RESILIENCE OF FARMERS ON THE SUSTAINABILITY OF NATURAL FARMING SYSTEMS FOR UPLAND RICE IN MOROTAI ISLAND

Abstract

Objective: Sustainable agricultural development necessitates that every region of the world discovers or develops farming practices and systems suited to the local environment. Additionally, initiators encourage the adoption and spread of more sustainable agriculture methods. This study aimed to determine: 1) the resilience of farmers concerning the principles of natural farming methods for upland rice to the level of economic sustainability, 2) the resilience of farmers concerning the principles of natural farming systems for upland rice to the level of socio-cultural sustainability, 3) the resilience of farmers concerning the principles of natural farming systems for upland rice to the level of environmental sustainability, 4) the willingness of farmers to retain the economic viability of the natural farming system of upland rice, 5) the  willingness of farmers to retain the environmental viability of the natural farming system of upland rice, and 6) the willingness of farmers to preserve the socio-cultural sustainability of the natural farming system of upland rice.   Method: This research was conducted on Morotai Island, North Maluku Province. The selection of this region was purposive, while the selection of farmers as sample respondents was determined by random sampling. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and LISREL 8.70.   Results: According to the research findings, farmers' perceptions of natural farming systems are a determining factor in farmer resilience. This factor has a positive impact on the sustainability of socio-cultural and environmental aspects but does not affect the sustainability of the economic component. Meanwhile, the willingness to maintain natural farming systems is a resilience element for farmers that influences the sustainability of economic and socio-cultural dimensions but not the environmental component. This study concludes that farmer resilience to the principles of natural upland rice farming systems in the border region of Morotai Island has distinct characteristics and is an economically, socio-culturally, and environmentally sustainable agricultural system.   Conclusion: This study concludes that the resilience of farmers to the principles of natural upland rice farming systems in the border region of Morotai Island has a distinctive character and is an economically, socioculturally, and environmentally sustainable agricultural system.