Young generations perceptions of the farmers profession after the conversion of agricultural land into coal mining in Gunung Raja Village, Empat Petulai Dangku District, Muara Enim Regency, South Sumatra Province, Indonesia

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate two key areas of research: (1) the perception of farming among younger generations following the conversion of agricultural land to coal mining land, and (2) the factors that influence this perception. This research was conducted in Gunung Raja Village, Empat Petulai Dangku District, Muara Enim Regency, using a survey method. Sampling was carried out using a simple random sampling technique from the younger generation aged 16 to 30 years, with as many as 560 children of farmers and 402 children of non-farmers, resulting in a sample of 50 people consisting of 25 people each, children of farmers and non-children of farmers. Data were analyzed descriptively using the chi square test and contingency correlation test. The research results show that the younger generation's perception of the farming profession after the conversion of agricultural land to coal mining in Gunung Raja Village is in the medium category, with an index of 68.37%. The factors that influence the perception of the younger generation are internal factors, namely gender and education level, with a weak contingency correlation, and external factors, namely the area of land owned by families and non-agricultural employment opportunities, with a moderate contingency correlation. Based on these results, it can be seen that the presence of coal mining companies does not make the perception of the younger generation towards the farmer profession low.