Caraka Tani: Journal of Sustainable Agriculture
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Behavior and Marketing Analysis of Pepper (Piper nigrum L.): A Comparative Study of Farmers, Trading Districts and Retailers in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia
Full text linkInefficient marketing and low production are the main obstacles in the selling of pepper and they also cause a low bargaining position for farmers in the market. Therefore, this study aims to determine the market behavior activities carried out to determine prices, as well as analyze marketing channels, profits received by participants and efficiency. Samples used in this study were 27 farmers, 4 trading districts, and 3 respondent retailers. The qualitative analysis was used to analyze the pattern of channels, the functions performed by associated agencies and the market behavior of the pepper commodity. Quantitative analysis was also carried out to evaluate the marketing margins, costs incurred by traders, profits received and efficiency. The results show that the selling price of pepper was determined by the merchant, with different payment systems including cash, initial deposit, and balance through oral cooperation in the form of an agreement on a place of sales, followed by the provision of capital to farmers. In the marketing process, 4 patterns of channels were formed, which include local markets and others outside the regency, and their efficiencies were above 50%. These results show that government need to provide pepper markets outside the province to improve the welfare of farmers and ensure they don't depend only on the local marketplace during harvest
Development of Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and Cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmannii) Based Food Sanitizer
Full text linkAlthough minimally processed food contains more beneficial nutrients, it is one of the largest sources of food-borne diseases. Therefore, this research aims to develop the efficiency of food sanitizer, targeted toward fresh food products using a green chemistry approach. The cinnamon and clove were extracted using water distillation and ethanol extraction with the green technique. The extracts were characterized for antimicrobial activity and incorporated into basic food sanitizer formulation. The solution's color and stability were evaluated and the sanitizer was applied to decontaminate fresh strawberries. The total microbial load before and after the application was also compared to determine the effectiveness of the food sanitizer. Based on the results, all the extracts showed high effectiveness in inhibiting various spoilage microorganisms that exist in food produced with water distillation. The extracts also showed better ability when incorporated into a water-based sanitizer. All the developed food sanitizers can reduce the microbial load of the fresh produce by 4 log per 5 minutes of contact time. Meanwhile, the water-distilled clove extract showed the most effectiveness, decreasing microbial log by 3.93±0.07 log CFU g-1 of bacteria load and 4.37±0.14 log CFU g-1 of mold load, respectively which performed good dispersion stability for approximately 10 days of observation. This indicated that food sanitizer using water-distilled clove extract could be applied as a good alternative to chemical-based sanitizer
Overcoming Major Environmental and Production Challenges in Cattle Owned by Smallholder Farmers in the Tropics
Full text linkThe world’s population is expected to increase significantly by 2050, leading to significantly increased demands for meat and dairy products. However, cattle are major emitters of greenhouse gases that speed up climate change. To achieve food security by 2050, livestock enterprises need to double their outputs from constant resources, in the face of increased competition for inputs such as land, water, grain and labour. To cope with climate change, the livestock need to be productive under hotter and drier climates and be able to tolerate increased challenges from parasites and vector-borne diseases. The best way for smallholder cattle farmers in tropical low-medium income countries to overcome these multiple challenges is to focus on improving the productivity of their herds. This paper discusses a range of simple and cost-effective options already available to smallholder farmers to significantly improve the productivity and profitability of their herds and by doing so, they will indirectly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their cattle and improve the natural resource base on which their cattle graze. Improved herd productivity will in turn deliver significant social, environmental, economic and livelihood benefits to the smallholder farmers themselves and the communities and value chains in which they operate
Sustainable Development Strategies of Rainfed Paddy Fields in Central Java, Indonesia: A Review
