THE IMPACT OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL FACTORS ON FARMERS' PERCEPTION AND PARTICIPATION IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF

CONSERVATIONNuraeni1)*, Sugiyanto2), Zaenal Kusuma3), Syafrial4)

1) Faculty of Agriculture, UMI Makassar, 2) Faculty of Agriculture, Brawijaya University, 3) Faculty of Agriculture, Brawijaya University, 4) Faculty of Agriculture, Brawijaya University* Corresponding author: Nuraeni (neni_basri@yahoo.com)

Abstract: This research aims to study the impact of internal factors (knowledge, attitude and skill) and external factors (social, economic and culture) on the perception and participation of farmers in the conservation effort in the upstream area of the river bank area of Jeneberang river in South Sulawesi. The data was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) using AMOS (Analysis of Moment Structure) version 6.

The result obtained from this research is that internal factors have significant influence on the perception and participation of farmers in agricultural conservation effort. This shows that farmer perception and participation can be improved by improving their knowledge and skill in conservation in commercial cultivation of vegetable crops. External factors do not have significant impact on the perception and participation of farmers, since they are experienced as community forest holder before changing to vegetable cultivation.

Keywords: conservation agriculture, internal factors, external factors, conservation, perception, participation.

1. INTRODUCTION

The cultivation of dry field are mostly carried out

in the upstream part of the river bank area, where the

hilly terrain has high level of precipitation. This

results in erosion, which can reduce the productivity of

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the soil. Therefore conservation technique is necessary

to optimize the use of dry field in upstream part of the

river bank area.

The effort to apply the principles of conservation

of resources in cultivation system is principally

dependent upon the perception and participation of the

farmers as autonomous actors in their cultivation effort.

However, it is realized that the farmers are generally in

lacking in means so that the fulfillment of short-term

needs have more priority than the long-term concerns such

as the application of conservation in their agricultural

effort. Based on this consideration, the farmers need

information, education and edification from the

government through the empowerment and instruction so

that it requires an approach to change the mental

attitude of the farmers.

The bank area of the Jeneberang river is one of the

three river bank area in the South Sulawesi which receive

priority. The bank area in the Jeneberang river has been

damaged by the change in the use of land and by the fact

that the cultivation system practiced by the people does

not follow the soil and water conservation techniques

which is necessary for areas with high level of

declination.

The result of analysis by Zubair and Djoehartono

(2001) on the erosion for each kinds of land use in the

bank area of Jeneberang river shows that use of land

which gives large contribution on the pace of soil

erosion is dry field paddy cultivation (tegalan), bushes

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(belukar), garden (kebun) and dry field cultivation

(ladang). The dry field cultivation (tegalan and ladang),

especially in the upstream area, is concentrated on

vegetables, mostly potato and cabbage. The potato

cultivation seems to produce the highest level of erosion

due to the method of cultivating steep pieces of land.

The erosion for all upstream river banks area of

Jeneberang river, based on the amount of dry fields, is

±10,680 ha, where in the upstream area, the land with 8-

15% downward slope is ±2,150 ha (20%) and those with 15-

35% slope is ±3,750% (35%). These area are estimated to

lose their fertile top soil due to the erosion from dry

field cultivation which is equivalent to 4.8 billion

rupiah per year (Yudono, 2002).

Considering that the upstream river bank area is

mostly used for agriculture, then conservation

agriculture is one alternative for agricultural

enterprise which can be developed in the upstream river

bank area of Jeneberang river. According to Arsyad

(2006), conservation agriculture is basically an

integrated approach in agriculture which focuses on the

development of dry field cultivation combined with soil

conservation techniques (vegetative and mechanic) in an

effective manner to achieve conservation of soil, water

and vegetation in sustainable and profitable manner.

The awareness of the farmers on environmental

problems has been growing but this awareness has not been

translated into direct action. Theoretically, the

deplorable behavior of farmers towards their environment

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is due to the relation between the two, which is affected

by several factors. Therefore, the impact of internal and

external factors on the perception and participation of

farmers in the implementation of conservation in

vegetable cultivation should be studied.

Winkel in Sumarni (2006) has stated that the

psychology on internal aspects of human beings can be

grouped into three categories, that is: (1) cognitive

aspect, which includes knowledge and understanding, (2)

affective aspect, which includes feeling, interest,

motivation, attitude and values, and (3) psychomotor

aspect, which includes observation and motor or

movements.

Bloom in Sudijono (2009) has divided the cognitive

aspect into six hierarchical process of thinking, which

from the lowest to the highest are: knowledge,

comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and

evaluation. Krathwohl in Sudijono (2009) has divided the

affective aspect into five categories, that is:

receiving, responding, valuing, organization and

characterization by value.

