The impact of the covid-19 pandemic on seaweed farming (case study of seaweed farming in Bone district)

This study aims to examine the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on seaweed farming in Bone District. The source of data used in this study was primary data obtained from questionnaires given to farmers who were respondents as many as 45 people. Farmer analysis was used to see the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on seaweed farming and a comparative test (t-test) to see a comparison of seaweed farmers’ income before and after the covid-19 pandemic. Research shows that the covid-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on seaweed farming activities by decreasing the income obtained by farmers. The t-test results showed a difference in seaweed farming income before and after the covid-19 pandemic, which was IDR 22,186,309. Before the covid-19 pandemic, farmers were able to earn an income of IDR 92,217,465, but after the covid-19 pandemic farmers’ income decreased and they were only able to earn an income of IDR 70,031,156. One of the factors that caused this was the high price of inputs after the covid-19 pandemic.


Introduction
The spread of covid-19 creates uncertain conditions including in terms of economic investment and consumer markets [1].Indonesia also feels losses in terms of the economy due to the impact of covid-19 which almost occurs in all sectors, including the fisheries sector, while this sector has an important role for the Indonesian people.The fisheries sector is an integral and key sector in national development today.The fisheries sector is one of the priorities in dealing with the spread of covid-19 in Indonesia.The fishery business in Indonesia is one of the business sectors with great value.In addition to playing an important role in developed and developing countries, the fisheries sector also employs hundreds of millions of people directly or indirectly [2].
The impact of the covid-19 pandemic on seaweed farming (case study of seaweed farming in Bone district) Seaweed is a leading commodity in South Sulawesi's fisheries with great potential to improve the community's economy.Two dominant types of seaweed were developed through the integration of revitalization programs and regional programs, namely Gracilaria verrucosa and Eucheuma cottoni [3].In addition to its potential, this commodity also has a fairly high market share because most seaweed production is exported in the form of dry logs.Meanwhile, the development of world seaweed demand increases by an average of 5-10 percent per year [4].The average export share of seaweed volume during 2014-2020 was 14.13% of the total fishery export volume.Meanwhile, the export value of seaweed during the 2014-2019 period increased by 6.53% [5].
Bone District is an area affected by the covid-19 pandemic, especially in the seaweed sector.This area is one of the areas in South Sulawesi that has a high potential for seaweed.This area consists of 27 sub-districts and 10 sub-districts of which are located on the coast of Bone Bay with a coastline of 138 km with a water area of 93,929 ha.Data in 2017 showed that the ten sub-districts had produced 3,060 tons of Eucheuma cottoni seaweed/ year [6].Eucheuma cottoni seaweed farming activities in Tanete Riattang Timur District began in 2004.The existence and development of farming cannot be separated from the institutional aspect.Institutional dimensions that can affect the sustainability of farming are farmer group membership, rules in farmer groups, capital loans from cooperative assistance, capital loans from financial institutions (banks or other capital assistance institutions), extension / training activities from agricultural extension workers [7].However, with the covid-19 pandemic, farmers' incomes have decreased compared to before the covid-19 pandemic.This is the background for researchers to further examine the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on seaweed farming in Bone District.

Method
This research was conducted in Tanete Riattang Timur District, Bone District from August to September 2022.Researchers used the stratified random sampling technique.The sample used was 45/150*100% from 6 urban villages.The data analysis used is farm business analysis and comparative test (t-test).Farm business analysis is used to assess the impact of the covdi-19 pandemic on seaweed farming by conducting cost analysis, calculating revenues and income.Meanwhile, the comparative test (t-test) is to see the comparison of the income of seaweed farmers before and after the covid-19 pandemic.Revenue differences were statistically tested using paired sample t-test.

Results and discussion
3.1.Characteristics of seaweed farmers based on farming experience .Farming experience greatly influences farmers in carrying out agricultural activities which can be seen from the results of production.Farmers who have been farming for a long time certainly have high experience, knowledge, and skills in running a farm.  1 shows that 32 people or 71.1% of seaweed farmers have 5-10 years of farming experience, as many as 11 or 24.5% of people have been farming for 11-15 years, and one person or 2.2% each has been farming for 16-20 years and 21-25 years.This shows that the dominant farming experience of seaweed farmers is 5-10 years.Table 2 presents the cost of seaweed farming in Tanete Riattang Timur District, Bone District, which contains variable costs and fixed costs before and after covid-19.Before covid-19 occurred, the fixed costs incurred were IDR.19,614,446 while after covid-19, the fixed costs incurred were IDR.36,551,722.Then for variable costs, before covid-19 the costs used were IDR.97,538,089 while after covid-19 the costs used increased to IDR. 114,396,622.This means that from farming activities before covid-19 and after covid-19 there was an increase in seaweed farming costs, amounting to IDR. 32,847,465.

