Comparative Analysis of Paddy and Genjer Farming Incomes and Their Benchmarking Against the Minimum Wage in Mekar Sari Village, Southeast Sulawesi

This study analyzes the income differences between rice paddy farming and genjer (Limnocharis flava) cultivation in Mekar Sari Village, Palangga sub-district, South Konawe Regency (Indonesia), and examines these incomes relative to the district’s minimum wage. A survey of 20 wetland paddy farmers and eight genjer farmers was conducted. Farming costs, revenues, and net incomes were calculated per hectare over one year. An independent samples t-test was used to assess the significance of income differences, and farm incomes were compared to the 2024 South Konawe minimum wage (Upah Minimum Kabupaten, UMK) as a welfare benchmark. Results show that average net income from genjer farming far exceeded that from paddy farming, approximately Rp165.3 million versus Rp21.3 million per hectare per year. This difference was statistically significant. Genjer farmers earned about 2.03 times the local UMK, indicating a substantially better economic welfare level, whereas paddy farmers’ earnings were only about 36% of the UMK, which is insufficient for a decent living standard. The higher genjer income is attributed to more frequent harvest cycles, higher market prices, and intensive cultivation despite greater input costs. These findings highlight the potential of crop diversification into high-value vegetables like genjer to improve rural livelihoods, and suggest that supporting such diversification could enhance smallholders’ income and economic resilience.