Factors Affecting Youth Generation Interest on Agricultural Fields (Case Study in Deli Serdang District)

Indonesian agriculture has a serious problem with the decline in interest of the younger generation towards businesses in agriculture, especially food crops. This is shown in a period of 10 years there has been a decline of nearly 15% of farmer households engaged in agriculture (BPS Data 2013), but on the other hand the need for food continues to increase along with the increase in the population of Indonesia. Indonesian agriculture also faces the problem of decreasing the quality of agroecosystems, foreign product competition, productivity and land conversion. Paddy rice cultivation is becoming increasingly less attractive to the younger generation, especially for several years, due to a decline in income levels. The purpose of this study was to understand the factors that influence the interest of young people in rice farming. This research was conducted in Deli Serdang District. Determination of the research location is based on the potential area of rice cultivation. Research methods using linear regression survey and analysis methods. The results of this study indicate that internal and external factors (age, gender, education, marital status, expectations, wide land ownership, socialization and technology) have a significant influence on the interest of the younger generation.