Analysis of Constraints and Development Opportunities for Rice Milling Businesses in Buke District, South Konawe Regency

Abstrak

This study aimed to analyze the constraints and development opportunities of rice milling businesses in Buke District, South Konawe Regency. The study employed a descriptive approach using qualitative data. Data were collected through observation, interviews, questionnaires, and documentation involving four rice milling business owners as research respondents. Data were analyzed descriptively by identifying and classifying factors that constituted constraints and opportunities across several stages, including paddy supply, drying, milling, rice quality, rice availability and market conditions, and price. The results showed that the main constraints included dependence on weather conditions during the drying process, grain losses during threshing, limited transportation facilities and poor road conditions, milling machine breakdowns, and milling of inadequately dried paddy. Meanwhile, development opportunities included the availability of paddy fields and paddy production, the utilization of labor, natural sun-drying, the production of good-quality rice, adequate rice stocks, and market opportunities. The development of rice milling businesses should therefore focus on improving postharvest handling, enhancing drying efficiency, maintaining milling equipment, strengthening rice quality control, and improving marketing and supply continuity.