The Impact of Shift of Agricultural Land Functions on Social and Economic Life of Farmers in Nusa Tenggara Timur Province Indonesia

Abstract

The present article is about the impact of agricultural land function shift on the Socio-Economic Life of Farmers in Nusa Tenggara Timur Province Indonesia. This means agricultural lands shifts to non-farmers. To obtain the data is by observation and open interview to ricefields farmers in three research locations purposely selected, i.e. Noelbaki and Oesao in Kupang regency and Waikomo in Lembata regency. The research reports that only 4,27% of the 117 total farmers interviewed experience good economy condition because the agricultural land shift. This means that they have enough capitals to create new business. This result recommends the strict regulationsand integrated controlby the goverment to maintain the main functions of agricultural land that is to grow rice and others for the farmers’ economic needs.