Agricultural mechanization as a catalyst for enhancing rice production and farmer livelihoods

Abstract Agricultural mechanization is a key driver for improving crop productivity and farmer livelihoods in Indonesia, especially as the population is projected to reach 318.9 million by 2045, heightening food demand under the pressures of climate change. This study investigates the impact of mechanization on rice production in five provinces: East Java, West Java, Central Java, South Sulawesi, and South Sumatra, over the period from 2011 to 2023. The research focuses on key metrics, including crop yields, farm machinery units, cropping intensity, and farmer exchange rates (FER), analyzed through descriptive, correlation, and comparative methods. Results reveal diverse impacts of mechanization. In East Java, rice productivity declined from 61.03 Qu/ha in 2011-2015 to 56.54 Qu/ha in 2020-2023, whereas in South Sumatra, productivity increased from 45.17 Qu/ha to 52.86 Qu/ha. The correlation between machinery uses and productivity weakened from 0.85 to -0.34, indicating that mechanization alone may not sustain long-term yield gains. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in yields between farmers receiving machinery aid and those who did not, with average yields of 50.60 Qu/ha and 50.40 Qu/ha, respectively (p-value = 0.945). The study concludes that mechanization must be complemented by region-specific policies that include farmer training, equipment maintenance, and access to complementary inputs. Policymakers should also focus on providing financial aid, improving rural infrastructure, advancing localized R&D, promoting sustainable farming, and strengthening farmer cooperatives to maximize the benefits of mechanization.