The effect of infrastructure development on increasing farmers’ income of main agricultural commodities in Serdang Bedagai Regency

Improving the quality and quantity of infrastructure leading to agricultural production centers will increase the economic activities of the community. The more stable infrastructure of agricultural centers will facilitate access to the location, more competitive prices, and more guaranteed quality so that it will increase agricultural production and productivity as well as the income and welfare of the community, especially farmers. The contribution of Serdang Bedagai’s agricultural and plantation sectors is so large that it is only natural that the priority of infrastructure development is the construction of roads and bridges to facilitate the mobility of agricultural products. This study was conducted to provide additional perspectives and references on the importance of infrastructure in improving the welfare and income of rice farmers in Serdang Bedagai regency. This study employs quantitative approaches. The investigation took place within Serdang Bedagai Regency, Sumatera Utara Province by distributing questionnaires to respondents, namely 96 farmers. Respondents were farmers representing 17 sub-districts. The findings indicated that infrastructure development positively and significantly influences the income of farmers producing the main commodities in the Serdang Bedagai area. Furthermore, it is shown that road conditions (X) have an impact of 47.4% on the income (Y) of major commodity farmers in the Serdang Bedagai regency.


Introduction
Drawing from the outcomes of the most recent investigation and report on National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the International Labor Organization (ILO) entitled "Indonesia Critical Constraints", the Availability and Quality of Infrastructure is one of three problems that must be addressed immediately by the government.Improvement and development of access to basic infrastructure services is one of the hopes that the community has the right to obtain and must be carried out by the government.That is why, various government policies contained in the 2019-2023 RPJMN have explained that one of the national development challenges that are considered important from various dimensions and are a priority is infrastructure development.Accelerating economic growth requires additional quantity and improvement in infrastructure quality.Agricultural revitalization is unlikely to succeed without adequate infrastructure, given that marketing costs are increasingly dominant in the final cost structure of an agricultural commodity.Environmental problems such as water, air, and soil pollution, or flooding in urban environments are strongly associated with the absence of adequate infrastructure.Although IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1302/1/012138 2 spending on infrastructure has increased, infrastructure gaps are still evident, both at the national and interregional levels.Therefore, basic infrastructure development must be a development priority.
According to [1], development is the systematic progression in which an increasing number of individuals within a specific region or community engage in the creation and execution of socially conscious choices, resulting in improved opportunities for certain individuals without diminishing opportunities for others.Development entails the construction of dynamic and enduring communities founded on principles of social justice and mutual respect [2].There are seven characteristics of development, namely First, the development of sustainable activities; Second, development is consciously determined as something to be carried out; Third, is carried out in a planned manner; Fourth, development plans contain the meaning of growth and change; Fifth, development leads to modernity; Sixth, modernity is achieved through various development activities definition is multidimensional; and Seventh development is aimed at nation-building efforts.
Infrastructure development is a key component of boosting economic growth since it may provide new employment, eliminate poverty, and raise per capita income.Inclusive growth is a component of sustainable economic growth, as defined by the global agreement on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is defined as economic growth that may generate equity, eliminate poverty and unemployment, and promote faster economic growth.Infrastructure development in the Serdang Bedagai regency is favorable.Statistical data in 2019 shows the length of roads in Serdang Bedagai Regency is 1,561.29 kilometers consisting of 105 kilometers of national roads, 152.1 kilometers of provincial roads, and 1,561.29 kilometers of Serdang Bedagai Regency roads with 824.38 kilometers of paved road surface types, 622.69 kilometers of gravel roads and 144.25 kilometers of dirt roads.Statistical data from 2012 to 2017 shows an average of 49.76 percent of road surface damage in Serdang Bedagai Regency spread across 17 regencys and 6 villages.Increasing infrastructure, both quality, and quantity, towards agricultural production centers and tourism destinations will increase community economic activities.The more stable infrastructure of agricultural centers will facilitate access to locations, more competitive prices, and more guaranteed quality so that it will increase agricultural production and productivity as well as income and welfare of the community, especially farmers.Likewise, tourist destinations will increase tourist visits which will have an impact on increasing Regional Original Income (PAD) and community economic activities.With the increase in tourist visits, MSMEs are expected to improve product quality and digital market marketing.
Infrastructure acts as a support in the economic system and social systems and connects to the community environment.The availability of infrastructure can help and facilitate people's lives both in economic and social terms.In terms of the economy, infrastructure can help absorb labor for people who have not or are looking for work and can attract investors to invest so that they can increase economic growth.Meanwhile, from a social perspective, infrastructure can improve community welfare through job opportunities provided by infrastructure.
