The problem of rice farming in Indonesia is the increasing extent of nutrient-poor land due to the lack of addition of organic matter and continuously inundated irrigated rice fields, causing the production of greenhouse gas emissions, such as methane gas (CH₄), to increase. The study aims to determine the impact of organic fertilizers and rice varieties on rice yield, methane emissions, and the feasibility of farming in nutrient-poor rice fields. The study used a randomized block design in factorial with four replicates. The first factor is the type of organic fertilizers (compost of rice straw and goat manure), and the second factor is the variety of rice (Ciherang, Inpari 20, and Inpari 30). The results showed that the productivity of Inpari 20 (8.02 t·ha⁻¹) was significantly higher than that of Inpari 30 (6.10 t·ha⁻¹) and Ciherang (6.91 t·ha⁻¹). The highest yields of Harvest Dry Grain (HDG) to Milled Dry Grain (MDG) were the Inpari 20 (88.23%), Inpari 30 (86.94%), and Ciherang (85.04%). Methane (CH₄) emissions were highest in the Ciherang variety (56.4 kg h⁻¹ season⁻¹), followed by Inpari 30 (40.8 kg h⁻¹ season⁻¹), and lowest in Inpari 20 (22.3 kg h⁻¹ season⁻¹). Compared to Inpari 30 and Ciherang varieties, the Inpari 20 variety with rice straw compost has broad development viability in nutrient-poor paddy fields (highest R/C ratio and break-even point). More research on organic rice is needed to determine the productivity and emissions (methane, nitrite, carbon dioxide).

Sorghum is an important food crop commodity in the midst of climate change conditions and the threat of a global food crisis. Sorghum, which has an adaptive advantage to all land conditions, is suitable for use as a food substitute for rice and wheat. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the economic value, farmers’ perceptions, and specific strategies for developing sorghum in Central Java and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The research was conducted in Wonogiri Regency, Central Java, and Gunungkidul Regency, Yogyakarta from September to November 2022. The research was carried out through the observation of 120 respondents with indicators of farming characteristics and farmers’ perceptions of sorghum development, as well as focus group discussions (FGD) and depth interviews with indicators of internal and external factors for sorghum development. The analysis used is benefit cost (BC) to evaluate the economic value of sorghum farming, the Likert scale to determine farmers’ perceptions of sorghum, and Strength Weak Opportunity Threat (SWOT) to determine specific strategies for developing sorghum. The results showed that sorghum farming is feasible to develop in Wonogiri Central Java and Gunungkidul Yogyakarta because it provides a profit value greater than production costs with a BCR value of >1. The perception of farmers in Central Java regarding the development of sorghum is included in the very good category with an average value of 3.31, and the perception of farmers in Yogyakarta is included in the good category with an average value of 2.55. The operational policy strategy for developing sorghum in Wonogiri Central Java and Gunungkidul Yogyakarta is an expansion strategy (S-O).

Rice production in the karst dryland is still low, due to soil characteristics that lack nutrient availability. Meanwhile, upland rice has received less attention, and it has not been used to its full potential. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of various combinations of inorganic fertilizers, poultry manure, and upland rice varieties on the production and economic value of karst dryland in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta. This experiment was arranged in a factorial design, with inorganic fertilizers, poultry manure, and upland rice varieties set in a randomized block design with three replications. The first factor was a combination of inorganic and organic fertilizer rates: 72 N kg ha⁻¹ + 26 P₂O₅ kg ha⁻¹ + 25 K₂O ha⁻¹ + 3 t ha⁻¹ organic, 92 N kg ha⁻¹ + 36 P₂O₅ kg ha⁻¹ + 30 K₂O kg ha⁻¹ + 2 t ha⁻¹ organic, 112 N kg ha⁻¹ + 46 P₂O₅ kg ha⁻¹ + 35 K₂O kg ha⁻¹ + 1 t ha⁻¹ organic. The second factor is the upland varieties of Inpago 8, Inpago 10, and Inpago 12 and lowland variety Inpari 42 Agritan GSR, as checked. Based on the study, we concluded that the combination of 92 N kg ha⁻¹ + 36 P₂O₅ kg ha⁻¹ + 30 K₂O kg ha⁻¹ + 2 t ha⁻¹ poultry manure fertilizers with Inpago 8 resulted in an IDR profit of 23,586,000 ha⁻¹, and it is the most recommendable fertilizer and variety combination to be developed in the karst dryland, in consideration of land fertility and sustainability.

Farmers usually work in various activities to obtain income and fulfill household demands. The objectives of this study are to determine and investigate the structures and factors influencing farmer households’ income and expenses in the rain-fed areas. This research was conducted in Tegalgiri Village, Nogosari Sub-district, Boyolali District from January to March 2020. The study used survey technique. Data were analyzed descriptively and quantitatively using multiple linear regression analysis. The results showed that the average household income of IDR 5,262,387/month with the largest proportion (65.31%) came from on-farm activities and 34.70% came from non-agricultural activities. Factors influencing household income were rice production and farmers’ education. The average household expenditure was IDR 3,869,634/month consisted of food expenditure 30.17%, 23.94% for non-food expenditure, and 19.42% for farming cost. Factors influencing household expenditure are income and land area. To increase household income and welfare, farmers need to optimize the management of rain-fed lowland and upland fields.

Shallots are one of the horticultural products that have important economic values. The objective of this study is to analyse the performance of production and price as well as to identify the marketing system of shallot. The research used time-series data from 2009 to 2018. The data was analyzed descriptively. The results showed that the harvested area and production of shallot have an increasing trend, while the productivity of shallots has a decreasing trend during the last 10 years (2009 to 2018). The price of shallots has been fluctuating from 2009 to 2018. The fluctuation of shallots price was caused by the fluctuation of production. The distribution of shallots from production centres to end consumers requires marketing services carried out by marketing agents. The shallot marketing channel involves two or more market players. The longer the marketing channel, the higher the marketing margin, and the lower the share of the price would be received by farmers (profit sharing). Conversely, the shorter the marketing channel, the lower the marketing margin and the higher the share of farmers would be. Therefore, to increase farmer share, there should be an institution that could facilitate a shorter marketing margin between farmers and consumers.

Sorghum is uniquely adapted to dryland and used by the Indonesian government to optimize the utilization of dryland and increase farmers’ incomes. The objective of this study was to analyze the contribution of sorghum to increasing income and the level of welfare of dryland farmer households in Wonogiri, Central Java, Indonesia. The study was conducted from October to December 2022 using a survey method through direct interviews with purposively selected sorghum-growing farmers. A set of questions included household income and expenditure. The average total income and expenditure indicators, poverty line figures, RMW, and ERFHI were used to measure the welfare level of farmer households. The study found that the income derived from sorghum contributes 22.87% to total household income and tends to increase household income by 29.65%. According to the average total income earned, farming households were in a prosperous condition. This can be seen from the total income, which is higher than the total expenditure, the average per capita income higher than the poverty line, the average total income higher than RMW, and the value of ERFHI at 1.25. Income derived from sorghum has increased by 21.43–56.00% from less prosperous households to prosperous ones. The results of this study are expected to contribute to the existing literature on sorghum development and farmers’ income and to be a reference for policy makers in formulating poverty alleviation programs and improving the welfare of farmer households, as well as expanding sorghum development by optimizing the utilization of agroecological, economic and social resources.