Agricultural Development of Farmers based on the Physical Accessibility in South Sumatra Wetlands

Abstract

Banyuasin district is mentioned as rice center (food barn) in South Sumatera Province. Areas with great potential are given opportunities to develop by providing assistance in supporting infrastructure development, with the hope that the potential can be utilized to the maximum extent possible to assist the implementation of regional development. The research purposed to analyze the impacts of physical accessibility on rural development and to analyze agricultural development of farmers based on the physical accessibility in South Sumatra wetlands. This research is an experimental research using Split Plot Design with two factors, first factor (F) which determines Main Plot is rice farming system that includes ricefields and traditional system. The second factor (R) called Sub plot is the location of Sub-district that reflects the accessibility level (very high, high, medium and low), namely Tanjung Lago; Talang Kelapa; Muara Telang; and Makarti Jaya. The results concluded that rural characteristics are dominantly influenced by physical accessibility, the better the physical accessibility is built, and the rural characters will increasingly benefit farmers as long as the government can manage the physical accessibility for the benefit of farmers. If physical accessibility is more emphases for the interests of urban communities, thus physical accessibility existence cannot support the welfare of farmers in villages. Livelihood sources of farmers are increasingly diverse as the physical accessibility of rural areas could be improved, especially to support life of farmers. Helping farmers taking advantages of increasing levels of physical accessibility can be accelerated by developing a rural employment opportunity; building local initiatives; and re-thinking local extension systems.