Evaluating the Impact of Enhancing Farmers' Knowledge, Attitudes, Motivation, and Behavior on Income Growth and Environmental Quality in the Technical Irrigation Areas of South Sulawesi Province

Abstract : This study aims to evaluate the impact of empowerment and training activities on farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, motivation, and behavior in improving income and environmental quality within the technical irrigation areas of South Sulawesi Province. The research was conducted in three key irrigation areas: the Langkeme irrigation area of Soppeng Regency, the Saddang irrigation area of Blonde Regency, and the Bantimurung irrigation area of Maros Regency. The study involved 300 farmer households, selected through systematic random sampling, who participated in training programs on sustainable farming practices, including soil preparation, crop diversification, irrigation management, and the use of environmentally friendly fertilizers and pesticides. The research employed descriptive statistical analysis to assess the farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, motivation, and behaviors before and after the training. Results indicated that after the empowerment program, farmers exhibited a high level of knowledge, as assessed through cognitive, affective, and psychomotor aspects. Similarly, farmers demonstrated a high level of positive attitudes towards increasing income and environmental quality. Both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations were observed to be high, with farmers showing strong internal and external drives to adopt better agricultural practices. Furthermore, the behaviors of farmers, including practices such as soil tillage, plant maintenance, irrigation management, and harvesting, were found to be consistently high in all aspects related to increasing income and enhancing environmental quality.The findings suggest that the training and empowerment activities were successful in improving farmers’ capacity to adopt sustainable farming techniques, thereby increasing both their income and the environmental quality of the irrigation areas. These results are consistent with previous studies indicating that knowledge, attitudes, and behavior form the foundation for sustainable agricultural practices. The study concludes that continuous training and empowerment are crucial for further enhancing the long-term sustainability of farming practices in technical irrigation areas, benefiting both the farmers’ livelihoods and the local environment.