FACTORS AFFECTING FARMER?S DECISION TO CONVERT PEPPER GARDEN INTO COAL MINING AREA

Abstract

Achmad Zaini, Mariyah, Andi Siddik, Rusdiansyah SRP

The present study aimed to analyze factors that affect farmer’s decision of converting pepper garden into coal mining area and its relation with the characteristic of the respondents residing in Batuah Village that is located in Los Janan, KutaiKertanegara. This study was conducted in 2 (two) years. This study used primary data, which was obtained through observation and direct interview with 31 respondents that were performed by giving questioners and secondary data were obtained by reviewing papers and data from related institutions that would support this study. Analysis of farmer’s perception on shifting the function of their land from pepper garden to coalmining area was performed in ordinal manner with from likert’s scale. Spearman correlation test was used to measure the closeness of the relationship between respondent’s characteristic in making decision (to changing the function of the land). Based on the findings, the aspects that affect dominantly the decision of the farmers on converting their pepper garden into coal mining area are technical aspect, socio-cultural and economic aspect. Farmer’s gender has a close relation with farmer’s motivation in the socio-cultural aspect. It also has a close relation with farmer’s motivation in the technical aspect. Farmer’s age has a close relationship with the attribute of income structure. The number of farmer’s family members has a close relationship with farmer’s intention to developing business and the width of their land. It is only the factor of farmer’s education that is insignificantly correlated with socio-cultural, technical and economic aspect.