Nurbaya Busthanul

Pulu Mandoti is known for its unique glutinous rice, known for its delicious taste and commanding a price five times higher than other rice varieties. It is cultivated in only two villages in South Sulawesi, including Kendenan Village, and utilizes a unique knowledge system. The aim of the research was to find out the local knowledge system and contribution to Pulu Mandoti farming in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. We used qualitative approach with a descriptive type of case study involving 11 informants, i.e. 8 persons of Pulu Mandoti farmers, Head of Kendenan Village, member of the Baraka District Agricultural Extension Center, and Kendenan Village Agricultural Extension Officer. Data analyzed by Narrative Text. The results of the study showed that the local knowledge system in Pulu Mandoti farming consists of seed selection, land cultivation, seeding, planting, maintenance, harvesting and post-harvest. Seed selection is done by choosing oval-shaped seeds (simple breeding); in land cultivation using terraced land (soil conservation); in seeding, soak the seeds for about 24 hours to separate quality seeds from non-quality seeds and sow seeds facing the qibla by paying attention to the best time based on the Islamic calendar and the phases of the moon; in planting using a transplant planting system; in the treatment using natural materials in the form of surian leaves for rat pests and utilizing local technology in the form of bamboo to repel sparrows (environmental friendly technique); in harvest and post-harvest using traditional tools in the form of ani-ani and welcoming the harvest party with young Pulu Mandoti harvesters and performing traditional rituals as a form of gratitude for the harvest (social).

Farmers’ motivation plays a crucial role in determining the sustainability and economic performance of agricultural activities, particularly in smallholder farming systems. Motivated farmers are generally more willing to adopt improved practices, allocate resources efficiently, and maintain production despite various environmental and market challenges. However, empirical studies examining the motivational drivers of farmers cultivating high-value horticultural commodities such as turmeric remain limited, especially in rural areas of developing countries where smallholder farming dominates agricultural production. This study aims to analyze the level of farmers’ motivation in turmeric cultivation and to evaluate the income generated from turmeric farming in Nisombalia Village, Marusu District, Maros Regency, Indonesia. This research employs a quantitative descriptive approach using structured questionnaires with Likert scale measurements administered to 40 turmeric farmers. The collected data were analyzed using percentage scores and interval classifications to identify the relative importance of internal and external motivational factors. In addition, farm income analysis was conducted by comparing total production costs and total revenue obtained from turmeric cultivation. The results show that several internal factors strongly influence farmers’ motivation, including age (93.6%), basic needs (91%), farming experience (90.5%), and land potential (84.5%). Among external factors, marketing opportunities play the most significant role in motivating farmers, with an interval score of 92.3%. The total income generated from turmeric farming reached IDR 354,173,000, with an average income of IDR 8,854,325 per farmer. These findings highlight the importance of improving market access and institutional support to strengthen the sustainability and economic viability of turmeric farming.

This study aimed to examine the effects of the input factor allocation on tangerine production in Selayar Islands Regency, South Sulawesi Province. Binary logistic regression was the data analysis method utilized to achieve the research objective. Based on the findings, it was found that the factors of length of education, farmer group membership, farm distance, labor, pesticides, herbicides, urea fertilizer, manure, and NPK fertilizer all had a significant impact on the output of tangerines in farming. Factors such as education duration, participation in farmer groups, labor availability, and the use of herbicides, urea fertilizer, NPK fertilizer, and manure all positively and significantly impact tangerine farm production. However, the distance between farms and insecticide application imposes a substantial negative effect on tangerine yields. These results suggest that the tangerine farmers at the research site should increase their production by learning farming management, joining farmer groups, cultivating additional land, and using more urea, NPK, and manure. Pesticide application optimization can also boost tangerine production. In addition, farmers need a mix of conventional and organic fertilizers and limited pesticide use to stay productive.

This study aims to investigate the business diversification undertaken by seaweed processing cooperatives and analyze the variety of products and services offered. This study used a qualitative approach with in-depth interviews and participatory observation to collect data from seaweed processing cooperatives, namely the Utari Seaweed Cooperative (KRLU), which operates in various coastal areas of Bulukumba Regency. The results showed that seaweed processing cooperatives have successfully diversified their businesses to optimize the potential of their seaweed resources. This business diversification includes processing seaweed into various products such as processed foods. The cooperative also offers services such as educational tours, where people can learn about seaweed cultivation and processing. This diversification of businesses and services has provided economic and social benefits to the cooperative and local communities. The study concludes that the business diversification of the KRLU cooperative is an effective strategy for increasing the added value of its products and improving the cooperative's income. Recommendations from this study are to continue to encourage innovation in seaweed processing, increase the capacity of cooperative members through training and mentoring, and expand marketing networks to improve market access.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the proportion of food consumption expenditure to clove farmer household expenditures, as well as the energy and protein consumption and food security conditions of clove farmer households in Indonesia.   Theoretical Framework: Hunger eradication and food security remain critical development challenges, particularly in developing nations such as Indonesia. Poorer households spend a large proportion of their income on basic needs, including food. However, as their income increases, they divert more of their income towards buying higher quality goods and services, thereby reducing the proportion that goes into food.   Method: This research was conducted on 30 clove farming communities using a purposive sampling technique. In in-depth interviews, all informants responded to the researcher's questions using precise, in-depth, and easy-to-understand phrases. Data analysis was carried out by reducing data, presenting data and drawing conclusions and verification.   Result and Conclusion: The results showed that the average proportion of non-food expenditure to total household expenditure of clove farmers in the study locations was 54.45%, while the proportion of food consumption expenditure to total expenditure was 45.55%. This suggests that non-food consumption spending accounts for a significant portion of farmer household expenditure. Meanwhile, the average energy and protein consumption of rice farming households was 1995.81 kcal/person/day and 88.65 grams/person/day, respectively.   Implication Of Research: These findings imply that clove farmers have a sufficient amount of energy and protein. It may be stated that clove farmers in the research area have very excellent food security, with no food insecure households.

The fertilizer subsidy policy is a government program with the aim of supporting the agricultural sector by providing input subsidies through setting the highest retail price (HET) for fertilizer subsidies. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of the fertilizer subsidy policy on rice farmers in Wajo Regency using four indicators of the effectiveness based on the fertilizer subsidy policy indicators and criteria, namely the right price, the right place, the right time, and the right amount. This study uses a survey method with a qualitative and descriptive approach. In this study, the determination of the sample used the cluster sampling with the Two-Stage Cluster Sampling in which the sampling was carried out in two stages. The data analysis method used to describe the procedure for implementing the fertilizer subsidy policy is descriptive analysis, while the data analysis method used to analyze the effectiveness of the fertilizer subsidy policy is descriptive qualitative analysis. The results of this study are the level of effectiveness of the fertilizer subsidy policy based on four indicators of overall success with an average indicator of 46.46 percent; so that it can be categorized as not effective.

Cooperatives are one of the supporting sectors for the economy based on a people's economy. Therefore, cooperatives can function well, if there is the institutional strengthening of cooperatives in them, especially regarding seaweed cooperative institutions. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential and strategies for strengthening seaweed business institutions through cooperatives. The method was using qualitative approach method using SWOT analysis. The results of this study indicate that the potential for strengthening the economic institutions of seaweed farmers through cooperatives is quite large through the main strategies: Increasing the quantity & quality of production through increasing the area of seaweed cultivation; Developing partnership; Capital accumulation through the addition of cooperative members; implementing innovation; and implementing priority scale.