Assessment of Rice Farming Sustainability after Changes in Fertilizer Subsidy Policy in Pademawu District, Pamekasan Regency

Abstract

The strategic role of rice commodities is the basis for the government to enact policies encouraging increased production. One of the policies issued is the fertilizer subsidy policy, which has been in place for a long time, but its implementation pattern has often changed. The last policy change occurred in 2022 by reducing subsidized fertilizers from six types to two: Urea and NPK. Rice farming requires these two types of fertilizers, as well as other fertilizers such as KCL, SP-36, and organic fertilizers. The implementation of the new policy may affect the sustainability of rice farming. This study aimed to analyze the sustainability of rice farming in the Pademawu District, Pamekasan Regency. The location was purposively selected because the area is the center of rice production. The sample in this study consisted of 30 people, including farmers, farmer group leaders, and extension workers. The analytical method used was the analysis of the Rapfarm approach by applying the Multidimensional Scaling Technique. The dimensions analyzed include environmental, economic, and social. The study results illustrated that rice farming in Pademawu District is included in the less sustainable category based on environmental and economic dimensions. Meanwhile, the social dimension was included in the category of moderately sustainable farming. Efforts that can be made to improve are increasing harvest waste for composting and animal feed, selling harvest waste products, reducing the use of SP-36 fertilizer, intensifying the role of farmer groups, and intensifying the intensity of extension worker assistance.