The relationship of the participation of rice farmers in managing water resources to rice production during the Covid 19 pandemic

Rice food security can be realized through increased production of irrigated rice fields. Still, floods and droughts due to extreme weather and the Covid-19 pandemic can threaten food production and security. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the participation of rice farmers in managing water resources on rice production during the Covid-19 pandemic. The study was conducted during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic in South Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province. The research population is all farmers who are members of the water-using farmers’ association, 130 farmers. The sample will be selected using a simple random sampling method for 39 people. Variables of lowland rice farmers’ participation in water resource management include planning, attendance, provision of fees, security and maintenance of water resources and lowland rice farming production. The data were analyzed using Chi-Square analysis. The results of this study indicate that the participation of rice farmers in managing water resources on rice production during the covid 19 pandemic in the form of planning, attendance, procurement of fees, and security in managing water resources is significantly related to lowland rice production during the Covid-19 pandemic so that Partially the higher the participation of farmers in managing water resources can increase the output of lowland rice and the availability of rice is always available to maintain regional food security.