Key findings:

This study evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of using a rice transplanter to increase farmers' income in Mojokerto Regency. Results show that rice farming with a transplanter yields higher income and is more efficient than conventional farming. The transplanter application is deemed quite effective, while conventional farming is categorized as ineffective.

What is known and what is new?

The use of agricultural mechanization, including rice transplanters, is known to improve efficiency and effectiveness in farming activities, leading to better results. This study adds to this knowledge by specifically evaluating the impact of rice transplanters on farmers' income in Mojokerto Regency. It finds that using a rice transplanter increases income and is more efficient compared to conventional rice farming methods in the region.

What is the implication, and what should change now?

The implication of this study is that the adoption of rice transplanters in Mojokerto Regency could significantly improve farmers' income and the overall efficiency of rice farming. To leverage these benefits, there should be a concerted effort to promote and support the adoption of rice transplanters among farmers in the region. This could involve providing training and access to affordable mechanization technologies, as well as creating awareness about the advantages of using transplanters. Additionally, policymakers and agricultural extension services should consider integrating mechanization into their agricultural development plans to enhance productivity and income for farmers.

The agricultural sector must be developed to increase its agricultural products, especially food crop agricultural products. The revolution in agriculture is marked by plant breeding and intensive pest and disease eradication. One of the potential food crop commodities to be developed is rice because it is a staple food crop for the Indonesian population. This large consumption of grains is followed by an increase in the amount of rice production in Indonesia. During the last three years, rice production in Indonesia has increased, from 2018 - 2020 it decreased 2018 to 2019 by - 4,596,501 tons and from 2019 - 2020 it increased by 556,515 tons. The data for Indonesian rice production in 2018 - 2020 can be seen in the following Table 1.

Table 1: Indonesian Rice Production in 2018 - 2020

Source: BPS, 2021

Based on data from (BPS. 2021), rice commodity ranks first in food production produced by Indonesia, which is 55,160,548 tons. There are five provinces that experienced the highest increase in rice production until September - December 2020. The five provinces are East Java, Central Java, West Java, South Sulawesi, and South Sumatra. The highest increase was in five of the 34 provinces that have the potential to increase production quite significantly. Another rice barn is East Java, which increased by 1,272,615 tons in 2019 - 2020. 

Table 2: Indonesian Rice Production in 2020

Source: BPS, 2021

Basically, rice production still has a very big opportunity to be increased if all the handling of the farm is considered as good as possible, of course, it is done with the existence of agricultural tools and machines. Some of the agricultural tools that have been applied to rice farmers are Hand Tractor (Hand Tractor), and Flat Bed Dryer (Drying Machine), Rice Transplanter (Planting Machine), and Power Trasher (rice thresher).

Agricultural mechanization is the introduction and use of mechanical tools to carry out agricultural operations. Agricultural mechanization is needed to get to modern agriculture. According to (Hadiutomo, K. 2012) [1], agricultural mechanization can be more effective in reducing labor costs and the purpose of effective mechanization is to increase the income of small farms/farmer households by reducing production costs. Mechanical planting has been considered the most promising option, as it saves labor costs, ensures timely planting, and achieves optimum crop density which contributes to high productivity [2].

In the current era, programs that are intensified by the government are the application of advanced, environmentally friendly agricultural technology and other programs promoted by the government to encourage the economic development of rural communities, especially farming communities, which aim to reduce production costs, increase productivity and achieve food self-sufficiency [3].  Way to find out if the government's policy is successful or not, it is necessary to observe farmers and compare the efficiency, and effectiveness that affects the income of rice farming that has applied agricultural technology, one of which is the rice transplanter. The advantages of planting rice with a rice transplanter from conventional rice planting are that it is more efficient and effective in terms of energy, time, and cost [4]. There are differences in the income of rice farming with the application of rice transplanter and conventional rice farming. It is hoped that rice farmers in Mojokerto Regency will be more prosperous after implementing a rice transplanter in rice farming. Therefore, it is necessary to do a comparative analysis of the efficiency and effectiveness of rice transplanters in rice transplanter farming and conventional farming. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of efficiency and effectiveness of using a rice transplanter to increase the income of rice farmers in Kemlagi District, Mojokerto.

