Farmers' Responses to the Adoption of Organic Rice Farming in Buleleng Regency, Bali

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the response of farmers and perceived barriers in adopting organic rice farming.The study was conducted in three subaks in the Banyumala River Basin, Buleleng Regency.The three subaks were selected purposively based on considerations of upstream, middle and downstream agroecosystems. Data were collected from key informants consisting of field agricultural extension workers, subak head and selected farmers, using field observations and in-depth interviews. Data analysis was carried out using qualitative descriptive techniques through the stages of reduction, presentation, interpretation and conclusions.The response of farmers to the adoption of organic farming is negative. Cognitive response is better than attitude response, while the worst response is behavioral response.The response of farmers in the upstream agroecosystem is better than the response of the farmers in the middle and downstream agroecosystems.The obstacles that cause farmers to be unresponsive to the adoption of organic rice farming stem from government policies and programs that are not yet optimal, a market environment that does not benefit farmers, farmers' internal constraints and the ineffective role of subak.