Factors that Influence Rice Production and Technical Efficiency in the Context of an Integrated Crop Management Field School Program

Abstract

This research estimates the effect of production input on rice production and the effect of socio-economic factors on the technical efficiency of rice farms in the program of the Integrated Crop Management Field School (ICMFS). Data were collected from 78 rice farmer household heads from two randomly chosen villages in Indonesia. The results show that seed, fertilizer, pesticide and labor significantly positively affect rice production. Socio-economic factors such as farmer age, education and experience, the number of household members and the frequency of visiting the ICMFS field laboratory had significant positive effects on the level of technical efficiency. Thus, the ICMFS, by continuing to increase ICMFS program to the people of rural areas and by taking into account socio-economic status of farmers, can improve rice farming production and efficiency.