RESEARCH METHODS:

The research was conducted in Kedungsari Village, Kemlagi District, Mojokerto Regency, East Java Province. The research location was determined deliberately with the consideration that the location is a village that has implemented a program to empower the use of agricultural tools and machinery (alsintan), especially the rice transplanter machine to increase rice production. The population in this study was all rice farmers in Kedungsari Village. The number of samples of farmers is carried out using the following calculations:

Population (N) desired sample                                     = 50 respondent

Population of farmers using rice transplanter (N1) = 40 respondent

             n1           =

                             =

                             = 20 Respondent

Conventional farmer population (N2)                         = 60 respondent

             n2           =

                             =

                             = 30 Respondent

The collection of research data was obtained from two sources, namely primary data and secondary data. Primary data were obtained from direct interviews with the parties involved in the object of research and observation of farming during the implementation of the research. Secondary data were data obtained from literature studies, both from relevant agencies and from books, journals and previous research, which had been verified.

• Rice Farming Analysis:

The farming analysis is used to determine the difference in income from rice farming with the application of a rice transplanter and conventional rice farming. According to (Soekartawi. 2002) [5], farm income is the difference between revenue and expenditure. This farm income data can also be used as a measure to see whether this farming is profitable or detrimental and to what extent the profit or loss is. The income level of farmers is formulated as follows:

Pd = TR – TC

Information:

Pd     : Rice farming income (Rp/ha/MT)

TR    : Total rice farming revenue (Rp/ha/MT)

TC     : Total cost of working (Rp/ha/MT)

• Rice Farming Efficiency Analysis:

Efficiency is a continuous activity to increase the optimal use of installed capacity to produce products according to the required specifications and acceptable to the market (Lestari, P. F. K., & Sukanteri, N. P. 2021) [6]. Business efficiency is calculated using the Revenue Cost Ratio (R/C) formula. According to (Soekartawi. 1995) [7], namely:

The decision criteria for assessing the results of the R/C Ratio analysis are:

• If the R/C Ratio < 1, it means that it is not profitable

• If the R/C Ratio = 1, it means that it is at the break-even point

• If the R/C Ratio > 1, it means that it is profitable

With the provisions, if the R/C Ratio < 1, it means that rice farming with the application of a conventional or rice transplanter is not efficient. R/C Ratio > 1, means that rice farming with the application of a conventional or rice transplanter is efficient. 

• Rice Farming Effectiveness Analysis:

Effectiveness shows the ability of production factors to produce maximum productivity so that by looking at productivity, the amount of production and use of each production factor is converted into one hectare. Maximum productivity occurs when marginal production (MPPx) is equal to average production (APPx) at maximum APPx so that the effectiveness of the use of production factors can be seen from the percentage comparison of MPPx to APPx with the following formula:

Information:

i   : Seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and labor

APPxi : Average production factor of production to i 

MPPxi : Marginal production of factor of production to i

Measurement of the effectiveness of the use of production factors in the use of rice transplanters in accordance with the criteria proposed by (Pangastuti, T. N. 2013) [8] are as follows:

Table 3: Measurement of the Effectiveness of the Use of Production Factors

Source: Pangastuti, 2013 [8]

• Analysis of Rice Farming with Rice Transplanter and Conventional in Mojokerto Regency:

• Farming Fee:

Farming costs are the total value of money spent by farmers to finance their farming activities which include the cost of production facilities, labor costs, and other costs. The average cost of rice farming with the application of the rice transplanter and conventional systems is described in Table 4.

