PERAN KELOMPOK TANI DALAM PENGEMBANGAN KOMPETENSI PETANI PADA USAHATANI PADI SAWAH DI KELURAHAN BARUGA KECAMATAN BARUGA KOTA KENDARI

Abstrak

Farmers' groups have been shown to play a strategic role in enhancing the competencies of paddy farmers by serving as learning platforms, vehicles for cooperation, and production units to support productivity, farming efficiency, and farmers' welfare amid the various challenges of modern agricultural development (Smith et al., 2023). The objective of this study is to ascertain the role of farmer groups in the development of farmers' competencies in irrigated rice farming in Baruga Village, Baruga Subdistrict, Kendari City. The present study employs a quantitative approach, utilising a survey method. The study population consists of all irrigated rice farmers who are members of active farmer groups in Baruga Village, comprising five active farmer groups with a total of 50 farmer members. The sampling technique employed a census method. The data for this study was collected through a variety of methods, including surveys, interviews, documentation, and a review of the existing literature. The variables examined in this study encompassed the role of farmer groups and farmer competencies. The analysis was conducted utilising a range of quantitative and inferential statistical methodologies. The findings of the study suggest that farmer groups in the irrigated rice farming sector of Baruga Village play a very significant role in the development of farmers' competencies, particularly as a learning platform, a platform for cooperation, and a production unit. The high level of involvement of farmer groups has been demonstrated to have a positive impact on the improvement of farmers' knowledge, attitudes, and skills in managing irrigated rice farming operations. The findings of the Spearman's rank correlation test demonstrate a positive and significant relationship between the role of farmer groups and the development of farmers' competencies, with a correlation coefficient of 0.488 and a significance level of 0.000. The enhancement of farmer group functions through participatory means has been demonstrated to be an effective instrument for the enhancement of farmers' competencies and the strengthening of agricultural human resource capacity in a sustainable manner.

Kata kunci

• Farmer Competencies
• Learning Forums
• Platforms for Cooperation
• Production Units
• Sustainable Farming