Ilmu Pertanian (Agricultural Science) Vol. 1 No.1 April, 2016 : 031-036 Available online at http://journal.ugm.ac.id/jip DOI: doi.org/10.22146/ipas.9912 Profitability and Farmers Conservation Efforts on Sustainable Potato Farming in Wonosobo Regency Liana Fatma Leslie Pratiwi, Suhatmini Hardyastuti, Lestari Rahayu Waluyati Magister Management of Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada Jln. Flora no. 1, Bulaksumur, Sleman, Yogyakarta 55281 *Corresponding email: [email protected] Received: 4 th March 2016 ; Revised: 15 th March 2016 ; Accepted: 23 rd January 2017 ABSTRACT It takes into account in potato farming sustainability, since it was recognised as a holticultural commodity for farmers’ subsistence in Wonosobo Regency. For the reason that farming land was being degraded by errossion, the potato productivity apparently continued to decline. Potato farming sustainability can be deliberated from economic (profitability) and environmental (conservation efforts) points of view in order to remain profitable in a long term sustainable environment. This study is aimed to (1) to analyse the profitability of potato farming; (2) to analyse farmers’ effort on soil conservation and factors which affected sustainability of potato farming. The method used in this study was basic descriptive analysis. The study site was in Kejajar District, Wonosobo Regency, subsequently 50 random farmers as respondences was obtained. Gross Margin, Return on Invested Capital, and Operating Ratio were used to measure the profitability of potato farming. Conservation Activity Index (CAI) was used to measure farmers’ effort on soil conservation, while paired liner regression model with Ordinary Least Square (OLS) method was used to understand the factors which affected the conservation efforts of test sites. The study results revealed that the potato farming was profitable. Farmers conservation efforts mostly was in average category (74%), and only view in high category (16%) and low category (10%). Factors affected the farmers conservation efforts i.e. land area, potato products, potato price, the off-farm income, number of family members, farmers ages, and village dummy. Keywords : Land Degradation, Potato Farming, Profitability, Soil Conservation, Wonosobo INTRODUCTION 2010). Potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) is a horticultural In various countries including Indonesia, there commodity and also consumed by almost the whole are many serious problems that threatened the population of the world. It is potentially grown and sustainability of crop production. One of the serious developed in Indonesia because the country has problems is the occurrence of land degradation due sufficient agroclimatic condition (Novary, 1997 cit. to the effects of crop productivity, environmental Sukayana et al. , 2013; Ghadimi et al. , 2014). Based quality, and subsequently affects food security. It is on Statistic Indonesia (2013), Central Java produces estimated up to 40% of the agricultural land existed the highest production of potato (273.513 ton) and in the world today has suffered from land degradation. Wonosobo is the central of its production. It has Land degradation is defined as the reduction of stable price with a good business prospect, suitable land capacity because it has explorated over its own to be run in many levels of business capitals, the ecologycal capacity. Land degradation inhibits plant market was assured and certain, and has a long shelf growth (Khormali, 2009). Fragility of topsoil, affected life so farmers and investors are interested to cultivate by farm management such as fertilisation and potatoes. It leads to higher land requirements (Edi cultivation process, causes erosion which deprieved Syafril et al .,2003 cit. Razak et al ., 2015). Land topsoil of its soil nutrient content (Ferreras, 2007). requirement is getting high and uncontrolled without Over application of pesticides reduces soil quality any consideration of conservation area. In consequence, and it has to be controlled properly (Mosher, 1996; the land has suffered from serious degradation that Van and Mendoza, 2003; Galt, 2008; VanderZaag, caused a decreasing in environmental carrying capacity. 32 Ilmu Pertanian (Agricultural Science) Vol. 1 No.1, April 2016 Potato farming becomes main source of livelihood ROIC = Return on Invested Capital of the communities in Wonosobo. Sustainable GM = Gross Margin livelihoods society can be achieved when income TVC = Total Variabel Cost and welfare are increasing gradually (Sconnes, c.Operating Ratio (OR) TOC 1998). Because of it, it is important to maintain a Operating ratio (OP) = GFI .........................