Caraka Tani: Journal of Sustainable Agriculture
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Improving Soya Bean Productivity for Poverty Alleviation and Food Security in Upper West Region of Ghana: A Resource Use Efficiency Analysis
Get PDFSoya bean is an important economic crop for smallholder farming systems in Upper West Region of Ghana. In spite of the introduction of modern and improved soya bean production technologies in Ghana, the productivity of the crop in the region is still low. Given that inefficient use of resources is a potential course of low yields, this study analyses the resource use efficiency of soya bean production. Using cross-sectional data collected from 271 soya bean farmers from the Upper West Region of Ghana, the study employed the Stochastic Frontier Translog Production Function as well as the ratio of Marginal Value Product to Marginal Factor Cost to understand the resource use efficiency of soya bean farmers in the region. The empirical results showed that the estimated coefficients of soya bean seeds, labor and farm size were significant and positively related to soya bean output even though fertilizer input was surprisingly significantly and negatively related to the output of soya bean. Also, resources employed in soya bean production were found not to be efficiently utilized as they were underutilized, indicating that yield and profit could be improved with optimal use of production inputs. Finally, the paper revealed that access to soya bean threshers is the most important constraint faced by farmers in the region. For the region’s soya bean yield to be improved, government and development organizations should assist soya bean farmers by removing major bottlenecks to acquisition of resources required for the production and postharvest handling of the crop
Growth Response of Local Cassava to Cutting Models and the Number of Buds
Get PDFCassava is one of the local food sources that are widely available in almost every region. Cuttings are used to plant cassava, and these cuttings will produce a number of roots and buds. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of cuttings slices model and the number of buds on the growth of Tobelo local varieties of cassava. This study employed a factorial Randomized Block Design (RBD), with the cuttings slices model as the first factor, consisting of three levels, namely: flat slice, one-sided slice and two-sided slice. The second factor is the number of buds, which is divided into three levels, 1 bud, 2 buds and 3 buds. The observation parameters in this study include plant height, number of leaves, stem diameter and leaf area. The results have revealed that the model of two-sided sliced cuttings combined with the number of one bud is the most effective treatment in improving the growth of cassava plants of Tobelo local varieties. The models of one-sided and two-sided oblique cuttings slices yield the highest average value for the parameters of plant height, stem diameter and leaf area, while the treatment with one bud tends to give the best results for the growth parameters
Seedling Growth Analysis of Papaya Cultivated on Several Planting Media Enriched by Plant Growth Promotor Microbes
Get PDFThere are factors contributed to the growth and development of fruit crop seedling. Microbes are well known as plant growth promotors such as symbiotic mycorrhizae and antagonist fungi, Trichoderma spp. The main objective of this experiment is to find out the best medium composition enriched by beneficial microbes to improve papaya seedling growth. The experiment was conducted at Sumani Experimental Station, Indonesian Tropical Fruit Research Institute, Solok, West Sumatera, Indonesia from August until December 2017. The experiment was arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with ten treatments and three replicate blocks. The treatments were ten combinations of media for papaya seedling growth enriched by plant growth promotor microbes. In this experiment, medium soil with additional manure, rice husk charcoal and compost (single or combination) combined with mycorrhizae were used. Also, the effect of Trichoderma sp. enrichment into media composition were tested in this experiment. Treatments SCRMc and SCRMcT; with its complexity; were the best media composition to promote papaya seedling growth. These treatments resulted in best performance of plant height, stem diameter and number of leaves of papaya seedlings. The additional of Trichoderma sp. into medium did not show beneficial effect for all parameters in this experiment
Factors Affecting Farmers’ Perception toward Agricultural Land Sustainability in Peri-Urban Areas of Pekalongan City
