THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL FACTORS ON PARTNERSHIP PATTERNS BETWEEN GOAT FARMERS AND BULUNGAN MANDIRI FARM: A STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING (SEM) APPROACH

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the influence of social factors on the partnership patterns between goat farmers and Bulungan Mandiri Farm. As the livestock sector grows, effective partnership models become crucial in ensuring sustainability, especially in regions with emerging agricultural economies. Social factors such as trust, communication, social norms, and farmer participation are hypothesized to play a significant role in shaping partnership dynamics. The research employs Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to examine the relationships among variables using data collected from selected goat farmers engaged in partnerships with Bulungan Mandiri Farm. The findings indicate that social factors significantly influence the quality and sustainability of partnerships. Enhanced social interaction and trust between stakeholders are shown to contribute to more effective and mutually beneficial collaboration. The study provides insights for policymakers and practitioners to design more inclusive and sustainable livestock partnership frameworks.

Keywords: Goat farming, social factors, partnership model, Bulungan Mandiri Farm, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), agricultural collaboration, rural development