While the psychomotor aspect, according to Simpson

in Sudijono (2009), can be divided into seven categories,

that is: perception, set, guided response, mechanism,

complex overt response, adaptation and origination.

Individual perception is shaped not only by internal

factors but also by external factors, that is the

condition outside the individual which can stimulate the

individual to form perception. Based on interactionist

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approach according to Soekanto in Harihanto (2001),

individual behavior is generally affected by internal and

external factors. The internal factors which is psychic

in nature includes perception, personality, mental

intellectual aspect, ego, morality, belief and

motivation, while the external factor which can affect

behavior is sociocultural, socioeconomic and physical

factors.

Community participation in this research is

understood as the involvement of the people in the

development of their own self, their lives and their

environment (Nasution, 2009). It is further stated that

there are four kinds of participation, that is: (1)

participation in decision making, (2) participation in

action, (3) participation in partaking the results and

(4) participation in evaluation.

Participation in this research is to see how far the

involvement of farmers in the upstream river banks area

of Jeneberang river in implementing conservation in their

cultivation voluntarily. Based on this, then

participation is measured from (1) the involvement of

farmers in meetings, (2) involvement in the

implementation of conservation and (3) involvement in the

maintenance of the existing conservation practices.

Based on the discussion above, this research aims

to: (1) identify the impact of internal factors

(knowledge, attitude, skill) on the perception and

participation of farmers in the conservation agriculture,

(2) identifying the impact of external factors (social,

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economic, culture) on the perception and participation of

farmers on conservation agriculture.

2. RESEARCH METHOD

This research was carried out in the upstream river

bank area of Jeneberang river in the district of

Pattapang, Regency of Gowa, South Sulawesi, Indonesia,

which is chosen as the center of vegetable cultivation in

the area. The population of this research is 182

vegetable farmers, which is chosen randomly, using sample

determination formula.

The variable in this research is two exogenous

variables (internal and external factors) and two

endogenous (perception and participation) with 35

indicators. Data was collected with questionnaire which

is formulated based on the indicators which form each

variables and these are measured with Likert scales.

This research aims to test and analyze the causal

relation between independent and dependent variables.

Therefore, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is applied

here using AMOS (Analysis of Moment Structure) version 6.

The variables and indicators and data collection method

is shown in the following table.

Table 1. Variables and Data Collection

Variables Indicators Code Data Collection

Internal Factors

Knowledge (X1) 1. Knowledge2. Comprehension3. Application

X1.1X1.2X1.3

Questionnaire with close-ended question

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4. Analysis5. Synthesis6. Evaluation

X1.4X1.5X1.6

Attitude (X2) 1. Receiving2. Responding3. Valuing4. Organization5. Characterization by value

X2.1X2.2X2.3X2.4X2.5

Questionnaire with close-ended question

Skill (X3) 1. Perception2. Set3. Guided Response4. Mechanism5. Complex Overt Response6. Adaptation7. Origination

X3.1X3.2X3.3X3.4X3.5X3.6X3.7

Questionnaire with close-ended question

External Factors

Social (X4) 1. Formal education2. Non-formal education3. Organization4. Information through media

X4.1X4.2X4.3X4.4

Questionnaire with close-ended question

Economics (X5) 1. Household income2. Area of land

X5.1X5.2

Questionnaire with close-ended question

Culture (X6) 1. Religious norms2. Government regulation3. Local custom

X6.1X6.2X6.3

Questionnaire with close-ended question

Community perception (Y1)

1. Improving production2. Reducing erosion3. Improving fertility4. Improving water supply5. Preventing flood and landslide

Y1.1Y1.2Y1.3Y1.4Y1.5

Questionnaire with close-ended question

Community participation (Y2)

1. Presence in meetings2. Implementation3. Maintenance

Y2.1Y2.2Y2.3

Questionnaire with close-ended question

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 Result of Goodness-of-Fit Test

In the SEM analysis, before the model is tested, we

first test the goodness-of-fit of the model. Theoretical

model in the conceptual framework of the research, will

be considered to be have sufficient fit when it is

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supported by empirical data. The test result are

presented as follows.

Table 2. Goodness-of-Fit Results

Criterion Cut-Off Value Result Comment

P ≥0.05 0.000 Lacking fit

Chi Square/DF ≤2.00 1.599 Sufficient fit

GFI ≥0.90 0.773 Lacking fit

AGFI ≥0.90 0.739 Lacking fit

TLI ≥0.95 0.747 Lacking fit

CFI ≥0.95 0.767 Lacking fit

RMSEA ≤0.08 0.058 Sufficient fit

Source: primary data, processed 2011

The result of overall goodness-of-fit test presented

in the table and figure shows that not all criterion

shows fit with the model. Only chi-square/DF and RMSEA

which fulfill the cut-off value, where the value of chi-

square/DF is 1.599, which is lower than 2 and RMSEA is

0.058, which is lower than 0,08.

