The objectives of this study were to (1) analyze the socio-economic characteristics of upland rice farmers, and (2) to analyze the productivity of farming in South Konawe Regency of Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The analysis used in this research was combine economic research through quantitative and qualitative analysis. This research was conducted by survey method. The results showed that (1) farmers are generally in productive age, dominated by men, with low formal education level, and moderate family members, (2) upland rice farming is cultivated in medium land area, with fixed costs higher than variable cost, productivity that has been increased but still lower than rice paddy, and the price of rice production is relatively higher than rice paddy production price, and (3) feasible to cultivate dryland rice, and has a high efficiency value.

Upland rice potential needs to be explored from various aspects so that it can really contribute to the increase in national rice production. Potential of upland rice apart from the potential aspects of resources availability also needs to be explored from the social and economic aspects that were studied in the concept of agribusiness. Potential in resource and social were being investigated by the qualitative method, while potential in economics was being investigated by the quantitative method, namely R/C ratio analysis. The results showed: (a) The resources potential in the form of land availability and an increase of upland rice productivity in South Konawe District. Upland rice also has the advantage of adaptation in various agroecology, soil types, and types of plants in intercropping systems; (b) The social potential in the form of farmers’ knowledge and skills regarding upland rice cultivation which tends to the concept of organic farming, socio characteristics and social capital; (c) The economic potential in the form of higher prices for rice from upland rice than rice from lowland rice, limited market share, and high financial feasibility.

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Demand for rice as a source of food in Indonesia continues to increase in line with the growth of population, while the capacity to produce paddy rice increasingly limited. One of the efforts is to develop upland rice by utilizing the dry land with organic fertilizer application. The research was conducted in North Buton using split plot design. The main plot was the treatment of manure dosage consisting of 4 levels of treatment and the second factor of local upland rice cultivars as a subplot consisting of 22 cultivars. Production characters were observed and assessments are panicle length, grain number, number of grain content, wet grain weight, dried grain weight, grain weight per culm, and grain yield (t ha-1). The results showed that the yield potency of local upland rice cultivar in North Buton ranged from 3.11- 4.97 t ha-1 and the treatment of organic fertilizer can increase the yield components of upland rice.