Comparative profitability of small-scale rice and horticultural farming in South Konawe District of Southeast Sulawesi

Shortages in the national rice supply are attributable to several factors, one of which is crop shift from other crops. This study aimed find out amount net returns farming and horticultural could be reasons for shifting. The respondents were former farmers who had left now grown melon, watermelon, or chili. Data analysed using cost analysis paired sample t-test. results showed that average per farm IDR29,667,325/year, hectare IDR21,181,531/year. For farming, IDR49,309,679/farm/year IDR122,172,194/ha/year. Net production significantly higher than production. Such a significant difference might reason shifting farming. Horticultural provides high income supports local economic growth, but abandoning fields long run may not line with promotion food security both at level.