LAND CONVERSION FROM COFFEE TO CITRUS AND CHANGES OF FARMERS LIVELIHOOD STRATEGY (CASE IN PAL 7 VILLAGE, BERMANI ULU RAYA SUBDISTRICT, REJANG LEBONG REGENCY, BENGKULU)
Andi Ishak, Herlena Bidi Astuti, Shannora Yuliasari, Wahyuni A. Wulandari, Irma Calista, Miswarti, and Yudi Sastro

Assessment Institute of Agricultural Technology (AIAT) Bengkulu
Jl. Irian km. 6.5 Bengkulu, 38119

Abstract

The development of agricultural commodity in rural areas has the potential to cause changes in farmers livelihood strategies because of the social relations of rural production based on agrarian. This study aims to analyze the process of coffee to citrus conversion in Pal 7 Village and changes in the livelihood strategies that accompany it. The study was conducted in April to June 2019 through a survey of 116 citrus farmers. The data collected is emphasized on the process of developing citrus areas and changes in farmers livelihood strategies. In addition, interviews were also conducted with key informants to confirm and deepen the results of the survey. Data were analyzed descriptively. The results showed that the development of the citrus area in Pal 7 occurred since 2014 which was driven by the existence of pioneering farmers as movers, motivation of farmers to plant citrus gardens, credit facilities from banks, and seed assistance from the government. Farmers high motivation caused them to convert coffee plantations and shrubs into citrus plantations. Coffee to citrus conversion is done through three patterns namely insert, stepwise, and direct cutting. The development of citrus areas causes changes in farmers livelihood strategies. As many as 35.34% of farmers changed their main source of income, mainly from coffee farming and artisan / labor to citrus farming.

Keywords: area development; RGL citrus; coffee; land conversion; livelihood strategy

Topic: AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING