Rice Farmers Responses to the Reduction of Subsidized Fertilizer Quotas in Rawamerta District, Karawang Regency

¹ Agribusiness Department, 55183 Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia
² Department of Management, 55581 Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Manajemen YKPN Yogyakarta, Indonesia
³ Department of Sociology, 55132 Universitas Widya Mataram, Indonesia
⁴ Master student in Agriculture Economic, Faculty of Agriculture, 55281 Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
⁵ Department of Plantation Management, 55222 Politeknik LPP Yogyakarta, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: aris.sw@umy.ac.id

Abstract

The reduction of subsidized fertilizer quotas by the government in 2024 has raised concerns among rice farmers due to the potential decline in productivity. This study aims to analyze farmers’ responses to the policy and the factors influencing them. The research was conducted in Purwamekar Village, Rawamerta District, Karawang Regency, using a survey method involving 40 respondents selected through proportional random sampling. Farmers’ responses were measured across three dimensions cognitive, affective, and conative using a Likert-scale questionnaire, and the data were analyzed descriptively and with Spearman’s rank correlation. The results show that farmers’ responses to the fertilizer quota reduction policy fall into the high category, with a total score of 47.48. Factors significantly related to farmers’ responses include education level and access to non-subsidized fertilizers, while age, farming experience, land area, income, and access to information were not significantly correlated. The findings imply that the government should strengthen agricultural extension programs and improve access to alternative fertilizers for farmers with lower education and limited experience, to ensure that subsidy reduction policies do not lower rice production and continue to support national food security.