HUBUNGAN FAKTOR INTERNAL DENGAN MINAT PEMUDA DALAM BERUHSATANI PADI SAWAH: BUKTI EMPIRIS DARI KABUPATEN BUTON

Abstrak

Farmer regeneration has become one of the major challenges in agricultural development due to the declining interest of young people in pursuing farming as a livelihood. This condition poses a significant threat to the sustainability of food production, particularly in lowland rice farming. Although various government programs have been implemented to encourage youth participation in the agricultural sector, their effectiveness remains limited because the psychological aspects influencing individual decisions have received insufficient attention. This study aimed to examine the relationship between internal factors and youth interest in rice farming in Buton Regency, Indonesia. A quantitative survey approach was employed in Wakalambe Village, Kapontori District, Buton Regency. The study involved the entire population of 30 young farmers aged 16–40 years using a census sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Spearman's Rank Correlation with the assistance of IBM SPSS Statistics. Internal factors were measured through five dimensions, namely motivation, attitude, perception, knowledge, and future orientation, while youth interest was assessed based on enjoyment, curiosity, active participation, and willingness to remain engaged in rice farming. The findings revealed that the respondents' internal factors were categorized as good (100%), while their interest in rice farming was categorized as high (100%). The correlation analysis demonstrated a positive and significant relationship between internal factors and youth interest in rice farming (ρ = 0.780; p = 0.000), indicating a strong correlation. These findings suggest that stronger psychological characteristics among rural youth are associated with greater interest in engaging in rice farming activities. Strengthening the psychological capacities of young people therefore represents an important strategy for promoting farmer regeneration and ensuring the sustainability of agricultural development, particularly in rice-producing areas of Buton Regency.

Kata kunci

• Agricultural Psychology
• Farmer Regeneration
• Future Orientation
• Motivation