SUSTAINING FOOD SECURITY: EXAMINING INDIGENOUS MAIZE CULTIVATION DECISION AMONG MADURESE FARMERS
Growing indigenous maize instead of the more expensive hybrid types on the market has been a tradition in Madura for a long time. We aim to analyze how a farmer's socioeconomic status, the added value of indigenous maize varieties, the farmer's economic environment, and motivation will influence the farmer's decision to select indigenous maize varieties and also the farmer's family's food security. We also aim to identify the mediating influence of coping mechanisms on the indigenous maize cultivation decision and the fulfillment of food security. The population in this study consisted of 400 local maize farmers from four districts in Madura. SEM-PLS analysis was employed in this study. The findings of this study indicate that all the external variables affect the indigenous maize cultivation decision, thus the indigenous maize cultivation decision holds great significance in ensuring the fulfillment of their family's food security, whether directly or indirectly via a coping mechanism. The study verifies that Madurese's decision to cultivate local corn is based on tradition and coping mechanisms that ensure food & and economic security.
Indigenous Maize, Cultivation Decision, Economic Environment, Motivation, Coping Mechanism.