Potential of Increasing Vegetable Production During Covid-19 Pandemic in Sumberejo Village, Batu City, Indonesia

Abstract

Farmers in Sumberejo Village cultivate vegetables simultaneously during certain seasons on their land. This study aims to analyze potential for increased production vegetables during Covid-19 pandemic. Data collected from 45 randomly selected farmers were analyzed using Cobb Douglas production function. The analysis showed that land area had a very significant effect and positive on the production of celery, mustard greens and red chilies. Seeds did not have a significant effect on celery and mustard greens production, but had a significant effect on red chilies. Fertilizers did not have a significant effect on the vegetables yields. Labor had a significant effect in different directions on celery production (positive) and pakcoy (negative), but does not have a significant effect on red chili. Pesticides only had a significant effect and positive on celery, while the mustard greens and red chilies have no significant effect. During a pandemic, the expansion of production vegetables included in category increasing return to scale, because sum of input coefficients was greater than one. These results can be a signal for farmers to increase their production. Government should regulate distribution of these commodities and the prices stability because people must keep their distance.

Keywords

• covid-19
• expansion
• vegetables
• production