Table 4: Average Cost of Farming with Rice Transplanter and Conventional Farming in Mojokerto Regency

Source: Processed Data, 2021

Table 4 explains that the average cost of farming using the rice transplanter and conventional systems is Rp. 5,402,810,-/MT and Rp. 4,815.683,-/MT, respectively. The component of farming costs that has the most visible difference is the labor cost component with the difference in the average cost per MT of IDR 254,500. This is because the average land cultivated by rice transplanter is wider, namely 0.46 hectares compared to conventional farming land which is 0.33 hectares. So that the outpouring of costs from seed preparation activities to transporting the harvested crops using the rice transplanter system is greater than that of conventional farming. The use of a rice transplanter can reduce production costs compared to conventional farming which requires an outpouring of conventional labor (human labor) to carry out planting which will incur large labor costs.

• Farm Receipt:

According to (Soekartawi. 2006) [7], farm income is the multiplication between productions and selling price, farm costs are all expenditures used on a farm, and farm income is the difference between revenue and expenditure. The average acceptance of rice farming with the application of the rice transplanter and conventional systems can be seen in Table 5.

Table 5: Average Acceptance of Rice Farming with Rice Transplanter and Conventional in Mojokerto Regency

Source: Processed Data, 2021

Table 5 explains that the average rice production with the application of a conventional and rice transplanter is 3,428.33 kg/MT and 2630 kg/MT. The price of harvested dry grain received by farmers with rice transplanter and conventional systems is different. Farmers with the implementation of the rice transplanter system receive a price of Rp. 4700,-/kg while conventional food receives a price of Rp. 4300,-/kg. The average farm income is obtained from the result of multiplying the average production with the price of harvested dry grain. The average income from rice transplanter and conventional rice farming is Rp. 16,113,167,-/MT and Rp. 11,309,000,-/MT. The difference in the amount of revenue from the two systems is influenced by the amount of rice production produced differently where rice production with the application of a rice transplanter is higher than conventional farming rice production. The results of this study are in accordance with previous research by (Riasa, I. K. G. R. et al., 2021) [9]. The use of a rice transplanter can speed up planting time and a regular cropping pattern. 

• Farming Income:

(Suratiyah, K. 2011)[10] states that the net income of farming is the difference between gross income (revenue) and operating costs. This farmer's income includes the wages of the family's own workers, the wages of farmers as managers, interest on their own capital, and profits. Net income can also be calculated by gross income minus the cost of external equipment and interest on external capital. Profit in this case is defined as the difference between the farmer's income minus the interest on his own capital (implicit cost). The average income in rice farming with the application of the rice transplanter and conventional systems can be seen in Table 6.

Table 6: Average Income of Rice Farming with Rice Transplanter and Conventional in Mojokerto Regency

Source: Processed Data, 2021

Based on Table 6, it can be seen that the average income of rice farming with the application of a rice transplanter is Rp. 10,710,357,-/MT while the average income for conventional farming is Rp. 9,493,317,-/MT. The difference in income is caused by differences in the number of farming costs and the amount of income obtained from rice production. The relationship between income and income is positive, while income and farm costs are negative. Then the greater the cost of farming incurred and not matched by the amount of revenue, will result in a low amount of income. Based on Table 6 shows the difference in the average income of rice farming with rice transplanter and conventional is Rp. 4,217,040, -/MT.

• Simultant Test (Uji F):

Based on the analysis of four variables, namely production costs (X1), revenue (X2), farming experience (X3), and one dummy variable (D), obtained an F-count value of 119.363 with a significance of 0.000 which means that simultaneously or together all variables have a significant effect on farmers' income (Y). The results of the analysis can be seen in Table 7.

Table 7: Results of Multiple Linear Regression Analysis with F Test on Farmers' Income

Source: Processed Data, 2021

Based on the results of the calculations in Table 7, a significant number of 0.000, where 0.000 <0.05 was obtained. This means that simultaneously the variable cost of production (X1), revenue (X2), farming experience (X3), and one dummy variable (farmers using rice transplanters and non-users of rice transplanters) (D) affect the income variable of farmers (Y). The results above can be concluded that the regression model above is correct and feasible.

• Partial Test (Uji t):

Partial test (t-test) is a test used to determine the significance of the contribution of each independent variable to the dependent variable. The t-count value for each independent variable can be known based on table 8.

