Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Strawberry Farming Development in West Java, Indonesia

¹²³ Agricultural Economy Department. Faculty of Agriculture. Universitas Padjadjaran. Jl. Bandung-Sumedang Km 21. Jatinangor, Sumedang 45363 West Java, Indonesia.
⁴ Soil Science Departement. Faculty of Agriculture. Universitas Padjadjaran. Jl. Bandung- Sumedang Km 21. Jatinangor, Sumedang 45363 West Java, Indonesia
⁵⁶ Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences
⁷⁸⁹ Agricultural Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran. Jl. Bandung-Sumedang Km 21. Jatinangor, Sumedang 45363 West Java, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Strawberries have been cultivated by farmers in West Java for 25-35 years, the market extends almost throughout Indonesia. More and more farmers are involved, because they have to meet the market permits, agroindustry and agro-tourism. It was stopped in 2015-2017, but rose again in 2018. The question is, after decades of institutionalization, how does strawberry farming affect the socio-economy? What is the water source it uses? This research was designed in an integrated manner, with a survey method to 225 sample farmers and a case study on farmer groups. The results of the study revealed that strawberry farming has a real impact on farmers' economies. The income obtained by farmers from strawberries ranges from IDR15,000,000-28,000,000 per hectare per month, with an R/C value between 13.00-17.08. The social impact provides livelihoods for around 2,275 farming households gathered in 55 groups, and involves no less than 20 dealers and 3,600 retailers. It involves nearly 1,000 female workers and is in demand by the young workforce, so that the regeneration is going well. Next, increasing the business of organic and inorganic input services. Growing a strawberry industry on a scale of the household, as well as craftsmen and sellers of strawberry accessories. In particular, local governments and national research institutions also allocate budgets for strawberry research and development, in addition to empowering farming communities and strawberry agrotourism. The existence of a viral attack has also grown a community of strawberry seed breeders. In general, strawberries are cultivated by farmers in open spaces, so they are vulnerable to pest and disease attacks and climate change, thus triggering the use of pesticides that are not in accordance with the dosage, especially in the rainy season. In general, irrigation for strawberry farming is sourced from natural springs that are sterile from contaminants and garbage. Water is managed by communities with simple irrigation systems. Because the risk of farming continues to increase, strawberry farmer groups are advised to have training, education and independent research c*linics that are managed collaboratively.