Quantifying the synergistic effects of social and human capital in farmers' decisions to adopt organic rice farming: A case study of Lombok Kulon village, Indonesia

Abstract

The adoption of organic farming practices is critical for achieving sustainable agriculture, yet it faces barriers such as resource limitations, market access, and farmer empowerment. This study employs data from 100 farmer households to quantify how social and human capital jointly shape decisions to adopt organic rice farming in Lombok Kulon Village, Indonesia. By addressing a gap in existing literature—which often treats these factors separately—this research clarifies that trust, social networks, and reciprocity (social capital) interact synergistically with education, skills, and experience (human capital) to influence adoption. Using a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, interviews, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the research identifies trust, social networks, and norm as pivotal dimensions of social capital. The results showed that the R² value of 0.620 of the organic rice farming adoption decision also the role of human capital (path coefficient 0.566) was greater than social capital (path coefficient 0.328) but still could form a good model. Human capital not only exerts a strong direct influence but also amplifies the effect of social capital on adoption decisions. In turn, these findings reveal that policy measures integrating both forms of capital can effectively promote organic farming, advance environmental goals through reduced chemical inputs, and contribute to Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). By providing contextualized insights on resource-constrained environments, this study offers practical recommendations for policymakers, extension agents, and NGOs to foster responsible consumption and enhance food security through organic rice.