Article
ADOPSI PETANI DALAM PEMUPUKAN BERIMBANG PADA TANAMAN PADI SAWAH DI KECAMATAN HAMPARAN PERAK KABUPATEN DELI SERDANG
Jurnal Ilmiah Inovasi dan Komunikasi Pembangunan Pertanian, Vol. 5 No. 4 (2026), hlm. 543–554
Abstrak
Balanced fertilization is a strategy to enhance fertilizer use efficiency and support the productivity of wetland rice crops. However, the implementation of balanced fertilization at the farmer level is influenced by farmers' capacity to accept and adopt innovations, as well as the support provided through information and agricultural extension services. This study aimed to analyze the level of farmer adoption and the factors influencing the adoption of balanced fertilization for wetland rice in Hamparan Perak District, Deli Serdang Regency. The study was conducted from March to June 2025 using a quantitative descriptive method. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and questionnaires that had undergone validity and reliability testing. The respondents consisted of 82 farmers selected from the wetland rice farming population in the study area. The adoption level was analyzed based on percentage scores, while the factors influencing adoption were analyzed using multiple linear regression, incorporating variables such as farmer characteristics, access to information, the nature of the innovation, and the role of extension workers. The results indicate that the level of farmer adoption of balanced fertilization was high, at 70.4%. Collectively, farmer characteristics, access to information, the nature of the innovation, and the role of extension workers had a significant influence on farmer adoption. Individually, farmer characteristics, access to information, and the role of extension workers showed a significan influence, whereas the nature of the innovation did not significantly affect adoption. These findings suggest that increasing the adoption of balanced fertilization requires support through improved access to information and an enhanced role for extension workers in providing education, guidance, and technological information to farmers. Consequently, developing more innovative and participatory extension methods could serve as a strategy to sustain and increase the implementation of balanced fertilization in wetland rice farming.