Enhancing efficiency in lowland rice farming: The role of gender, human capital, and agricultural practices

Rice has historically been very important for humans, especially in Asia, because human life has depended on the quantity and stability of rice production. Most of the rice was produced on a small scale, but small-scale agriculture was a source of inefficiency. Increased efficiency could help lowland rice farmers subsequently, increasing household income. This study was conducted as a survey, collecting data using a questionnaire. Data collected include farmer education, age, gender, farming experience, number of family members, farming scale, use of production inputs, prices of production inputs, participation of female farmers, use of semi-organic fertilizers, rice cultivation systems, and other data related to the objectives of the study. Using the DEA method (Data Envelopment Analysis), this study analyzed the efficiency of lowland rice farming in Indonesia. The results showed that there are inefficiencies in lowland rice farming in Indonesia. This implies that lowland rice farmers in Indonesia have the potential to increase their farming efficiency. Increased efficiency of lowland rice farming could be accomplished by the use of more superior seeds, access to extension services, and cultivation systems (semi-organic and inorganic). In addition, farmers with small-scale farming can join to become large-scale, and managers with less than elementary school education. They could access more counseling so that their experience and knowledge of rice farming increase. Male and female farmers were advised to further increase their available resources so that the efficiency of lowland rice farming could be improved. To increase farming efficiency and farmers' household incomes, the government could more often offer extensions to farmers in rural communities.