Farmer’s Preferences of Source Seed New Superior Varieties Character for Rice Seed Production

¹ Research Center of Food Crop, Research Organization of Agriculture and Food, Jl. Kawasan Sain dan Teknologi Soekarno (Cibinong), Jalan Raya Jakarta Bogor KM 46 Cibinong Bogor 16911, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia
² Faculty of Social Studies, Palangka Raya University, Jl. Yos Sudarso, Palangka Raya City, 73111, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia
³ Faculty of Agriculture, Palangka Raya University, Jl. Yos Sudarso, Palangka Raya City, 73111, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

¹ Corresponding author: twenty.liana@brin.go.id

Abstract

Increasing rice production can be achieved by applying technological innovations such as the use of new superior seed varieties that are easily adopted by farmers. Seed variety contributed the most to increasing rice production by 56,1% as a production component. This research was conducted in Belanti Siam Village, Pandih Batu District, and the Pulang Pisau Regency. The choice of location and respondents was purposive with the consideration that Belanti Siam Village is a rice farming center that use of various rice varieties every year. This study analyzed farmers’ preference levels for potential seed sources to be produced, namely Inpari 32 Hewar Daun Bakteri and Inpari Padjajaran Agritan. The research was conducted from September 2021 to January 2022 through surveys and field observations of 20 seed breeders and four officers. Data were collected through direct interviews, using a questionnaire consisting of several parameters to determine farmers' preferences and responses. Secondary data were obtained from The Central Kalimantan BPS data. The results showed that the characteristics of resistance to pests and diseases were the most important factors for farmers in selecting varieties, followed by the production characteristics. Resistance to pests and diseases is the most important characteristic because this condition can lead to crop failure. In the vegetative phase, farmers preferred the Inpari Padjajaran Agritan variety (0.38), whereas in the generative phase, they preferred Inpari 32 Hewar Daun Bakteri (0.43 – 0.55). Farmers preferred the Inpari 32 Hewar Daun Bakteri variety (0.68) for resistance to pests and diseases.