AGRICULTURAL DYNAMICS IN WONOREJO VILLAGE, LUMBANG DISTRICT, PASURUAN REGENCY

Abstract

This article examines the survival strategies of highland vegetable farmers in Wonorejo Village, Lumbang Subdistrict, Pasuruan Regency a village located at an elevation of approximately 1,200 meters above sea level in the buffer zone of Mount Bromo, whose economy relies on the cultivation of potatoes, scallions, and cabbage. Unlike most studies of rural agriculture, which take production factors as their starting point, this research begins its analysis with the farmers’ own life experiences, involving 15 informants a mix of active farmers of working age and senior farmers with decades of experience. Using a phenomenological qualitative approach and NVivo 12 Pro for analysis, this study identified six interrelated issues: the distribution of subsidized fertilizer, climate uncertainty, the need for extension services, cost-income pressures, limited market access, and expectations regarding external support. The findings indicate that farmers in Wonorejo occupy the position of “price takers” in a supply chain dominated by middlemen, while facing fertilizer distribution that is often delayed and misdirected. Amid these constraints, a number of farming households that had previously participated in economic capacity-building programs demonstrated far more organized financial management patterns compared to those who had not received such training. This article presents a five-stage adaptation model ranging from climate adaptation to the empowerment of smallholder farmers as a policy framework that can be adopted by village governments and supporting institutions