climate change.Using a descriptive qualitative approach, the study combines in-depth interviews with seaweed farmers, academics, and stakeholders with a literature review. Legitimacy theory is applied to analyze how transparency in sustainability reporting strengthens relationships with society and global markets.Findings reveal limited adoption of environmental and sustainability accounting in seaweed farming, despite its potential. Transparency in managing environmental impacts, such as waste and carbon absorption, is critical. Local cultural values like siri’ na pacce serve as a moral foundation for strengthening social legitimacy. Technologies like IoT and blockchain can accelerate effective environmental accounting.This study contributes by integrating environmental and sustainability accounting into the PBL framework, addressing economic, social, and environmental impacts more comprehensively. It emphasizes better governance through farmer awareness, eco-friendly technologies, and stronger regulations, positioning seaweed farming as a blue economy model. Future research should focus on cross-sector collaboration to advance sustainable fisheries and marine policies.

Implementation of Fuzzy Logic to Control Soil Moisture Level in Arduino-Based Rice Fields

In Indonesia, where the agricultural sector is pivotal in the economy and most of the population are farmers, effective soil moisture control is crucial for optimizing crop production. This study investigates the application of modern technology, particularly Arduino microcontrollers utilizing Fuzzy Logic, to enhance irrigation management in rice fields. Given the challenges of irregular water supply due to geographical and temporal variations, additional infrastructure such as waterways, dams, and pumps are indispensable for regulating water distribution. By integrating Arduino microcontroller technology with Fuzzy Logic, precise and adaptive soil moisture management can be achieved, ensuring optimal water usage and improving crop yields. This research contributes to advancing sustainable agriculture in Indonesia, addressing the pressing need for food security amidst a growing population.

The Future of Agriculture in Indonesia: Facing Climate Change and Globalization

The Future of Agriculture in Indonesia: Facing Climate Change and Globalization

University Education and Innovation Resistance: A Multigroup Analysis of Digital Payment Barriers among Indonesian Farmers

University Education and Innovation Resistance: A Multigroup Analysis of Digital Payment Barriers among Indonesian Farmers

Improving the depth and complexity of stakeholder deliberation using images: Experimental evidence from Indonesia

In this study, we tested interventions to improve the depth and complexity of deliberation processes with rural aquaculture farmers in Indonesia facing collective action problems in governing water distribution. The field experiment was conducted in four aquaculture villages in Lombok, Indonesia, where farmers were actively involved in the co-management PITAP program to maintain irrigation canals. The intervention was a version of the Social-Ecological Systems Framework (SESF) translated into images that depicted the variables of the framework in the context of the case study. We hypothesized that the connected image-based SESF deliberation tool could facilitate more in-depth discussions on the complexities of social and ecological issues compared to baseline (no images) and control groups (images with no framework relationships). To gauge the farmers' intent to care for irrigation canals post-PITAP collectively, we employed the Reasoned Action Approach (RAA) from environmental psychology. Our experimental study revealed that employing the SESF as an image-based deliberation tool did not measurably improve the depth and complexity of the discussions within the context of the traditional aquaculture communities in Indonesia. Nevertheless, the data derived from the content of discussions indicates that employing the image-based tool results in different but important outcomes among the experimental groups with implications for a better understanding of context and culture where deliberation processes occur. We further reflected on our findings on the hierarchical societal relationships in the context of rural communities in Indonesia that influence the deliberation style and reception.

Revealing the Crucial Role and Future Prospects of Biofertilizers for Improving Soil Health and Crop Productivity in Eco-Friendly Sustainable Agriculture in Indonesia

Revealing the Crucial Role and Future Prospects of Biofertilizers for Improving Soil Health and Crop Productivity in Eco-Friendly Sustainable Agriculture in Indonesia

Perancangan Aplikasi Pendeteksi Hama Tanaman Padi Berbasis Android

Rice pest control is one of the main challenges in the agricultural sector in Indonesia. Pests such as planthoppers, stem borers, and rats can cause significant losses to crop yields. Currently, many farmers have difficulty identifying pest types and how to control them quickly and effectively. Therefore, a technological solution is needed that can detect pests directly and provide recommendations for action. This study aims to design an Android-based application that is able to detect types of rice plant pests using visual images and provide recommendations for handling. This application is designed using digital image processing methods and is supported by a large pest database. This technology is expected to be an efficient and practical solution for farmers. The research method used in developing this application is a qualitative method, involving interviews with farmers, agronomists, and data collection related to pests and their damage patterns. This application utilizes AI-based pattern recognition technology to detect pests through photos taken directly by farmers. The results of the study showed that this application was able to detect several types of major pests with an accuracy of up to 85%. In addition, this application provides recommendations for handling steps based on guidelines from the Ministry of Agriculture. The trial showed that this application can help farmers identify pests faster than manual methods. The main contribution of this research is to create a technology-based solution to agricultural problems in Indonesia, especially in the rice sector. With this application, farmers can increase their yields through early identification and proper pest management. In future implementations, this application will continue to be developed to detect additional pests and expand its database. It is hoped that this application can be an important tool in supporting smart farming in Indonesia.

Digital communication competence and technology adoption: Drivers of performance among small-scale millennial farmers in Indonesia

Digital development in rural areas has become a driving force in increasing agricultural and rural economic productivity. However, the lack of digital communication competence among farmers remains a problem, causing market information asymmetry and an inability to effectively utilize information and communication technology (ICT) in the agricultural sector to increase business profits. Therefore, it is important to examine the use of ICT in the agricultural sector in 19- to 39-year-old age groups (or millennial farmers), as this generation is considered closest to digital technology. This study used a survey method with 345 millennial farmers in Bogor, Indonesia, and data were analyzed using partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results of this study indicate that digital communication competence, as reflected by motivation, knowledge, and digital skills, plays a crucial role in enhancing the performance of millennial farmers both directly and indirectly through ICT utilization. Farmers possessing superior digital communication competencies exhibit a greater inclination to employ technology for communication, information acquisition, idea dissemination, and marketing in their agricultural pursuits, resulting in more informed decision making and potentially improved productivity and profitability. The results contribute to the understanding of the role of digital communication competence and ICT utilization in enhancing farmers’ performance.

Factors Inhibiting The Utilization of Agricultural Land Management in Improving The Community Economy (Case Study of Embong Village, Embong Satu, Kota Baru, Uram Jaya District)

In agriculture in Indonesia, the majority of farmers are rice farmers, which is a type of plant that has been planted for generations and is also used as the main staple of community consumption; if we look closely at the potential of agriculture in Indonesia, it is very strategic for the welfare of the community, especially rural communities or forest fringe communities. In the community of Uram Jaya sub-district, or more precisely, the community of Embong Village, Embong Satu, Kota Baru, they experience a problem where they can only plant rice once a year due to the beliefs that have been held so far by the people there. In addition to the existence of obstacles to the agricultural process by culture and community values and norms, in this village, there are also several disturbances from various aspects ranging from the lack of local government empowerment efforts, lack of knowledge on the creation of new community innovations, and to the state of the community that lacks interest in new things in agriculture. This research aims to determine the community's understanding and ability to use land in the best possible way by knowing the potential inhibiting factors in land utilization and the relationship between government integration with the community in improving agriculture. This study uses qualitative methods with data collection techniques and interviews with the community, the village government, and the community members who participated directly. This research proves that agriculture in Embong, Embong Satu, and Kota Baru villages is experiencing obstacles in its agricultural development due to natural factors, culture, values, norms, and poor community and government relations.