Get PDFOver the past few decades, agricultural land sustainability on the peri-urban areas face a threat to the agricultural land conversion, especially on the peri-urban areas of Pekalongan City. The sustainability of agricultural land is determined by the level of farmers’ perception. Therefore, this research was conducted to determine the factors that influence farmers’ perceptions toward agricultural land sustainability in peri-urban areas of Pekalongan City. The peri-urban areas of Pekalongan City were selected by purposive sampling method with a total sample of 90 farm owners and cultivators. Data were analyzed using OLS (Ordinary Least Square) regression model. The results have shown that the factors influencing farmers’ perceptions toward agricultural land sustainability in the peri-urban area of Pekalongan City were farmers’ knowledge, farmers’ land tenure and access to information. Based on the results of the study, the variables of farmers’ knowledge and land tenure had a negative impact, while the access to agricultural information had a positive impact on farmers’ perceptions. These results have the implication for farmers, that their perceptions can be improved by making advances to the quality of agricultural land in the suburbs, reducing both production and price risks and increasing the intensity of counseling or training related to agricultural activities in the suburbs of Pekalongan City
Growth and Yield of Soybean as a Response of the Fertilization of NPK Compound Produced with Spent and Deoiled Bleaching Earth Filler
Get PDFSpent Bleaching Earth (SBE) is a by-product of the refining of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) into cooking oil which is classified as hazardous and toxic materials waste. SBE has the potential to be used as a filler in the production of NPK fertilizer. This study aims to compare the effect of SBE and Deoiled Bleaching Earth (DBE) as the replacement of clay mineral, which is expected to have the same effect as the control treatment in terms of the leaf area, total dry weight, plant height and yield of plant. This experiment used a one-factor Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. The treatments of filler in NPK fertilizer were 10% clay minerals, NPK with 5% clay mineral + 5% SBE filler and NPK with 5% clay mineral + 5% DBE filler. Fertilizer was given twice, ie when the plant was 14 days after planting (DAP) as much as 2 g polybag-1 and age 35 DAP as much as 3 g polybag-1 at each treatment. The results showed that the application of NPK fertilization with 5% clay mineral + 5% SBE filler and NPK fertilization with 5% clay mineral + 5% DBE filler had the same effect as NPK fertilization with 10% clay mineral filler on leaf area, total dry weight, plant height and yield of plant. SBE and DBE can be used as substituties for clay mineral in NPK fertilizer production
The Risk and Strategies of Potato Production in Garut, Indonesia
Get PDFThe fluctuation of potato production has been caused by production risk in on-farm sector. This research aims to identify the sources of production risk in potato production and analyze the strategies to overcome the production risk. This research was conducted at Cantigi Farmers’ Group, which has been actively producing potato in Cikajang Sub-district, Garut Regency, West Java. The data were collected from all 35 members of the Cantigi Farmers’ Group. This study used Z-Score and Value at Risk analyses. The results showed that the sources of potato production risk that occurred in the Cantigi Farmers’ Group were pests, diseases, rainfall, seed quality, managerial ability and soil fertility. Mitigation strategies can be used to overcome the risk sources such as by using intercropping method, plant-based pesticides, natural enemies, proper water management and drainage. Preventive strategies can be used to overcome the risk sources such as by using plant-based pesticides, organic fertilizers, assistance from local extension agents, in collaboration with certified seed breeders in the surrounding area and attending the training of how to breed properly. The research on potato production risk in Cikajang Sub-district is very significant considering that, to the best of authors’ knowledge, the analysis of potato production risks has not been conducted yet in this important area of potato producing. This study was conducted in a limited scope of variable, therefore, a further research of potato production risks is suggested to be performed in a wider variable scope
Analysis of Vegetation and Community Attitude as the Reforestation Efforts at Greenbelt Area of Multipurpose Reservoir of Wonogiri
Get PDFLand conversion has caused the function of the greenbelt for reservoir to be less effective. The management of the greenbelt area is needed to maintain the primary function of the reservoir. Therefore, a vegetation analysis in the greenbelt area is necessary to evaluate the condition of the existing vegetation and community attitude to maintain the greenbelt area. This study aims at identifying the current condition of the greenbelt area and the diversity of vegetation as well as the community attitude at the greenbelt area of multipurpose reservoir of Wonogiri. Vegetation sampling was done by purposive sampling using directed line quadrant method, while community attitude sampling was performed using in-depth interviews. This study found 14 species of vegetation in the greenbelt area. The most significant contribution of vegetation species was shown by the Importance Value Index (IVI), with 14 species of tree in which teak (Tectona grandis L.) was the species with the highest IVI value. The species diversity index was 1.15-1.7 and it was included in the medium category. Reforestation efforts can be continued because the vegetation condition has shown moderate stability. Community attitudes towards the greenbelt largely support the existence of management although people still and will use the land without disturbing the existing plants. The reforestation program that has been carried out in the last few years is expected to be able to restore the greenbelt in support of the reservoir function
