SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTOR THAT INFLUENCING FARMING BEHAVIOUR AND FARMER PARTICIPATION LEVEL ON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN BAUMATA VILLAGE, KUPANG DISTRICT

Abstract

In an attempt to increase agricultural productivity and environtment, it is important to understand farmers’ behaviour and participation in agri-environmental management.   The study was conducted to analyze the influence of sosio-economic factor on farming behaviour and participation in agri-environmental management in Baumata village, Kupang District, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara Province. The aims of this research were: 1) To find out sosio-economic factors influencing farming behaviour and participation; 2) To find out the relationship between farming behaviors and participation through environmental management. This research was a survey study of descriptive method, with samples were farmers who live and farming in Baumata Village. The respondents were 75 farmers household chosen with a ramdom sampling technique. Data analysis were conducted with Chi Square methods and Spearman Rank Correlation. Results showed that farming behaviours mean score were 17,84 (medium). The socio-economic characteristics influenced farmer’s behaviour in  agricultural activities were: age (χ²= 10,306; df = 2; p = 0,006), farming experience (χ² = 10,720; df = 2; p = 0,005) and income (χ² = 10,505; df = 2; p = 0,005);  while the socio-economic characteristics  that did not influence  farmer’s behaviour in agricultural activities were: education  (χ² = 2,725; df = 4; p = 0,605), family size (χ²= 5,096 ; df = 4; p = 0,278). Participation in environmental management mean score was 17,33 (medium), there was no socio-economic characteristics  that  influence  farmer’s participation, while the socio-economic characteristics  that did not influence farmer’s participation in environmental management were: age (χ² = 2,995; df = 2; sig = 0,224 ), education (χ² = 4,504; df = 2; p = 0,105), family size (χ² = 0,667; df = 2; p = 0,716), farming experience (χ² = 2,575; df = 2; p = 0,276), and income  (χ² = 2,150; df = 4; p = 0,341). Spearman Rank Correlation test result showed that there was significant relation between farming behaviours with level of participation in environmental manajement (r_s = 0,383; p = 0,001).