Farmer group as social determinant of farmer’s perceptions on organic farming concepts and practice

The current industrial paddy farming promotes the reliance on agrochemicals, both synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, while neglecting to consider their negative effects on the environment. This paper examined farmers’ perception  of organic paddy farming practices, which is especially useful to set research agendas, for planning campaign strategies and developing messages for communication. The study conducted at Pereng village and Gentungan, Mojogedang subdistrict, Karanganyar regency, Central Java province. A total of 30 organic and 30 conventional farmers were included in this survey. Majority of farner respondents was defined organic farming as the absence of chemicals used in farming, but there were farmer had define organic farming as very low level application of chemicals fertilizer. Only a few organic farmers were apply local seed and managing irrigation and none of them apply the crop rotation. Farmers’ major sources of knowledge on organic farming concept and practice was a person as organic farming figure in the village who was farmer group leader.Farming experience and membership in farming group were associate with the perception of organic farming concepts.