According to [3], an economy that is well-industrialized is anticipated to possess sufficient infrastructure that will favourably influence the economic sector pertaining to industry, namely regarded as a catalyst for economic expansion.Infrastructure in this case includes roads, bridges, and sewer systems.As per the Presidential Regulation of Indonesia, number 38 of 2015, article 1 paragraph 4 Infrastructure encompasses the technical, physical, system, hardware, and software facilities necessary to deliver services to the community and facilitate network structures essential for the successful economic and social advancement of the community.Infrastructure is a critical complement to private investment because it reduces freight costs and boosts trade volume, and it is a key factor in long-term growth.Social overhead capital is defined as infrastructure.In contrast to capital, which has a direct impact on industrial activities, infrastructure growth boosts not just the stock of capital but also economic productivity and people's standard of life [4].
Various infrastructure development policies that have been and are being carried out by the Government of Serdang Bedagai Regency include: 1. Construction of Karang Tengah -Bajaronggi Road. 2. Sialang Buah Tourism Bridge.The infrastructure development is to facilitate access to Serdang Bedagai's mainstay agricultural product-producing centers such as rice and other agricultural products.Serdang Bedagai Regency which consists of 17 sub-districts produces various agricultural and plantation commodities.These two commodities are the largest contributors to the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of the Serdang Bedagai regency.The contribution of the agricultural and plantation sector to the GDP of Serdang Bedagai Regency in 2019-2022 shows an average value of 40%.Rice, corn, cassava, sweet potato, peanuts, soybeans, and mung beans are examples of agricultural commodities, whereas cocoa, coconut, rubber, and palm oil are examples of plantation commodities.The contribution of the Serdang Bedagai agricultural and plantation sector is very large so it is very natural that the priority of infrastructure development is the construction of roads and bridges to facilitate the mobility of agricultural products.
Road infrastructure serves as an engine for economic growth not just in cities but also in rural and isolated locations.The infrastructure industry may produce employment that consumes a large amount of labor through projects.Furthermore, infrastructure is a pillar that determines the free flow of products, services, people, money, and information from one market zone to the next.This circumstance will allow the price of products and services to fall, allowing them to be purchased by the majority of Indonesians whose income is still modest.As a result, the flow of products, services, people, money, and information dictates market price movements; in other words, road infrastructure neutralizes the price of commodities and services between areas (between cities and villages).Improving the quality and quantity of roads can boost the attractiveness of investment.Increased investment will boost development, which will affect employment both during and after development.
The Directorate General of Highways as a government agency has the task of providing infrastructure and infrastructure facilities for roads and bridges in Indonesia under the government department responsible for public works and housing, The regulation of the role of roads in Indonesia is outlined in Law No. 38 of 2004.The content of the law is described as follows: 1.It plays a vital role in the economy, society and culture, defense and security, and the environment as part of the transportation infrastructure, and it must be exploited to maximize people's prosperity.2. Infrastructure for the delivery of goods and services is the lifeblood of the country and state's citizens.3. The road network system, as a whole, connects the whole Republic of Indonesia.
Road Condition Indicators can be formulated as follows: 1. Road sections by national road standards.As one of the regencys dubbed as the rice granary area in Sumatera Utara, the agricultural sector contributes the most to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in encouraging Serdang Bedagai's economic growth.Most of the population also makes a living in the agricultural sector, especially in rice crop farming.The National Medium-Term Development Plan that to realize food sovereignty and what is stated in the second goal in the Sustainable Development Goals, namely "zero hunger", massive research on food crop farming is needed more accurately to support the government program.
Infrastructure is crucial in driving economic growth, particularly in the agriculture industry.The availability of infrastructure in states could impact expanding public access to existing resources, enhancing productivity and fostering economic growth.[5].The greater the investment given the economic impact that arises will increase.Many studies examine the direct influence of infrastructure on community welfare where the majority of research results show that infrastructure affects the welfare of the community, especially farmers ([6], [7], [8], [9], [10]).
Income is money earned over a specific period.As a result, income might be read as total income or as an improvement in one's ability to consume and save.This revenue is utilized to meet basic demands and to achieve happiness [10].Personal income is money obtained by non-corporate households and enterprises.Individual income also decreases business income tax and social benefit contributions.In economics, income is defined as the static value at the end of a period, considering the potential changes in several aspects beyond only the total assets of the business organization at the start of the period.[11].Income is one of the most important economic factors for farmers.The income level of farmers is the capital for farmers in farming.The level of income can show the ability of farmers to manage their farms.
Income indicators are classified into three groups [12] namely: 1.The necessities of life.2. As expected.3. Savings and Investment.4. Increased Revenue. 5. Yield.This research was conducted to provide additional perspectives and references on the importance of infrastructure in improving the welfare and income of rice farmers in the Serdang Bedagai Regency.This research is important because Serdang Bedagai is a Provincial Rice Granary Area not only successfully meeting rice needs in Serdang Bedagai regency but also has sent rice production to other regions in Sumatera Utara.

