Strategi Petani Sutera dalam Memenuhi Kebutuhan Rumah Tangga di Kabupaten Soppeng Sulawesi Selatan:

The Strategy of Silk Farmers in achieving Household Needs in Soppeng District, South Sulawesi

Abstract

Usaha sutera alam pada aspek hulu menghasilkan produk berupa kokon ataupun benang. Produksi kokon ulat sutera petani sangat dipengaruhi oleh banyak faktor antar lain cuaca, ketersediaan pakan ulat sutera, bibit ulat sutera yang bermutu, tenaga kerja dan ruang budidaya yang memenuhi agar mampu menghasilkan kokon yang optimal. Beragamnya faktor pendukung berdampak pada ketidakpastian penghasilan dalam memenuhi kebutuhan rumah tangga sehingga diperlukan strategi dalam memenuhi kebutuhan hidup. Memberikan informasi mengenai strategi penghidupan petani sutera dalam memenuhi kebutuhan hidup yang bermanfaat dalam pengambilan kebijakan pengembangan persuteraan alam merupakan fokus dari tulisan ini. Penelitian dilakukan di Desa Sering, Kecamatan Donri-Donri Kabupaten Soppeng, Provinsi Sulawesi Selatan. Observasi dan wawancara dilakukan terhadap  petani sutera untuk mengumpulkan informasi yang selanjutnya dianalisis secara deskriptif kualitatif. Melalui wawancara diperoleh informasi bahwa pendapatan petani sutera berasal dari penjualan kokon ataupun benang sutera. Pemenuhan kebutuhan pangan (makanan pokok dan air) dan non pangan (energi, air, pendidikan dan kesehatan) dilakukan melalui strategi on farm dan non farm serta mengoptimalkan bantuan dari pemerintah. Untuk itu, diperlukan kegiatan pemberdayaan masyarakat agar kesejahteraan petani sutera dapat lebih meningkat.

Silk cultivation in the upstream aspect produces products in the form of cocoons or silk fiber. The production of silkworm cocoon farmers is highly influenced by many factors, including weather, availability of silkworm feed, quality silkworm seedlings, labor and cultivation space that meet the ability to produce an optimal cocoon. The variety of supporting factors has an impact on income uncertainty in meeting household needs so that a strategy is needed to fulfill life needs. This paper aims to provide information on the strategies for the livelihoods of silk farmers in fulfilling life needs that are useful in policy making for natural female development. The research was conducted in Sering Village, Donri-Donri Sub-District, Soppeng District, South Sulawesi Province. Observations and interviews were conducted on silk farmers to gather information which was then analyzed descriptively qualitatively. Through interviews, information was obtained that the income of silk farmers came from the sale of cocoons or silk thread. Fulfilling food (staple and water) and non-food needs (energy, water, education, and health) are carried out through on-farm and non-farm strategies and optimizing government assistance. For this reason, community empowerment activities are needed so that the welfare of silk farmers can be improved.