Growth Response of Local Cassava to Cutting Models and the Number of Buds

Cassava is one of the local food sources that are widely available in almost every region. Cuttings are used to plant cassava, and these cuttings will produce a number of roots and buds. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of cuttings slices model and the number of buds on the growth of Tobelo local varieties of cassava. This study employed a factorial Randomized Block Design (RBD), with the cuttings slices model as the first factor, consisting of three levels, namely: flat slice, one-sided slice and two-sided slice. The second factor is the number of buds, which is divided into three levels, 1 bud, 2 buds and 3 buds. The observation parameters in this study include plant height, number of leaves, stem diameter and leaf area. The results have revealed that the model of two-sided sliced cuttings combined with the number of one bud is the most effective treatment in improving the growth of cassava plants of Tobelo local varieties. The models of one-sided and two-sided oblique cuttings slices yield the highest average value for the parameters of plant height, stem diameter and leaf area, while the treatment with one bud tends to give the best results for the growth parameters.

Urban Expansion and Its Effect on Agricultural Technology Adoption of Smallholder Peri-Urban Farmers in Tigray Region, Ethiopia

<p>In the rapidly growing world, where farming land is shrinking due to horizontal urban expansion and development-induced projects, agricultural productivity should grow by 70% to meet food needs. Spatial urban expansion in developing countries, not exceptional to Ethiopia, puts immense pressure by taking peri-urban fertile agricultural land for the purpose of development. This paper examines whether urban expansion increases or decreases the agricultural technology adoption capacity of smallholder peri-urban farmers. Households were clustered into displaced and non-displaced, and data were collected from 341 households, 101 of whom were displaced and 240 households were non-displaced. Descriptive statistics and econometric model were employed to explore the role of urban expansion in technology adoption of smallholder peri-urban farmers. The multivariate probit result shows that urban expansion decreases the tendency of displaced smallholder peri-urban farmers to participate in irrigation and adoption of a generator but urban expansion does not increase or decrease displaced households’ tendency to adopt beehive and practice row sawing. Generally, urban expansion decreases the affinity of smallholder peri-urban farmers to adopt agricultural technologies. Therefore, policymakers, particularly the Bureau of Agriculture should intensively work and train displaced smallholder peri-urban farmers on the benefit of agricultural technologies to improve agricultural productivity and use the remaining plot of farmland sustainably. Besides strong monitoring and follow-up are required to avert the negative ramifications of development-induced displacement.</p>

Effect of the Different Soil Types on Chrysanthemum Cut Flower Quality

Cultivating annual crops in the high upland has the potential to increase avalanche and land erosion. Therefore, chrysanthemum extensification from high upland to medium upland can create sustainable agriculture. The differences between high upland and medium upland are microclimate and soil type. Meanwhile, the effect of soil type between the high upland and the medium upland on the chrysanthemum spray type quality is unknown. The study aimed to determine the effect of different soil types on the quality of chrysanthemums when planted in high upland. The study used a split plot design with two factors. The first factor was the type of soil, such as Andosol from the high upland and Latosol from the medium upland. The second factor was the chrysanthemum varieties, such as Yastayuki (white flower), Arosuka Pelangi (yellow flower) and Socakawani (red flower). The results showed that both Andosol and Latosol soil types could produce the same quality of chrysanthemum in all varieties when planted in high upland. The quality aspects of chrysanthemum were the plant height, the stem diameter, the number of flowers and flower color. Consequently, we could extend the cultivation of chrysanthemum in medium upland by using Latosol type soil.

Factors Affecting the Participation of Sugarcane and Tobacco Farmers in Farmer Groups, Associations and Cooperatives in Indonesia

<p>The revitalization of farmer organizations has become the central paradigm in agricultural development. In Indonesia, increasing farmer participation in farmer groups, associations and cooperatives is the strategy to revitalize farmer organizations. This study aimed to determine the factors influencing farmers' participation in farmer groups, associations and cooperatives. This study employed data from the Sugarcane and Tobacco Plantation Farm Household Survey in 2014, consisting of 8,831 (70.73%) sugarcane farmers and 3,645 (29.27%) tobacco farmers. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors contributing to farmers' participation in each organization. The results showed that harvest area, access to extension and contract farming positively affect farmers’ participation in organizations. Farmers' age and education positively affect their participation in associations and cooperatives but do not significantly affect their group participation. Land tenure has an ununiform effect on farmer participation in each organization. Tenant farmers are less likely to participate in farmer groups and cooperatives, but they tend to participate in associations. Meanwhile, the owner farmers are less likely to join cooperatives. Government support positively influences farmer group participation, shows a negative effect on participation in associations and has a non-significant effect on participation in cooperatives. Finally, farmers' wealth gives a positive effect on their participation in cooperatives, a negative effect on their participation in associations and a non-significant effect on farmer groups. These results depict that farmer groups are more inclusive than cooperatives and associations.</p>