(2) sustainability of potatoes farm to help farmers in which: livelihood. Sustainability must be seen from various OR = Operating Ratio aspects: the economy (profitability) and the environment TOC = Total Operating Cost (conservation efforts), so that in the long term GFI = Gross Farm Income sustainability of potato farming remains profitable Farmers Efforts in Soil Conservation to Maintain and environment stable (Eltun et al., 2002; Saragih Sustainablity of Potato Farming et al. , 2007; VanderZaag, 2010). Potatoes farming Conservation Activity Index (CAI) was used to needs to consider profitability and conservation determine farmers’ soil conservation efforts and practices (De Fauw et. al. , 2012). The aims of the calculated using the formula : research are (1) to analyse the profitability of potato acquaired score farming; (2) to analyse the farmers’ effort on soil CAI= x 100% maximum score ...................(3) conservation and the influencing factors to farmers’ effort on soil conservation which affected sustainability CAI was measured using 10 question types of of potato farming. soil conservation activities, namely: a) Plantation of reinforced terrace plants (b) Plantation of crops MATERIALS AND METHODS intersects slope (c) rotation of seasonal crops (d) Study Sites Plantation of grass in the sewers (e) Mulch usage (f) This research was conducted in the Kejajar Animal manure usage (g) Planting annual crops (h) district, Wonosobo regency as a region that has low, Establishment of conservation buildings (i) Maintenance moderate, and high percentage of land degradation of conservation building (j) Tillage intersecting slope. criteria. For sampling, two villages were taken as Factors Affecting Farmers’ Effort In Soil Conservation sample using purposive sampling. Serang and Surengede To Maintain The Sustainability Of Potato village were selected as study site because they had Farming. high potato production in 2013. Serang village’s Multiple linear regression model with Ordinary topography slopes were low (<400) and moderate Least Square method (OLS) was used to explain (400-700), while Surengede village’s topography factors which affected farmers' soil conservation slopes were moderate (400-700) and high (> 700). efforts. The model equations was described as: Respondents Y = α + b1x1 + b2 x2 + b3x3 +...+bn xn +d1 D1+ The research population was farmers who cultivated d2 D2 + d3 D3+ µ .................................(4) potatoes. Respondents were chosen by simple random sampling. The number of samples taken in which: were 25 farmers from each villages. Y = Conservation Activity Index (%) Data Analysis α = constant value Profitability of Potato Farming b1, b2, b3,..., bn = coefficient regression Profitability of Potato Farming measured by X1 = Land area (ha) Gross Margin (GM), Return on Invested Capital X2 = potato production (kg/year) (ROIC), and Operating Ratio (OR) . It is formulated X3 = potato price (Rp/kg) by : X4 = Off farm income (Rp/year) a. Gross Margin (GM) X5 = farmers’ education (year) Gross Margin (GM) = GFI – TVC in which : X6 = farmers’ age (year) GM = Gross Margin X7 = number of family members (people) GFI = Gross Farm Income X8 = potato farming experience (year) TVC = Total Variabel Cost D1 = dummy variable of farmers group (1= b.Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) GM active and 0 =non active) Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) = TVC ...(1) D2 = dummy variable of credit access (1= in which: available and 0 = unavailable) Pratiwi et al . : Profitability and Farmers Conservation Efforts on Sustainable Potato Farming 33 Table 1. Potato Farming Profitability in Wonosobo Regency 2014 - 2015 Profitability Description Gross Margin Return on Operating Ratio (Rp) Invested Capital Mean 62,188,000 2.39 0.49 Standard Deviation 69,636,000 3.30 0.34 Minimun 10,668,000 0.26 0.05 Maximum 290,360,000 20.39 1.36 Source: Primary Data Analysis (2015) D3 = dummy variable of status land owner Table 2. Percentage Farmers by Conservation Activity ship (1= private property and 0 = others) Index (CAI) D4 = dummy variable of village (1= Serang Category Percentage (%) and 0 = Surangede) Low (CAI< (µ- σ)) 10 µ = error factor Midle ((µ- σ) <CAI< (µ+ σ)) 74 Ordinary Least Square for regression needed High (CAI> (µ+ σ)) 16 classic assumption tests. They included normality Source: Primary Data Analysis (2015) test, multicollinearity, and heteroskedasticity. Adjusted farming was profitable for farmers and prospective R2 value, F test, and t test were used for hypothetical enough to be cultivated in long term, so from economic test. aspects view, potatoes farming was considered to be RESULT AND DISCUSSION sustainable. Profitability of Potato Farming Farmers Efforts in Soil Conservation to Maintain Potato farming was the main livelihoods of farmers Sustainablity of Potato Farming in Wonosobo and it contributed mostly in farmers Farmers