Food Diversification: Strengthening Strategic Efforts to Reduce Social Inequality through Sustainable Food Security Development in Indonesia
Get PDFPotential food resources can be utilized through food diversification as a part of the government's efforts to minimize socio-economic inequality with sustainable food security development program. The purpose of this study was to observe the role of food diversification in reducing social inequality through sustainable food security development. This study uses descriptive qualitative methods with secondary data collection techniques which include data references as well as documentation related to food security development. The results showed that in Indonesia, food diversification program has an impact on increasing income, household resilience and welfare with a decrease in the number of the rural poor population of 4.7% (from 16.31 people to 15.54 people). It was positively correlated with the increase in farmers' income by (IDR) 30.37 million per capita increase (4.47%). Then, followed by the level of food security in the district area reached 80.53% (335 regions) and for urban areas amounted to 92.85% (91 regions). National food security can be achieved through maximizing the potential use of food resources at the regional level, by diversifying food based on local wisdom and optimally local resources. It can be concluded that food diversification is a policy that can be used by the government to increase community economic income and reduce poverty and social inequality
The Psychological State of Farmers in the Agricultural Cultivation of Food Crops during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Java, Indonesia
Get PDFThis research aims to discover the psychological state of farmers in the agricultural cultivation of food crops during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a descriptive explorative study which explores the farmers’ opinions regarding their agricultural activities during the COVID-19 pandemic which reached its peak between March and June 2020. During this period, a Large Scale Social Distancing (LSSD) system was enforced in some areas. The data collection was conducted in June 2020 before the implementation of the new normal, involving 634 respondents which spread across 40 districts throughout Java. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic period, almost all farmers continued to carry out their agricultural activities. Some farmers had implemented the health protocols. According to most farmers’ opinions, doing the agricultural activities made them healthier. With regard to COVID-19, most farmers behave normally, while the rest feel worried. Agricultural extension activities are constrained and hampered by the implementation of physical and social distancing, especially large-scale social restrictions. Seeing the psychological condition of the farmers, where most are continuing to cultivate food crops and only slightly worried about the COVID-19 pandemic, gave hope for the sustainability of agricultural production in the new normal period
The Stratification of Organic Carbon and Nitrogen in Top Soils as Affected by the Management of Organic and Conventional Rice Cultivation
Get PDFOrganic and conventional management in rice cultivation have an impact on the nature of soil and the sustainability of agricultural system. This study aimed to determine the stratification of organic carbon and nitrogen in top soil from organic and conventional rice management. Top soil samples from organic and conventional rice management were taken before planting rice to find out the parameters of several soil characteristics. After rice was planted, top soil samples were taken at the depths of 0-4, 4-8, 8-12, 12-16, 16-20, 20-24 and 24-28 cm from organic and conventional rice fields, to determine the total organic carbon, total nitrogen and nitrate. The results show that organic rice management will provide better soil properties. Stratification of organic carbon and nitrogen was found in top soil from organic and conventional rice fields. Organic rice field appeared to have organic carbon content that was significantly higher than that of conventional rice field, and it is concentrated on top soil surface. The total nitrogen content in layers 0-4 cm and 4-8 cm in organic rice field was considerably higher than in conventional, but the content was different in layers 8-24 cm. Nitrate content was significantly different in top soil 12-16, 16-20 and 20-24 cm, significantly in top soil 8-12 cm, with nitrate in top soil of conventional rice field higher than in organic rice field. However, it was not significant in 0-4 cm and 4-8 cm top soils. This condition was influenced by organic and synthetic chemical fertilization, nitrification, denitrification and leaching