Examining the effect of farm and farmers' characteristics and input allocation on potato production

The objective of this research was to examine the effects of farm and farmers' characteristics, and input allocation on potato production in Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, using binary logistic regression. Primary data were collected through structured interviews with 223 potato farmers. The results showed that variables such as potato seeds, manure, NPK fertilizer, urea fertilizer, insecticide, and watering frequency significantly increased potato production. On the other hand, the use of herbicides and the distance between the farmer's house and the farm negatively affected production. These findings provide essential guidance and valuable insights for anyone seeking practical farm management solutions to boost potato output sustainably. The findings underline the importance of seed, manure, NPK, and urea fertilizers, pesticide applications, and watering frequency in increasing potato production. Based on the research findings, policy recommendations for farmers to improve potato production include increasing the efficiency of input use to optimize yields. Furthermore, there is a need to revise land management policies and adopt new technologies. Further research is needed to investigate technologies that can mitigate the negative impacts of herbicide use, as well as technical solutions to promote the intensification of upland potato farming.