Table 8: Results of Multiple Linear Regression Analysis with T-Test on Farmers' Income

Source: Processed Data, 2021

Based on Table 8, it is known that the t-count of the production cost variable (X1) is 11.330 with a significance of 0.004 <0.05, meaning that partially the production cost variable (X1) has an effect on the farmer's income variable (Y). It is known that the t-count of the acceptance variable (X2) is 2.196 with a significance of 0.000 <0.05, meaning that partially the acceptance variable (X2) has an effect on the farmer's income variable (Y). It is known that the t-count of the farming experience variable (X3) is -0.322 with a significance of 0.746 > 0.05, meaning that partially the farming experience variable (X3) has no effect on the farmer's income variable (Y). It is known that the t-count of the dummy variable (D) is 5.486 with a significance of 0.000 <0.05, meaning that part there is a difference in income between farmers who use rice transplanters and farmers who do not use rice transplanters. The regression equation model is as follows:

Y = -3,522 + 1,850 X1 + 0,149 X2 – 0,013 X3 + 4,213 D

• Analysis of Rice Farming Efficiency with the Application of Conventional and Rice Transplanters:

Efficiency is a comparison between input (input) and output (output) [11]. The average acceptance, cost and efficiency of rice farming with the application of conventional and rice transplanters can be seen in Table 9.

Table 9: Average Efficiency of Rice Farming with Rice Transplanter and Conventional in Mojokerto Regency

Source: Processed Data, 2021

Based on Table 9, it is known that the efficiency of rice farming with the two systems, among others, by the application of a rice transplanter or conventional is shown from the comparison value between the income and total farming costs (R/C ratio). The value of the R/C ratio of the two farms shows more than one, which means that for every Rp. 1, - issued by the farmer, the added value of income is Rp. 2.98, - for rice farming with the application of a rice transplanter and Rp. 2.35, - for conventional farming.

• Analysis of the Effectiveness of Rice Farming with Rice Transplanter and Conventional:

The average acceptance, cost, and efficiency of rice farming with the application of conventional and rice transplanters can be seen in Table 10.

Table 10: Average Effectiveness of Rice Farming with Rice Transplanter and Conventional in Mojokerto Regency

Source: Processed Data, 2021

Based on the results of determining the level of effectiveness of lowland rice farming based on production factors, farming with the application of rice transplanter obtained 64% results, while conventional farming was 59%. Based on these results indicate that farming with the application of rice transplanter is in the quite effective category, while conventional farming is in the ineffective category. The use of production factors that are classified as very ineffective, namely labor in conventional farming with an effectiveness of 20%. The low effectiveness is caused by excessive use so the amount of its use needs to be reduced in order to produce maximum productivity.

Farming analysis shows that the average production cost of lowland rice farming in Mojokerto Regency with the application of a rice transplanter is greater than that of conventional lowland rice farming. While the income and income of lowland rice farming with the application of a rice transplanter is greater than that of conventional lowland rice farming. The results of the F test analysis obtained a significant number of 0.000 <0.05. it means that simultaneously the variables of production costs, income, farming experience, and dummy (farmers who use rice transplanters and non-users of rice transplanters) have an effect on the variable of farmers' income. The results of the t-test analysis showed that the significance of the production cost, revenue, and dummy variables was less than 0.05, meaning that partially the production costs, revenue, and dummy variables had an effect on farmers' income variables. While the farming experience variable has a significant number of more than 0.05 so that this variable has no effect on the farmer's income variable.

The value of the R/C ratio of lowland rice farming with the application of a rice transplanter is 2.98, while the value of conventional rice farming is 2.35. So lowland rice farming with the application of a rice transplanter is more efficient from the financial aspect than conventional lowland rice farming.

The level of effectiveness based on production factors shows that farming with the application of rice transplanter is in the quite effective category, while conventional farming is in the ineffective category.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding: No funding sources 

Ethical approval: The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of UPN “Veteran” East Java 

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