The use of family labor in beef cattle cultivation (case in women farmer groups receiving beef cattle assistance in Bengkulu)

Abstract

Beef cattle cultivation is a side job for farmers which is carried out by family labor and the incomes are used to finance various needs of the farmers’ family. This study aims to determine the use of family labor in beef cattle cultivation and the use of livestock sales. The research was carried out from October 2020 to April 2021 in two Women Farmers Groups (WFG) in Bengkulu City and Seluma Regency who received beef cattle assistance from the government. Data were analyzed descriptively. The results showed that in general, beef cattle cultivation was carried out jointly by man and women farmers with a labor allocation of 39.59%. In intensive farming, farmers are more dominant in cultivation activities amounting to 46.25%, while in semi-intensive farming women farmers are more dominant in cultivation activities (41.06%). The income from the sale of livestock are mainly used for children's education expenses and buying vehicles (91.67% each), building or renovating houses (87.50%), and buying feeder cattle (79.17%). For the development of beef cattle in farmer group, it is necessary to consider the cultivation system before determining the target of recipient of the program. The development by WFG is more suitable for semi-intensive cultivation systems.