Zulfa Nur Auliatun Nissa', Azizah Ridha Ulil Albab, Yudhistira Saraswati, Liana Fatma Leslie Pratiwi, Elia Damayanti

Social Resilience and Livelihood Adaptation of Rice Farming Households in Manyaran, Wonogiri: Shifting from Paddy to Horticulture

Introduction

Social resilience and livelihood adaptation of rice farming households in manyaran, wonogiri: shifting from paddy to horticulture. Explore how rice farmers in Manyaran, Wonogiri, adapt to agricultural challenges by shifting to horticulture. Discover their resilience through crop diversification, learning, and tech use.

Abstract

This study investigates the resilience strategies of rice farmers in Manyaran District, Wonogiri Regency, in adapting to agricultural challenges and diversifying into the horticultural sector. The research is grounded in resilience and adaptation in agricultural systems, emphasizing crop diversification as a strategy to sustain farmer livelihoods amidst environmental and economic pressures. In May and June 2024, the study utilized surveys, observations, structured interviews, and a literature review to collect data. 42 rice-farming households across seven villages in Manyaran District were selected through simple random sampling. The sample comprised middle-aged farmers aged 40–50, With an average age of 45 years, as younger populations often migrate to urban areas, leaving agriculture dominated by this demographic. Descriptive data analysis using simple tabulation was employed to illustrate the conditions of the studied area. The findings reveal that farmers in Manyaran District exhibit strong learning capacities, which enhance their resilience. They adapted by transforming rice fields into horticultural areas and experimenting with various horticultural commodities. Technological flexibility, including the use of social media for acquiring and sharing horticultural knowledge, played a crucial role in their adaptation. Information exchange among farmers further contributed to the sustainability of their livelihoods. This research highlights the importance of crop diversification as a strategy for farmers to adapt to shifting environmental and economic conditions. The results underscore the adaptability and resilience of Manyaran farmers in sustaining agricultural practices despite ongoing challenges, offering insights for broader agricultural adaptation strategies.

Review

This study addresses a highly relevant and timely issue concerning the adaptive strategies and social resilience of farming communities facing agricultural challenges, specifically focusing on the shift from paddy to horticultural cultivation in Manyaran, Wonogiri. By investigating how rice farming households diversify their crops and livelihoods amidst environmental and economic pressures, the research provides valuable insights into the practical application of resilience and adaptation theories in agricultural systems. The use of a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys, observations, and structured interviews with a targeted sample of middle-aged farmers, offers a focused look at a demographic segment crucial for rural agricultural sustainability. A key strength of this research lies in its empirical demonstration of specific adaptation mechanisms. The findings effectively highlight the multi-faceted nature of farmer resilience, emphasizing not only the tangible act of crop diversification but also critical underlying factors such as strong learning capacities, technological flexibility (e.g., social media for knowledge exchange), and robust information sharing networks among farmers. This detailed account of how farmers actively transform their fields and leverage social and technological resources to sustain their livelihoods offers practical lessons. The study successfully underscores the adaptability and agency of the Manyaran farmers, providing a localized case study that can inform and inspire broader agricultural adaptation strategies in similar contexts. While offering valuable insights, the study's descriptive nature and reliance on simple tabulation limit the depth of causal analysis regarding the observed resilience. The abstract mentions "environmental and economic pressures" as drivers for adaptation, but a more detailed exploration of these specific pressures and their varying impacts on different households could strengthen the findings. Future research could benefit from employing more advanced analytical techniques (e.g., statistical modeling, in-depth qualitative analysis) to uncover the precise drivers behind farmers' learning capacities, the economic viability of different horticultural commodities, or the socio-economic factors influencing technology adoption. Expanding the sample size or incorporating a longitudinal design could also provide a more comprehensive and generalizable understanding of the long-term sustainability of these adaptation strategies.

Full Text

Comments

You need to be logged in to post a comment.