Judul: The level of economic efficiency and competitiveness of maize at dairi district, North Sumatra Province
Abstrak: Dairi District has potential maize farming that will increase maize production. The problem in maize farming is its low productivity because of its low efficiency of input use so that the competitiveness of maize farming is low. The objectives of this research are: (1) analyzing factors influencing maize production, analyzing economic efficiency of maize farm at Dairi District (2) analyzing maize farm competitiveness, (3) analyzing impact of input and output policy in maize farming competitiveness in Dairy District and (4) analyzing economic efficiency of maize farm effect to its competitiveness in Dairy District. The research methods are the Cobb Douglas stochastic frontier production function to analyze technical efficiency, the dual cost function to analyze allocative efficiency and the Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) to analyze maize farm competitiveness. This research used cross section data. The research findings showed that factors like seed and fertilizers (SP-36 and Phonska) were positive and statistically significant on maize production (level of significance at 5 %), urea and herbicide were also positive and significant on maize production (level of significance at 10 %). Meanwhile, labor positive but not significantly affected maize production. The efficiency analysis revealed that the maize farmers had economic inefficiency. The frequency of extension visits was substansial in technical inefficiency and it significantly increased technical efficiency. Maize production in Dairi District as a result from the PAM showed potentially had competitive as well as comparative advantages. PAM analysis also showed that input policies protected maize farmers, but output policy did not protect (help) maize farmers. The effect of efficiency to competitiveness analysis showed that the increase in allocative efficiency will increase the competitiveness of maize.
Keyword: Cobb Douglas stochastic frontier maize production, competitiveness, efficiency, maize farming

Judul: Analisis efisiensi ekonomi dan daya saing usahatani jagung pada lahan kering di Kabupaten Tanah Laut Kalimantan Selatan
Abstrak: South Kalimantan is well known as a province with large area of dryland. This potency can be used in maize farming that will increase national maize production and play an important role as import substitution. One of the major problems in maize farming is its low productivity that might be caused by its low efficiency of input use. The objectives of this research are: (1) analyzing factors influencing maize production and analyzing dryland farming efficiencies, both in technical and allocative, and (2) analyzing dryland maize farming competitiveness in Kabupaten Tanah Laut South Kalimantan, and the efficiency effect to its competitiveness. The Methods used are the stochastic frontier production function and the dual cost function for the first objective, and criterion of private cost ratio (PCR) and domestic resources cost ratio (DRCR) for the second objective. The results show that land, seed, organic fertilizer, P-fertilizer, pesticide, labor and land treatment significantly influence production. Generally, the farmers at research area have been technically efficient but allocatively inefficient. Age, education, experience and membership in farmer union are not significant to technical efficiency rate. The maize commodity in Kabupaten Tanah Laut has competitive and comparative advantages and also able to finance its domestic inputs, both in private and social prices. The increasing of allocative efficiency will increase the competitiveness.
Keyword: 

Judul: Posisi Filogenetik Kura-Kura Carettochelys Insculpta  (Reptillia: Testudinata)
Abstrak: Carettochelys insculpta is an endemic freshwater turtle of southern Papua and northern Australia. Phylogenetic position of this turtle is remain unresolved until now. Most of the research conducted show close relationships of C. insculpta and members of Trionychidae family. However, some of the research show distance between C. insculpta and members of Trionychidae family. This research is conducted to analyze phylogenetic relationship between C. insculpta and other members of Testudinata using 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and both gene as markers. DNA samples were obtained from three different organisms of C. insculpta. Two species used as outgroups were Alligator mississippiensis and Iguana iguana. Phylogenetic analysis was carried out using Neighbor-Joining method with Felsenstein 1981 (F81) modeltest. A polytomy tree of Testudinata was produced by using 12S rRNA gene. However, analysis using 16S rRNA and both genes as markers confirmed that C. insculpta was located between the Chelonidae and the Trionychidae family.
Keyword: