Farmers’ Satisfaction with NPK 16-16-16 Fertilizer: Evidence from Horticultural Producers in Garut Regency, Indonesia

Agribusiness Study Program, Agrotechnopreneur and Agrarian Faculty, Nusa Bangsa University, Bogor, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: sarianggarawati@gmail.com

Abstract

NPK 16-16-16 is a balanced compound fertilizer formulated to support both vegetative and generative plant growth in a single application, thereby enhancing fertilization efficiency and nutrient uptake due to its water-soluble granular form. This study aimed to evaluate horticultural farmers’ satisfaction with NPK 16-16-16 fertilizer and identify influencing factors. Research was conducted across five horticultural sub-districts in Garut District, involving 80 farmer respondents. Data was analyzed using multiple regression and the Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) method. The CSI results indicate that farmers were generally satisfied with attributes such as composition, product quality, yield performance, ease of application, availability, dosage, and brand, each receiving satisfaction scores above 4.00. Regression analysis revealed that education and farming experience had a significant positive effect on satisfaction, while age had an adverse effect. Income, land area, and farmer group participation showed no significant influence. Simultaneously, all variables were statistically significant predictors of satisfaction, although the model explained only 17.4% of the variance ( R² = 0.174), suggesting the presence of other influential factors not captured in the model. The findings have practical implications for improving fertilizer use practices, guiding policymakers in agricultural support, and providing a foundation for future research on farming inputs and farmer satisfaction.