Petani Padi ditengah Peralihan menjadi Petani Sawit : Pilihan Petani untuk Mempertahankan atau Beralih Jenis Tanaman di Desa Air Hitam Kabupaten Batubara

Abstract

Farmers are creative people who always calculate every action according to their rational choice. Similarly, in choosing the type of crop to be cultivated, where farmers prefer to use a small strategy but can bring a definite result, rather than having to use a large strategy but can bring a huge loss of total crop failure. The orientation of most farmers (not all) is more focused on economic value is what makes farmers choose to plant oil palm crops than rice paddy fields. This happens because of the mistaken assumption that farmers believe that palm oil crops that are plantation crops can generate more definite benefits than rice paddy crops. So that the occurrence of a transition of land functions from agricultural land into non-agricultural land. This research was conducted in the village of Air Hitam Kec. Fifty Coal Regencies. The purpose of this study, namely to determine the rational reasons considered by rice farmers so choose to switch into oil palm. And to find out the rational choice of rice farmers in maintaining rice fields amid the number of farmers who turned into oil palm crops. The method used in this research is using qualitative approach with descriptive. In determining the informant using purposive sampling technique, Informant taken is qualified in research. Methods of date collection using questionnaires, interviews, observations and documentaries. Data analysis technique is done by data reduction, date presentation and conclusion. The results of the research indicate that the reason for the rice farmers to transition into oil palm is because (1) easy maintenance, (2) not susceptible to pests, (3) cheaper plant maintenance costs, (4) Join other farmers), (5) Harvest palm can be done continuously 2 weeks. And rational reasons rice farmers choose to keep their land in the middle of many farmers who turn into oil palm crops are (1) high desire to help fellow farmers, (2) High crime / theft, (3) The only thing that farmers have , (4) Land area that is not suitable for planting oil palm, (5) Land owned by others (rent), (6) Time problem.