Sikap Pekebun terhadap Pruning Kelapa Sawit (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) untuk Meningkatkan Produktivitas di Langkat, Sumatera Utara

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the attitude of smallholders towards the pruning process in oil palm plants in the Babalan Sub-district and to analyze the significance of the relationship between various factors and the attitude of farmers towards pruning in oil palm plants in the region. The research took place in Babalan Sub-district, Langkat Regency, from April to June 2022. The method used is descriptive with a quantitative approach. The total population of farmers involved in this study is 307 people who are working on oil palm plantations. They come from 2 villages, including South and North Securai Village. In South Securai, there are 5 farmer groups: Giat, Tani Jaya, Saolohan, Tani Jaya 1 and Tekun. In North Securai, there are 2 farmer groups: Bina Tani and Tuah Johor. This research instrument uses the Likert and Spearman Rank correlation scales for questionnaire data collection. The research found that 78.7% of smallholders had prejudices toward oil palm trimming. While the value of t-count > t-table as a result of the correlation of Spearman Rank states that between the age factor (t-count 2.159 > t-table 1.993), land area (t-count 3.078 > t-table 2.644) and the role of extension workers (t-count 5.626 > t-table 2.644) to the level of attitude of smallholders has a significant relationship. The implications of age, land area and the role of extension workers from the attitude of smallholders determine that oil palm pruning increases sustainable palm oil productivity.