Comparative Analysis Of The Production Cost Efficiency Of Red Onions (Allium Ascalonicium L.) Using Seed And Bulb Propagation In Lobutua Village, Lintong Nihuta Subdistrict, Humbang Hasundutan Regency

Abstract

This study aims to analyze a comparison of the production cost efficiency of shallot farming using seed propagation (True Shallot Seed/TSS) and bulb propagation in Lobutua Village, Lintong Nihuta Subdistrict, Humbang Hasundutan Regency. The study area was selected using a purposive sampling method. The research employed a survey method using a Stratified Random Sampling technique involving 23 respondents, consisting of 10 farmers using true shallot seed (TSS) and 13 farmers using bulb propagation. The data were analyzed through production cost analysis, production cost efficiency, revenue, income analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis.The results showed that the average total production cost of shallot farming using the seed propagation method was lower than that of the bulb propagation method, amounting to IDR 92,238,929 per hectare and IDR 92,796,073 per hectare, respectively. The seed propagation method achieved a production cost efficiency of 0.0094%, while the bulb propagation method recorded 0.0082%, indicating a relatively small difference of 0.0012 percentage points.Furthermore, the average revenue from shallot farming using the True Shallot Seed (TSS) propagation method reached IDR 215,865,000 per hectare, which was considerably higher than its total production cost of IDR 92,238,929 per hectare. Consequently, the net farm income generated from the TSS propagation method amounted to IDR 123,626,072 per hectare for one planting season (four months), equivalent to a monthly net income of IDR 30,906,518 per hectare.In comparison, the average revenue from shallot farming using the bulb propagation method reached IDR 190,381,731 per hectare, which also exceeded its average total production cost of IDR 92,796,073 per hectare, indicating that the farming system remained economically profitable despite generating lower revenue than the TSS propagation method