Analysis of Farmer Decision Making on the Selection of Paddy Rice Seeds as an Environmental Adaptation Strategy in Supporting the Sustainability of Tidal Land

From July 1st to January 1st, 2025, this study was carried out in a chicken farm in Tidal land has a strategic role in supporting national food security, particularly in South Kalimantan, but paddy farming systems in this region are highly vulnerable to environmental change and climate uncertainty. This condition encourages farmers to adapt, one of which is through decision-making in the selection of paddy rice seeds that are in accordance with the characteristics of tidal land. This study aims to analyze the characteristics and stages of decision-making of farmers in the selection of paddy rice seeds, identify the factors that influence these decisions as an environmental adaptation strategy, and evaluate their implications for the sustainability of paddy rice farming in Barito Kuala Regency. The research was carried out using a survey method with a total of 100 respondents who were selected through multistage random sampling techniques. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive analysis to examine the stages of farmer decision-making, binary logistics regression to identify determinants of seed selection decisions, and sustainability index analysis to assess its impact on farming sustainability. The results of the study showed that farmers' decision-making followed the stages of identification of needs, information search, alternative evaluation, seed selection decisions, and post-use evaluation, with a dominant preference for local varieties. Factors of farming experience, perception of environmental risks, and access to agricultural information have a significant effect on seed selection decisions. The sustainability index value of 0.731 shows that the selection of paddy rice seeds by tidal land farmers is in the category of quite sustainable. This study concludes that seed selection is an important environmental adaptation strategy in supporting the sustainability of paddy rice farming in tidal lands.