Full text linkRainfed paddy fields have a great potential to be developed in Indonesia, especially in Central Java. However, water irrigation management, drought stress, pest and disease infestation and low nutrients that affect paddy yield remain the constraints. Unpredictable climate pattern is also a limiting factor in the cultivation of rainfed paddy fields. This narrative review aims to identify and discuss solutions to problems that exist to increase the yield of rainfed paddy fields with several techniques that support sustainable agriculture. This review paper was prepared by collecting government data and interviews with several farmer group leaders as complementary data. Based on field conditions, farmers in rainfed paddy fields provide fertilization inputs that are not following the fertilizer recommendations. Moreover, field conditions with limited water availability have caused paddy cultivating in several locations only once a year with low yields. Water storage can help farmers meet the need for water, especially during dry and water-stress conditions. The farmers also need to pay attention to the appropriate fertilization doses and the use of additional organic matter derived from cultivation residues, which are expected to increase the availability of nutrients in the soil. The use of short-life and drought-resistant varieties can aid in overcoming the problem of crop failure in the middle phase caused by water scarcity. Finally, we identify and emphasize that rainfed paddy fields generally have a limiting factor for water and nutrients and several technologies are needed to contribute to increasing more sustainable paddy yields
Reconciling the Issues of Shifting and Permanent Cultivation: An Empirical Study of Mizoram, Eastern Extension of Himalaya, India
Full text linkMizoram is an underdeveloped state where agriculture, dominated by shifting cultivation is the main occupation and a source of income for nearly half of the population. Therefore, this study aimed to examine ‘whether the shifting cultivation is economically viable, or whether permanent cultivation instead has the potential to boost up income and economy of the rural farming community in Mizoram’. To address these questions, a household-level survey was conducted in 2018 based on a case study of 16 villages, comprising two each from eight districts. A purposive random sampling method was applied to select households and a structured questionnaire was developed with questions pertaining to various aspects of shifting and permanent cultivation. Mizoram only has approximately 5% of arable land, of which shifting cultivation accounts for more than 50%. In the past, the output from shifting cultivation was able to feed the farming communities called Jhumias but the area, production and productivity of the crops have recently decreased considerably. This is primarily accountable for the increasing food needs and decreasing crop production, as well as climate variability, land ownership rights and lifestyle change. Meanwhile, the production and productivity of crops grown using permanent cultivation are comparatively higher. It is then suggested that land rights for Jhumias need to be protected for permanent cultivation. The addition of value by commercializing crops will enhance income and effectively boost the economy
Farmers, Traders and Households' Preference to IVegRI’s Open-Pollinated Chili Varieties in Lembang, West Java, Indonesia
Full text linkThe majority of Indonesian farmers plant open pollinated (OP) chili because the seed price is affordable. However, the chili has weaknesses, such as the productivity is lower and the seed is not uniform. Indonesian Vegetables Research Institute (IVegRI) attempts to create high-quality OP chili varieties that farmers could access. The study aimed to identify farmers, traders and households’ preferences for OP chili varieties that IVegRI has released. The study was carried out in Lembang Sub-district, West Java Province, Indonesia, from March to November 2019. A total of 82 respondents, consisting of farmers, traders and households, were asked about their preference for three OP chili varieties, namely Tanjung, Carvi and Ciko. The respondents were selected purposively. Data were analyzed using perceived quality. The results of this study have revealed that production per plant was the most important chili attribute for farmers, while fruit shape and color were the most essential chili attributes for traders and households, as evidenced by the final scores of 4.93, 4.83 and 4.45, respectively. Traders preferred Tanjung chili variety, as indicated by a score of 1.04. Meanwhile, the farmers and households preferred Carvi to Tanjung and Ciko varieties, with a score of 1.05. Farmers' preference for Carvi for all attributes was higher than the average among varieties, especially for production per plant and fruit weight. This implies that Carvi, as the IVegRI OP chili variety, can be disseminated widely to other locations in West Java and other provinces in Indonesia. The findings of this study are expected to provide useful information for a better understanding of factors necessarily considered to further improve IVegRI's OP chili varieties
Study of Black Rice Parents Performance and the Crossing Ability
Full text linkBlack rice generally has problems in cultivation such as relatively long plant life, high habitus and low productivity. Plant breeders use several methods in hybridization activities, such as backcross method that can lead to the development towards emphasizing the superiority of each parent. This research aimed to study and determined the success rate of the black rice lines F1 backcross and the parents’ performance. This research was conducted using F1 of promising lines, parental lines and the Jeliteng variety with 9 sets of crosses. Each line and variety were repeated 3 times, in total there were 57 experimental units. The observation parameters of this research were plant height, crossing success, weight of seeds, length and width of grain, flowering age, harvesting age also number of grains and unfilled spikelet. The results of this study showed that parents plant height was positively correlated with the number of productive tillers. The taller the plant, the more productive tillers and the more flowers can be crossed. The success of the cross can increase with the number of flowers crossed. The success of crosses between F1 black rice promising lines and their parents has a success rate range of 10.82% to 33.75%. The findings imply that F1 crossbreeding of black rice promising lines with their parents can be carried out to produce backcross offspring
