Strategy development to improve food security at the household level of rice farmers in South Sulawesi Indonesia
Abstrak
Rice farmers are a group of low social capacity people. Though rice production target was achieved but
their welfare remains undeveloped. The objectives of this study were to: 1) evaluate determinants of food
security; 2) identify sociocultural aspects of households that achieve food security; 3) develop strategies to
improve food security of smallholder farmers in Pinrang Regency. This study was conducted, with 50
respondents, in Samaulue Village, Lanrisang District, Pinrang Regency, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia.
This research location is an area with a rice agroecosystem type. The study used qualitative and quantitative
approaches (mixed methods), data collection techniques through observation, interviews, and documentation
of rice farmers’ households. Data analysis uses descriptive qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis.
This study concluded that most households in the paddy agroecosystem were categorized as food insecure
(66%), while the others were food secure (34%). Among the food security determinant, food availability
such as rice production and farmer income were the supporting factors, while food access and food utilization
were the hampering factors. In a farmer’s household in the rice agro-system, food is one way to express a
sense of solidarity, solidarity, and social ties. The study results found that household decision-making
patterns tended to show the relatively equal positions of spouses in decision-making. This study proposed
four strategies that can be selected by farmer groups. First, improving institutional purchase of production
facilities and marketing of agricultural products to create farmers bargaining position (avoiding fluctuations
in input prices and output output). Second, improving the quality of products that are oriented toward the
local, domestic and international markets. Diversifying main food through preservation of local food resource
to anticipate the entry of imported food. Improving the government support on increasing outreach activities
and training on marketing strategies for online-based agricultural products (e-marketing).
their welfare remains undeveloped. The objectives of this study were to: 1) evaluate determinants of food
security; 2) identify sociocultural aspects of households that achieve food security; 3) develop strategies to
improve food security of smallholder farmers in Pinrang Regency. This study was conducted, with 50
respondents, in Samaulue Village, Lanrisang District, Pinrang Regency, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia.
This research location is an area with a rice agroecosystem type. The study used qualitative and quantitative
approaches (mixed methods), data collection techniques through observation, interviews, and documentation
of rice farmers’ households. Data analysis uses descriptive qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis.
This study concluded that most households in the paddy agroecosystem were categorized as food insecure
(66%), while the others were food secure (34%). Among the food security determinant, food availability
such as rice production and farmer income were the supporting factors, while food access and food utilization
were the hampering factors. In a farmer’s household in the rice agro-system, food is one way to express a
sense of solidarity, solidarity, and social ties. The study results found that household decision-making
patterns tended to show the relatively equal positions of spouses in decision-making. This study proposed
four strategies that can be selected by farmer groups. First, improving institutional purchase of production
facilities and marketing of agricultural products to create farmers bargaining position (avoiding fluctuations
in input prices and output output). Second, improving the quality of products that are oriented toward the
local, domestic and international markets. Diversifying main food through preservation of local food resource
to anticipate the entry of imported food. Improving the government support on increasing outreach activities
and training on marketing strategies for online-based agricultural products (e-marketing).