According to Arbuckle and Wothke in Solimun (2009),

the best criterion for model fit is a value of chi-

square/DF which is less than 2, and RMSEA should be lower

than 0,08. In this research, the value of CMIN/DF and

RMSEA has fulfilled the cut-off value, and therefore the

SEM model for this research is appropriate and hence will

be used for further analysis.

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X1.1

X1.1.6d6

11 X1.1.5d5

1 X1.1.4d4

1 X1.1.3d3

1 X1.1.2d2

1 X1.1.1d1

1

X1.2

X1.2.5d11

11 X1.2.4d10

1 X1.2.3d9

1 X1.2.2d8

1 X1.2.1d7

1

X1.3

X1.3.3d14

X1.3.2d13

X1.3.1d12

11

1

1

Internal F.

1

X2.1

X2.1.4

d19

1

1X2.1.3

d18

1X2.1.2

d17

1X2.1.1

d16

1

X2.2

X2.2.1

d20

1

1

X2.3

X2.3.3

d23

1

1X2.3.2

d22

1X2.3.1

d21

1

External F.

1

Perception

Participation

Y1.1

e1

1

1

Y1.2

e21

Y1.3

e3 1

Y1.4

e4 1

Y1.5

e51

Y3.1 e101 1

Y3.2 e11

1

Y3.3 e12

1

u11

u3

1

g11

g21

g31

g41

g51

g61

X1.3.4d15

1

X2.2.2

d24

1

X1.3.5d25

1

X1.3.6d26

1

X1.3.7d27

1

Figure 1. Goodness-of-Fit Model

(gambar: persepsi = perception, partisipasi =

participation, f. internal = internal factors, f.

external = external factors)

Figure 1. Goodness-of-Fit Model

Further test is then applied for measurement model

and structural model. The measurement model in SEM is

equivalent to confirmatory factor analysis. Factor

loadings show the weight of each indicators as the

measure of each variables. The indicator with highest

loading factor is the most dominant measurement of

variable. While the structural model tests the relation

between research variables, which is identical with

hypothesis testing.

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3.2 Testing The Structural Model

In this structural model, there are six relations

among variables which are tested. The result of the

relations among variables is presented below.

Table 3. Structural Model of SEM: Direct Impact

Relation Among Variables Coefficient P-value Comment

Internal factors ←→ external factors 0.152 0.070 Non-significant

Internal factors → community perception 0.500 0.001* Significant

Internal factors → community participation 0.401 0.001* Significant

External factors → community perception 0.063 0.438 Non-significant

External factors → community participation 0.096 0.240 Non-significant

Community perception → community participation

0.357 0.006* Significant

Source: primary data, processed 2011

Note: * signifies significance with 5% error

The result can be presented graphically as follows:

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(gambar: persepsi = perception, partisipasi =

participation, f. internal = internal factors, f.

external = external factors)

Figure 2. SEM Structural Model

Note: red line represents non-significant paths

Based on the table and figure above, the result of

structural model is presented as follows.

1. Relation between Internal Factors and External Factors

Table 3 shows that internal factors are not related

with the external factors. This is evident from the p-

value which is greater than 0.05. This means that the

external factors, no matter how supportive, would not

have any impact on the internal factors, and vice versa.

The absence of relation between the internal factors

of the respondents, which includes knowledge, attitude

and skill, with their external factors, that is social,

economic and culture, is caused by their background

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before they cultivate vegetables. Most respondent farmers

had formerly worked in the pine forest to supply firewood

for the Paper Mill of Gowa (Pabrik Kertas Gowa).

This experience has shaped the knowledge, attitude

and skills of the respondents as a resource for

themselves. Without the impact from the outside or their

environment such as social, economic and culture, they

are already aware about the advantage and impact of

conservation and they have even applied some of the

conservation techniques in the areas, though still in

simple way and not perfect yet.

2. The Impact of Internal Factors on Community Perception

Table 3 shows that internal factors have significant

impact on community participation. This is evident from

the p-value, which is smaller than 0.05. This shows that

better internal factors would result in greater

participation by the community.

Perception on the benefit of agricultural enterprise

is strongly influenced by the internal factors, which

includes the knowledge, attitude and skills that they

have acquired during the times before they cultivate

vegetables. As the holder of the rights to exploit

community forest, the respondents had often received

instruction or education from the local Agency of

Forestry (Dinas Kehutanan) concerning the function and

impact of logging.

