PETANI SEJAHTERA: SOLUSI REKAYASA SOSIAL-EKONOMI TERINTEGRASI UNTUK TRANSFORMASI PERTANIAN DI BOJONEGORO”

This dissertation investigates the development of an integrated socio-economic
engineering model aimed at improving the welfare of rice farmers in Bojonegoro
Regency, East Java, Indonesia. The study is motivated by the limited effectiveness of
existing agricultural aid programs—particularly the Farmer Independence Program
(Program Petani Mandiri/PPM)—which have failed to significantly enhance farmer
livelihoods in a sustainable manner. Employing a mixed-methods approach, with a
qualitative-dominant design, the research incorporates both in-depth field interviews
and quantitative data to analyze the social, behavioral, and economic dimensions of
farmer empowerment.
Findings indicate that current policy frameworks, including PPM, focus predominantly
on economic output (e.g., credit access and productivity) while neglecting critical
social variables such as farmer participation, behavioral change, and empowerment.
The absence of measurable success indicators has further hindered program
accountability. In response, this study proposes a four-stage integrated model
consisting of: (1) participatory identification of socio-economic needs, (2) contextdriven

intervention planning, (3) coordinated implementation combining economic
support with social facilitation, and (4) iterative evaluation using both qualitative and
quantitative metrics.
The research concludes that farmer welfare cannot be improved through economic
interventions alone, but requires socially embedded strategies that foster independence,
agency, and long-term resilience. This model offers a conceptual and practical
framework for policymakers and development practitioners to redesign agricultural
empowerment programs with a more holistic and transformative approach.