Farmers’ Perceptions to the Maize Integrated Crop Management in Dryland Agro-Ecosystem of Timor Island
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Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Badan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Pertanian
Abstract
Maize is the staple food crop grown on higher than 85% of smallholder land in Timor Island, but maize
yield only 2.55 t/ha, while potential yield higher than 5 t/ha. To increase farmer’s productivity use maize integrated
crop management (ICM) approach. Demonstration plot of maize ICM is a strategy for disseminate new technology of
maize, which demonstration was conducted in 70 sites of dry land agro-ecosystem in Timor Tengah Utara (TTU)
district, East Nusa Tenggara (ENT) province during November 2011-April 2012. The study aims to evaluated farmer’s
perceptions of maize ICM technologies and probability their adoption. Data gathered through structured survey
involved 600 farmers that distributed into 60 villages of plot demonstration sites. The research showed that farmers
have optimistic view to the ICM of maize due to: (a) farmers aware that maize farming with good management
showed higher yield than existing practices, (b) Farmers prefers to use organic fertilizers than an-organic fertilizers,
(c) farmers strongly believes that high seed quality will increase yield, (d) farmers keep the seed from introduced
varieties to be planted in the next season, (e) 73% of farmers is ready to buy seed if there is no longer government
or NGOs’ support, (f) farmers believe that new cropping pattern (new varieties, space planting and fertilizing) can
increase maize yield, (g) Even without extension workers’ assistance, farmers will continue to applied ICM of maize,
and (h) the possible technology components to be adopted are planting space, new varieties and organic fertilizer;
while farmers still reluctant to spend money to buy an-organic fertilizers.