Acceptance of seaweed farming business.
Revenue in farming is the total income earned by farmers from the sale of products carried out before deducting the costs in the farming business.Revenue can be influenced by several things, such as land area, the amount of production, and the price of the results cultivated.The acceptance of seaweed farmers before the covid-19 pandemic with the acceptance after the covid-19 pandemic is presented in the following table.Table 3 presents data on seaweed farming revenues in Tanete Riattang Timur District, Bone District before and after covid-19 occurred.In the table, it can be seen that the receipt of grass farming before covid-19 was IDR.209,370,000 which was obtained from the total receipt of seaweed before covid-19 with an average production of 6,979 kg at a price of IDR.30,000 / kg so that receipts of IDR.209,370,000 were obtained.
It's different with admissions after covid-19.The production obtained by seaweed farmers decreased from the previous year, which was an average production of 6,646 kg.The selling price of seaweed has increased after covid-19 by IDR.3,250 so that receipts for farmers have also increased even though the amount is not too high.After covid-19, the amount of revenue obtained by farmers is IDR 220,979,500.the comparison of seaweed farming revenues before and after covid-19 occurred, which was IDR.11,609,500.

Seaweed farming income.
Income is an amount of money received after deducting the cost of farming.Income is an important element in doing farming to find out how much value or amount you get.The income of seaweed farming before and after the covid-19 pandemic in Bone District is presented in the following table.The results presented show that the income of farming businesses before the covid-19 pandemic was greater than the income after the covid-19 pandemic.This happens because of the high costs incurred at the time of covid-19.Although the revenue obtained before covid-19 occurred was lower, the costs incurred in farming activities were also relatively low when compared to the costs incurred after the covid-19 pandemic so that the income obtained was higher.

T-test.
The t-test (comparative test) was used to see a comparison of seaweed farming income before and after the covid-19 pandemic in Bone District.This test uses a paired sample t-test.From the hypothesis proposed, it turns out that there are differences in seaweed farming income before and after the covid-19 pandemic in Bone District.The results of the t-test are presented in the following table.

Mean Standard Error
Sig.
Pre-covid-19 revenue 92220798,31 5,47901 0,000 Revenue after covid-19 70041500,71 3,80756 0,000 The difference in income was statistically tested using the paired sample t-test.Based on the results of the t-test, Sig.(2-tailed) 0.000 < 0.05 was obtained.This shows that Ho was rejected and H1 was accepted which means there is a significant difference between the average income of seaweed farming businesses before and after the covid-19 pandemic.The difference in seaweed farming income before and after the covid-19 pandemic was IDR 22,186,309.This shows that the covid-19 pandemic has greatly impacted seaweed farmers with a decrease in the income earned by farmers.

Conclusion
The results of the seaweed farming analysis show that the covid-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on seaweed farming activities in Bone District.After conducting statistical tests, there was a difference in seaweed farming income before and after the covid-19 pandemic, which was IDR 22,186,309.

Table 1 .
Characteristics of seaweed farmers based on farming experience

Table 2 .
Farm cost analysis.Costs in farming are classified into two parts, namely variable costs and fixed costs.Variable costs are costs incurred in agricultural activities and the amount is influenced by the production produced by farmers.While fixed costs are costs incurred by farmers for their agricultural needs but are not influenced by the size of the production produced.Seaweed farm cost

Table 4 . Seaweed farming income Seaweed Farming Income Before Covid-19 No Description Average (IDR)
Table4presents data on seaweed farming income before and after the covid-19 pandemic in Bone District.The total income earned before the covid-19 pandemic was IDR 92,217,465.The result is the difference from the receipt of IDR.209,370,000 with the total cost used of IDR.117,152,535.Meanwhile, the total income obtained after the covid-19 pandemic is IDR 70,031,156 which is the difference from receipts of IDR 220,979,500 with total costs incurred of IDR 150,948,344.