Research on World Agricultural Economy

Environmental Awareness Analysis of Organic and Non‑Organic Rice Farmers in Java Island

Zuhud Rozaki

Department of Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta 55183, Indonesia

Riska Aula Ardila

Department of Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta 55183, Indonesia

Nur Rahmawati

Department of Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta 55183, Indonesia

Triyono

Department of Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta 55183, Indonesia

Himawan Wahyu Pamungkas

Department of Agriculture and Plantation, Central Java Province, Semarang 50517, Indonesia

Yusuf Enril Fathurrohman

Department of Agribusiness, Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto, Purwokerto 53182, Indonesia;  Doctoral School of Management and Business, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, Debrecen 4032, Hungary

Retno Lantarsih

Department of Agribusiness, Universitas Janabadra, Jl. Tentara Rakyat Mataram No.55‑57, Yogyakarta 55231, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36956/rwae.v6i2.1643

Received: 1 January 2025 | Revised: 5 February 2025 | Accepted: 7 February 2025 | Published Online: 16 April 202

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Abstract

Rice is a key commodity cultivated by Indonesian farmers and serves as the staple food for the population. In Indonesia, rice is produced using both organic and non-organic farming methods. This study assesses whether there is a significant difference in environmental awareness between organic and non-organic farmers. Conducted in Yogyakarta and Central Java, the research involved 150 organic and 100 non-organic farmers, randomly selected from five districts. Six key indicators were used to measure environmental awareness: knowledge of environmental impacts, water management, soil management, education and environmental support, fertilizer and pesticide use, and future goals. The results showed that the average scores for both groups across all indicators fell within the "High" category. While non-organic farmers continue to use chemical inputs, they remain aware of the environmental consequences of such practices. Their reliance on chemical fertilizers is likely driven by economic factors, reflecting a tension between productivity and sustainability. The Mann-Whitney test revealed a significance value of 0.000 (p < 0.05) across all indicators, confirming a statistically significant difference in environmental awareness. Organic farmers demonstrated greater awareness, highlighting the positive impact of organic farming on sustainability. These findings suggest that organic farming can enhance environmental awareness while addressing the economic challenges faced by non-organic farmers.

Keywords: Environmental Awareness; Organic Farming; Non‑Organic Farming; Environmental Impact; Sustain‑ able Agriculture

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