Readiness of farmer groups to adopt the floating rice cultivation in Bojonegoro Regency, East Java Province

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the preparedness of the local farmers as the agents of change for floating rice cultivation in a flood-prone area. This study was carried out in Balungdowo Hamlet, Karangdayu Village, Baureno Sub-district, Bojonegoro Regency. The site was selected due to its flooded condition so that it met the criteria for the research location of floating rice cultivation. Samples for this research were taken using purposive sampling technique. The samples were two farmer groups cultivating floating rice. The data selecting instruments included observation, documentation, and interview. This research applied a qualitative method with descriptive approach. The results have shown that Farmers are not ready to implement floating rice technology, although floating rice cultivation is almost the same as other rice cultivation. Because the operational costs of floating rice cultivation are high, so it takes a lot of effort to ensure that floating rice cultivation can be done by minimizing costs by utilizing local natural resources. Moreover, most members of farmer groups are not at a productive age, with low education level (elementary school-graduated) and monthly income of fewer than IDR 1,000,000.00.