Contribution of agricultural mechanization in rice production system to support sustainable agriculture in Klaten Regency, Central Java

ABSTRACT
Development of agricultural mechanization can not stand alone, because it is a
sub system in the production process. Many studies shows, that agricultural machinery
have a very close relationship with the socio-economic dynamics of agricultural
production system that requires a good management for agriculture machineries
management which is known as UPJA as custom hiring. Implementation of agricultural
mechanization in the concept of modern agriculture can increase work capacity in
agricultural production process in every stage of production process, reduce production
cost by increasing efficiency and productivity, decrease losses, and improving product
quality. Hand tractor, paddy transplanter, power thresher and combine harvester has
been used in paddy farming system in Klaten district, Central Java. The contribution of
the use of agricultural machineries to sustainable agriculture is as follows; increase the
work capacity so that it can overcome the delay of planting time, therefore simultaneous
planting can be realized. With simultaneous planting, pest control will be easier,
because the life cycle of pest can be cut off. The management of agricultural machineries
that is part of the agricultural corporation is realized in Gapoktan, so that rice
production system is integrated in a collaboration of rice production activities through
grain processing into rice, increasing the profit margin to reach about Rp. 2.500.000-
3.739.000/ha. Increasing this profit becomes one of the impetus for farmers to produce
and participate in sustainable agriculture.