SOCIAL NETWORK, TRUST, AND COLLECTIVE ACTION OF ACEH FARMERS IN INCREASING WELFARE

This paper reviews the social capital of farmers in Aceh with a focus on three aspects, namely network, trust, and collective action. This research was conducted in Aceh Tamiang District, Central Aceh District, and Pidie Jaya District, in the Aceh Province. This study used a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods. The data in this study were obtained through observation, interviews, documentation, and questionnaires distributed to 300 respondents. Qualitative data were analyzed using descriptive analysis with three stages, namely data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. While quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS. The results of the study show that social capital associated with social networks is outstanding; it is characterized by high community participation in community organizations, reaching 75%. The second social capital is trust. Trust among farmers in Aceh is high, reaching 90%. Social capital associated with collective action is also high, realized by the percentage of about 60%. Therefore, in general, it could be concluded that the social capital of farmers in Aceh is substantial. However, the Aceh poverty rate is still high, which stood at about 15.97% compared to the national average poverty rate of 9.66%. It means that social capital is not always a positive influence on people's welfare.