Analysis of Marketing Margins and Farmers’ Shares on Corn in Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

<p>An increase in corn productivity is not always followed by an increase in farmer income and welfare. The sustainability of farms must be supported by its economic viability including the marketing aspect. This study aimed to analyze the marketing of corn in Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi Province. This research applied qualitative and quantitative methods. Marketing channel and marketing margin were analyzed descriptively, while farmer share was analyzed quantitatively using variance analysis (ANOVA). The results have shown three types of corn marketing channels, namely: 1) channel I, consisting of farmers-consumers, 2) channel II, covering farmers-collectors, traders-retailers and traders-consumers and 3) channel III, including farmers-collectors and traders- feed industries. Channel II has the highest marketing margin, followed by channel III and I, respectively. The intermediaries determine marketing costs that affect marketing margin and farmers’ shares. Channel I has the highest farmers’ shares, followed by channel III and channel II, respectively. The results of the significant difference test have revealed a difference in farmers’ shares in the marketing channels; and hence, the choice of marketing channel significantly determines the farmers’ shares. Therefore, farmers should shorten the marketing chain and strengthen their bargaining position by activating groups. Meanwhile, the government can play an active role so that farmers can have an access to strengthening capital and marketing.</p>

Risk Management of Granola Potato Seeds Production: A Study in Kertasari, West Java, Indonesia

The quality of potato seeds is important to support increased production. The majority of farmers do not certify potato seeds, which can result in various risks for potato seed production activities. This research aims to identify the risks of potato seed production and formulate risk control strategies for potato seeds production. The research uses house of risk method. The results of this study show thirty-nine identified risk events. The most impactful risk event was rotten potato. Thirty-two identified risk agents with two priorities must be handled first. The most effective ways in handling strategy are training, the certification of potato seed breeder farmers, potato seed certification, as well as purchasing breeder seeds from vegetable crop research center and from other seed breeders. This research suggests the needs to produce quality potato seeds by certifying potato seed and to update the competency certification of potato seed breeders.

Determinants of Production and Income Risks of Rainfed Lowland Farming: A Case Study in Maros Regency, Indonesia

Rainfed lowland farming production is generally lower than irrigated lowland rice due to area differentiation regional features. Rainfed lowland rice farming can only produce rice during the rainy season because lowland rice cannot be planted in the dry season. The purposes of this study are (1) to analyze the risk of production and income of rice farming in rainfed lowland farming and (2) to investigate the factors influencing the risk of rice farming in rainfed lowland farming. Data were collected from 100 respondents of rice farmers in four sub-districts in Maros Regency using the multi-stage cluster random sampling technique. The analysis of production and income risks were performed using multiple linear regression with the heteroscedastic method. The results have shown that rice farming in rainfed lowland farming poses a risk to production and income. The variables that significantly influence the rainfed lowland rice farming are land area, the number of seeds, the amount of urea fertilizer and the amount of pesticide. Farmers are required to manage risk by prioritizing the effectiveness and efficiency production factors as needed. Similarly the government is expected to assist farmers in maintaining the level of rice selling prices.

Seedling Growth Analysis of Papaya Cultivated on Several Planting Media Enriched by Plant Growth Promotor Microbes

<p class="KataPengantar">There are factors contributed to the growth and development of fruit crop seedling. Microbes are well known as plant growth promotors such as symbiotic mycorrhizae and antagonist fungi, <em>Trichoderma </em>spp. The main objective of this experiment is to find out the best medium composition enriched by beneficial microbes to improve papaya seedling growth. The experiment was conducted at Sumani Experimental Station, Indonesian Tropical Fruit Research Institute, Solok, West Sumatera, Indonesia from August until December 2017. The experiment was arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with ten treatments and three replicate blocks. The treatments were ten combinations of media for papaya seedling growth enriched by plant growth promotor microbes. In this experiment, medium soil with additional manure, rice husk charcoal and compost (single or combination) combined with mycorrhizae were used. Also, the effect of <em>Trichoderma </em><em>sp</em><em>.</em> enrichment into media composition were tested in this experiment. Treatments SCRMc and SCRMcT; with its complexity; were the best media composition to promote papaya seedling growth. These treatments resulted in best performance of plant height, stem diameter and number of leaves of papaya seedlings. The additional of <em>Trichoderma </em><em>sp</em><em>.</em> into medium did not show beneficial effect for all parameters in this experiment.</p>