Strategi Bertahan Hidup Petani dalam Memenuhi Kebutuhan Keluarga (Studi Kasus Petani Penggarap Usahatani Padi di Lingkungan I Kelurahan Sidiangkat Kecamatan Sidikalang)

Abstract

The sharecroppers survival strategy is an effort made by the sharecroppers family to maintain family life in order to escape the problem of poverty. This strategy relates to how the family utilizes its potential and how it manages its small income to meet family needs. The socioeconomic condition of the family can differentiate the survival strategies of sharecropper families. This study aims to describe the socio-economic conditions and survival strategies of sharecroppers in Neighborhood I of Sidiangkat Village, Sidikalang District. The main informant in this research is the head of Neighborhood I, key informants are eight rice farming sharecroppers, and additional informants are two cultivated land owners. Data collection techniques were conducted by literature study, interviews, observation, and documentation. The data obtained in the field was then analyzed qualitatively to produce a conclusion. The results of this study illustrate that the socio-economic status of sharecoppers is low with income from rice farming less than Rp1,000,000/month. The survival strategy carried out by sharecroppers is more optimizing the network strategy by making loans to neighbours, bank, credit union and utilizing assistance from children or relatives and government assistance.