Kebutuhan dan perilaku pencarian informasi petani gurem: kasus Desa Rowo Kecamatan Kandangan Kabupaten Temanggung

Abstract

Information has a very important role in our efforts to reach goals. It serves to reduce uncertainty, particularly as input to solve problems, make decisions, plan and improve knowledge. The objectives of this study were 1) to identify the peasants’ need for information, 2) to examine the behavior of peasants in seeking information, 3) to find out the constraints faced by the peas ants when they look for information and satisfy the information need. The research used a qualitative approach with a constructivism paradigm. It was found in the research site that despite limited land ownership and natural limitations or constraints, the peasants at Rowo Village did not accept such condition as it is or gave up to the limitations. They kept working hard in cultivating their land to the best of their knowledge and capacity. To keep surviving, apart from working on the field, they did other activities (non-farming). To maintain all of the jobs they were serious engaged in, information had become an important factor. Their need for informations was inseparable from the problems they experience in both farming and non-farming activities. They need not only farming but also non-farming informations. To meet the need for informations, they tried to get information by visiting many sources of information. The information seeking behavior pattern among the peasants were different depending on the information needed, types of farming activities, and types of jobs other than farming activities. However, while seeking information, they faced a number of constraints (personal, interpersonal, and environmental).