Farmer Regeneration and Labor Requirements in Rice Farming: A Case Study of West Denpasar District, Denpasar City, Bali, Indonesia

Farmer regeneration has been recognized as a critical factor in ensuring sustainable agricultural development and preserving ecological and cultural heritage.This study aims to: (i) examine the sociodemographic characteristics of rice farmers, (ii) assess the state of farmer regeneration, and (iii) analyze the labor requirements within the rice farming sector in West Denpasar District, Denpasar City, Bali, Indonesia.A mixedmethod approach was employed, combining structured and in-depth interviews with 187 farmers, selected using the Slovin formula with a 5% margin of error and a 95% confidence level from a population of 352 farmers.Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through interviews and surveys to evaluate the agricultural system and workforce dynamics.The findings indicated that 59.36% of respondents identified farming as their primary occupation.However, a significant majority of their children pursued non-agricultural professions, citing the preference for stable income and professional careers.While most farmers endeavored to instill ecological values and emphasized the cultural significance of rice farming, 74.86% reported that their children had no engagement in agricultural activities.The labor force in rice farming primarily comprised family members supplemented by hired workers, particularly during labor-intensive periods.The employment of external workers was necessitated by extensive landholdings and the operational demands of mechanized and manual farming practices.These findings underscore the importance of addressing generational shifts in farming participation to ensure the sustainability of agricultural productivity and cultural heritage.Farmer regeneration was identified as pivotal to enhancing agricultural output, fostering ecological conservation, and improving community food security, while simultaneously addressing broader socio-economic challenges.