This is marked by the award of the Kalpataru for one

of the local public figure in the early seventies. The

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primary motivation of the community in those times were

not only for environmental protection but also to supply

firewood for the Paper Mills of Gowa. This ecological-

economical effort was carried out based on the belief

that planting pine trees for the supply of the paper mill

would guarantee the continuity and improvement of their

livelihood. Therefore, improvement in the knowledge,

attitude and skill in the implementation of conservation

for the vegetable cultivation will impact the improvement

in their perception on the benefit of conservation on

vegetable cultivation.

3.The Impact Of Internal Factor On Community

Participation

Internal factors have significant impact on

community participation in the implementation of

conservation agriculture. This is evident from the p-

value which is smaller than 0.05.

This shows that the effort to improve community

participation in the conservation agriculture should be

accompanied by improvement in their knowledge, attitude

and skills, especially in relation to the conservation in

vegetable cultivation. This is due to the fact that the

benefit of conservation can only be felt in longer term,

and in the short-term, conservation can even reduce the

productivity of the cultivation.

4. The Impact Of External Factors On Community Perception

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Table 3 shows that there are no positive and

significant impact from external factors to community

perception, as evident from the p-value which is above

0.05. This means that the best improvement on external

factors would not affect community perception.

This shows that the high level of perception on the

benefit of agriculture is not affect by the external

factors, which include social, economic and cultural

aspects. Respondents' perception on the benefit of

conservation agriculture includes the improvement in

production, reduction of erosion, improved soil

fertility, improved water supply and prevention of

flooding and landslide, based on the knowledge and

experience that they have acquired before cultivating

vegetables and from their older generation and fellow

farmers.

5.The Impact Of External Factor On Community

Participation

Table 3 shows that there are no significant impact

from external factors on community participation, as

evident from the p-value which is greater than 0.05. This

means that no matter how conducive the external factors

are, it would not affect the improvement of community

participation.

The low level of conservation implementation in the

vegetable cultivation is caused by the farmers' lack of

understanding on the long term benefit agriculture, and

also by the fact that vegetable commodity requires

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conditions which is incongruous with the implementation

of conservation. There are several reasons on the part of

respondent farmers which cause the low level of

application for conservation techniques: (1) based on

their understanding and experience, planting in line with

the contour of the field will increase the chance of

disease due to lack of drainage, (2) production of

vegetable would decrease to the reduced area for

planting, (3) vegetables will be under the shade of

perennial trees and their growth will be stunted, (4) the

farmers do not have enough time and labor to build and

maintain the infrastructure necessary for conservation

purpose, and (5) they do not feel that such effort would

bring direct benefit for them.

6. The Impact Of Perception On Community Perception

Table 3 shows that perception variable has a

significant impact on community participation with a p-

value smaller than 0.05. This shows that better

perception would result in improved participation by the

community.

It is clear that the respondent farmers are still

amenable to the idea of implementing conservation in

their vegetable fields, with the expectation that their

understanding of conservation for vegetable cultivation

can be improved. This means that deeper understanding on

the conservation in vegetable cultivation would improve

the farmers' participation in the implementation of

conservation.

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4. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

4.1 Conclusion

1. Internal factors have direct and significant impact

on the perception and participation of the farmers.

This shows that perception and participation of

farmers in the implementation of conservation

agriculture can be improved by increasing their

knowledge and skills in conservation for the vegetable

cultivation.

2. External factors, which includes social, economic

and cultural factors, do not have significant impact

on internal perception, perception and participation

of the community in the implementation of conservation

agriculture. This is due to the background of the

farmers who had worked in the community forest before

cultivating vegetables. These experiences have shaped

their knowledge, attitude and skill so that even

without the impact of external factors (social,

economic, culture), they are already aware and have

applied the conservation techniques, though in limited

fashion.

4.2 Recommendation

1. In the effort to improve the participation of

farmers, external factors should be improved (social,

economic and cultural factors) for the community in

the upstream river bank areas of Jeneberang river.

This is important considering that external factors

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can directly and indirectly improve the awareness of

the farmers which will motivate them to participate in

the implementation of conservation in its agricultural

enterprise.

2. In order to prevent further damage to the river bank

area of Jeneberang river, a regional regulation should

be issued concerning the provision of incentives for

the farmers who apply conservation techniques in their

fields. The incentive may take the form of tax cuts so

that the additional cost expended by the farmers for

conservation purposes can be compensated by the cuts

of land tax (PBB) and vice versa.

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