Abstract

The high rate of paddy fields conversion in Indonesia demonstrates the potential importance of dry lands in meeting food needs in the future. The main problem of up land farming are errosion and soil fertility. The novelty of this research is reviewing the detail of domestic investment by farmers in order to conserve up land. In particular, this paper aims to determine (1) the amount of physical and vegetative investment and (2) factors affecting investment in the up land conservation farming in Karanganyar Regency. The research location is determined by multistage sampling based on the altitude and the up land area. Therefore, the chosen are sub-district Jatiyoso and Tawangmangu. The analysis methods are aim (1) by calculate depreciation and aim (2) by linear regression. The investment needed in the up land conservation farming by a farmer households during 2014 was amounted to Rp 1,096,194. The composition consist of : a mechanical investment amounted to 82.10%, comprising Rp 612,607 terrace and Rp 287,396 drainage. While vegetative investment amounted to 17.90% only, comprising Rp 112,280 annual crops and Rp 83,911 cover crops. Regression analysis showed that factors influencing investments in up land conservation farming are the Index Conservation Activities, slope and household income. With an understanding of types and amount of conservation investment farming by farm households, can be known the extent of the awareness of farmers in preserving the land. So these results can be used as a reference for the government in realizing sustainable agriculture in Karanganyar District.

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