Methods
The researchers employed quantitative methodologies in their investigation.Quantitative research methods, grounded in the positivist paradigm, are employed to analyze specific populations or samples.Typically, random sampling strategies are employed, data is collected using research tools, and quantitative/statistical data analysis is conducted to test predetermined hypotheses [13].The study took place in the Serdang Bedagai regency, located in the Sumatera Utara province by distributing questionnaires to respondents, namely 96 farmers.Respondents were farmers representing 17 subdistricts.
In conducting research, researchers use Likert scales which are useful for measuring attitudes, opinions, influences, as well as influences and perceptions about social phenomena [14].The Likert scale is employed for gauging respondents' responses in distributed questionnaires, offering alternative answers.Data analysis involves validating and ensuring reliability, followed by testing classical assumptions to verify variables.Hypothesis testing is then conducted to ascertain the validity of hypotheses in this study.

Normality test
As per the results of the study, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test yielded a value of 0.200.This value exceeds the specified threshold of 0.05, indicating that the data is considered to be normally distributed according to the test requirements.Consequently, the data obtained in this study conforms to the assumptions of normality in the normality test.

Simple linear regression analysis
Derived from the results of the regression test, the formulation of the basic linear regression analysis model utilized in this study is expressed as follows: The simple linear regression equation mentioned earlier can be elucidated through the outcomes of the corresponding simple linear regression test presented in the aforementioned table : 1.Since the constant coefficient is 15.288, and the independent variable, Road Conditions (X), is 0, the resulting value of Income (Y) is 15.288.2. With a regression coefficient of 0.806 assigned to Road Conditions (X), it implies that for each unit increment in X, the Income (Y) variable rises by 0.806.A positive coefficient signifies a positive correlation between Road Conditions (X) and Income (Y), indicating that as the value of X increases, so does the value of Y.

Partial test (T test)
Having degrees of freedom (df) equal to n -k, where n is 96 and k is 3, resulting in df = 93, and applying a significance level of 5% or 0.05 for a two-tailed test, a t-table value of 1.985 can be obtained.The results of the partial significance test (T-test) are as follows: According to the T-test results presented in the above table, the t-count value for the relationship between Road Condition (X) and Income (Y) is 9.216, which is greater than the critical value of 1.985 at a significance level of 0.05.Additionally, the regression coefficient is 0.806.These findings indicate a positive and significant impact of Road Condition (X) on Income (Y).Thus, based on this evidence, Ha1 is accepted.

