Assessing the Sustainability in Long Pepper (<i>Piper retrofractum Vahl</i>) Cultivation in Bluto District, Sumenep Regency: Multidimensional Scaling Approach.

Abstract Long Pepper ( Piper retrofractum Vahl ) is a leading agricultural commodity on Madura Island that contributes significantly to national and export demand. Despite its great potential, long pepper farming faces challenges threatening its sustainability, such as price fluctuations, limited access to capital, water availability problems, and pest attacks. This study aims to analyze the sustainability of long pepper farming in Madura by paying attention to economic, social, and ecological dimensions. The research methodology uses a quantitative and qualitative approach (mixed method) through an explanatory sequential design. Data was collected from interviews involving 46 farmers in Sumenep Regency. The result showed that the long pepper’s sustainability status for the ecological dimension is less sustainable (46.9), the economic dimension is less sustainable (43.1), and the social dimension is quite sustainable (51.3). The recommendation is to strengthen farmer institutions through the intensiveness of farmer groups and extension, which is also the most significant value of the attribute that affects the dimension.