Sustainability study of horticultural development in Mandailing Natal district with RAPFISH-MDS analysis

Mandailing Natal district, the second largest district in North Sumatra Province, has great potential for horticultural development. This study aimed to determine the sustainability level of horticultural development in Mandailing Natal district through 5 dimensions: ecological, economic, social, technological, and institutional. The RAPFISH-MDS analysis method was used to measure the index and sustainability status. The results showed that the criteria for the sustainability of horticultural development in Mandailing Natal district was quite sustainable (52.61) with the sustainability index value of the ecological, institutional, social, economic, and technological dimensions, respectively, 58.06; 56.86; 53.76; 51.99; and 51.08. Sensitive attributes supporting sustainability are erosion rate for the ecological dimension, post-harvest management for the economic dimension, extension intensity for the social dimension, land management technology for the technological dimension, and conflicts between farmer groups for the institutional dimension. The improvement of horticultural sustainability in Mandailing Natal district can be done through strengthening input variables, namely perception of the environment, understanding of eco-friendly technology, minimizing the intensity of conflicts, and increasing stakes variables such as education, extension intensity, and government services.