Test coefficient of determination (R 2 )
According to the findings of the following study: 1.An obtained correlation coefficient (R) of 0.693 signifies a 69.3% correlation between Road Conditions (X) and Income (Y), categorizing the relationship between these variables as close.
2. The Adjusted R Square, with a value of 0.474, or the coefficient of determination, suggests that 47.4% of the variation in the variable Income (Y) can be explained by the variable Road Conditions (X), while the remaining 52.6% is influenced by factors not considered in this study model.Infrastructure development is one of the efforts that can be done to increase the income of farmers of major commodities in the Serdang Bedagai Regency.Good infrastructure can make it easier for farmers to access markets, get production inputs, and market their crops.This can increase production efficiency and farmers' income.A good bridge can facilitate farmers' access to the market.This is important because most farmers in Serdang Bedagai Regency are located in remote areas.Good irrigation can provide water for agriculture.This is important because most areas in Serdang Bedagai Regency have a dry tropical climate.The agricultural extension can provide farmers with information about the latest agricultural technology.This can help farmers to increase their productivity and production efficiency.Furthermore, local governments can form agricultural cooperatives that can help farmers to market their crops.This is important because farmers can sell their crops at higher prices through agricultural cooperatives.
Based on data from the Agriculture Office of Serdang Bedagai Regency, the income of rice farmers in Serdang Bedagai Regency increased from Rp10 million per hectare in 2019 to Rp15 million per hectare in 2023.This increase in income is due to several factors, including the development of road and irrigation infrastructure.Road construction makes it easier for farmers to bring their harvest to the market, while irrigation construction increases rice productivity.This can improve agricultural productivity and efficiency as well as increase farmers' income.
Infrastructure development has various effects on farmers' income, including in Serdang Bedagai.However, it is important to note that the impact may vary depending on the type of infrastructure built, the quality of project implementation, and several other factors.It is important to note that the impact of these infrastructure developments will depend on several factors, including implementation, farmer participation, and government policy support.In addition, changes in farmers' income may also be affected by other economic and social factors.
According to [15], the primary factors affecting agricultural productivity are agricultural infrastructure and institutions.Targeting efforts at zones of excellence such as the agricultural sector will result in where projects achieving greater results [16].This study demonstrates that the variable Road Condition (X) exerts a positive and significant impact on the variable Income (Y).

Conclusions
The study and discussion led to the following conclusions: The test results for the Road Condition (X) variable versus Income (Y) revealed a t-count value of 9.216, exceeding the critical value of 1.985 at a significance level of 0.05, and a regression coefficient of 0.806.This indicates a positive and substantial impact of Road Condition (X) on Income (Y), leading to the acceptance of Ha1.The correlation coefficient (R) of 0.693 signifies a close association, amounting to 69.3%, between Road Conditions (X) and Income (Y).Additionally, the Adjusted R Square value of 0.474 indicates that 47.4% of the variation in Income (Y) can be explained by the Road Conditions (X) variable, with the remaining 52.6% influenced by external factors not considered in the study model.The study also underscores the significant influence of infrastructure development on increasing the income of farmers engaged in major agricultural commodities in Serdang Bedagai Regency.Infrastructure development can improve farmers' access to markets, raw materials, and agricultural technology.This can increase the efficiency of agricultural production and farmer productivity.
The findings of this study have revealed several aspects that we must collectively acknowledge, indicating that the main commodity farmers in the Serdang Bedagai regency experienced a decrease in income along with the lack of infrastructure development that occurred in the area.Local governments should pay more attention to good infrastructure development that can increase farmers' incomes and can reduce rural poverty.The government must continue to improve infrastructure development in rural areas to improve the welfare of farmers.With good infrastructure development, Serdang Bedagai Regency can become one of the advanced agricultural-producing regions in Indonesia.

2 .
Street lighting by standards.3. Roads and Bridges have signs.4. Durability of Roads and Bridges.

Table 2 .
Simple linear regression analysis.

Table 4 .
Test coefficient of determination (R 2 ).Discussion From the examined data, it is evident that all statements contained in the independent variable, namely Road Conditions (X), and the dependent variable, namely Income (Y), are valid and reliable so that they can be used in this study.Based on the four indicators on the independent variable, 8 statements were obtained.The most influencing indicators are Road Sections by National Road Standards and Street Lighting by Standards.