Characterizing Risk Behaviour of Maize Farmers using the Experimental Gambling Approach: An Empirical Study in Ghana
Full text linkAlong the maize value chain in Ghana are a wide range of risks that confront actors; the risk chain actors' face include production and marketing risks. Accordingly, risk management, which has become an integral part of maize value chain activities, is challenged with several factors, some of which are economic, institutional, social and behavioral factors. This study posits that risk preferences/behavior of farm decision-makers in the maize value chain have empirical importance for economic and policy analysis. Thus, an experimental gambling approach was used to elicit the risk aversion behavior of respondents (farmers). Here, the respondents' risk aversion behavior over varying game levels was investigated. The multinomial logit model was used to investigate endogenous and exogenous factors explaining the risk behavior. The data were obtained by interviewing 220 maize farmers who were sampled with a two-stage sampling procedure. This study revealed that most of the farmers in the study area exhibited risk aversion behavior. About 33% of farmers showed extreme risk aversion behavior at the games’ lowest level and increased to 45% as the game level rose. It was also found that sex, age, level of formal education, access to credit, access to the storage facility, household size, farm size and the number of extension visits to the farm significantly explained the risk aversion behavior the maize farmers exhibited. Because farmers are risk-averse and become more risk-averse as stakes become high, any farm innovations to be introduced to them must be implemented gradually, especially with the low-income farmers. It is also critical to make risk mitigation 'handles' available to farmers so that they can rely on them during times of risk
Development of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) Calyx Jelly Candy
Full text linkJelly candy is syrup-phase, non-crystalline candy made using sugar, corn syrup and gelling agents such as gelatin, natural gums, pectin or starch. Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) has red edible calyx that is the potential to be used as a natural colorant for jelly candy as it contains anthocyanins. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of different concentrations of dried roselle calyx and sucrose on the characteristics of roselle calyx jelly candy developed. The concentrations of sucrose used were 63.56%, 70.62%, 77.68% and 84.75%. The concentrations of dried roselle calyx used were 6.67%, 10.00%, 13.33% and 16.67%. Sensory analysis was done with 70 untrained panelists to analyze physical characteristics and preferences toward the jelly candies. Results of hedonic tests indicated that the best-formulated jelly candy according to aroma, texture, color and taste was made using 16.67% of dried roselle calyx and 63.56% of sucrose. The best-formulated jelly candy contains 19.52% of moisture, 0.03% of ash, 8.24% of protein, 1.72% of fat and 70.49% of carbohydrates. The selected jelly candy contains 14.23±0.23 mg 100g-1 of anthocyanin and an antioxidant capacity (IC50)value of 16863.8346 μg ml-1. This research shows the potential use of roselle calyx as a natural colorant in jelly candy manufacturing and can be consumed as a healthier option for sweet treats
Financial Analysis of Coconut Sugar Production: A Case Study in Mempawah Regency, Indonesia
Full text linkCoconut is one of the key plantation commodities in the Mempawah Regency that needs to be developed. This is necessary in order to increase the income of coconut sugar craftsmen and also allow them gain knowledge of the industrial scale through feasibility studies on the agro-industry. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the structure of production cost and operating income as well as the feasibility of the coconut sugar agro-industry. This analysis is important for craftsmen in the regency that engage in the continuous production of coconut sugar. Furthermore, this study was conducted in Mempawah Regency with 34 coconut farmers. The analysis of the R/C ratio and Break-Even Point (BEP) was used to determine the indicator of financial feasibility. The result revealed that the average production cost needed by the agro-industry was 7,659,868 IDR month-1 and the generated income was 3,483,132 IDR month-1. Additionally, the coconut sugar agro-industry was financially feasible as the obtained R/C ratio was 1.45. The BEP of production volume and Cost of Good Solds (COGS) was 346 kg and 9,814.92 IDR which is less than the actual production volume and price. It was suggested that craftsmen of coconut sugar produce more than 346 kg of sugar per month with a selling price above 9,814.92 IDR kg-1 in order to obtain profit