Comparison of the Happiness Level of Farmers at Suburban Villages with Farmers at Remotes Villages

¹ Faculty of Agriculture and Animal Science, University of Muhammadiyah Malang, Jl. Raya Tlogomas No. 246, Malang 65144, East Java, Indonesia
² Facuty of Computing and Informatics, University Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kinabalu City, Sabah, Malaysia
³ Faculty of Technology Management and Technopreneurship, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia

^* Corresponding author: jabal@umm.ac.id

Abstract

The study aims to analyze the level of happiness of farmers at two villages The research was conducted at X village, Pare sub-district, Kediri Regency (a suburban village), and Y village, Ngancar district, Kediri Regency (a village far from the city center or rural villages). The two villages have different geographical, topographical, cultural, and central commodities. The number of respondents who have been taken is 50 people in each village, so the total is 100. Data were collected by interview using a questionnaire, in-depth discussion, and documentation. The data analysis is descriptive quantitative analysis and the average difference test (unpaired t-test). The results showed that the happiness of farmers in remote areas, who grew pineapples on mountain slopes was higher than food crops farmers in lower plains and on the outskirts of cities with urban infrastructure. Of the 20 indicators of happiness, 18 indicators score significantly higher in farmers who are far from cities, live in the mountains, and grow pineapples. Only two indicators have the same score (i.e., optimism in achieving life goals and satisfaction with religious activities). Life satisfaction, feelings, and meaning of life for farmers remotes villages that live on mountain slopes, pineapple farmers feel more satisfied.