Importance of Transfer of Technology Skills and Human Resource Development Skills in Work Performance of Extension Agent in Sarawak Cocoa Industry

Abstract

Smallholders monopolized the cocoa industry in Sarawak, and it has the biggest cultivated area compared to Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia. Despite possessing a big, cultivated area, the production of cocoa beans in Sarawak still does not meet the expectation set by the Malaysian Cocoa Board (MCB). Extension agents play an important role in transferring technology to smallholders; thus, extension agents should be competent in performing the duty. Transfer of technology (ToT) skills and human resource development (HRD) skills are two primary skills that have been proven to be important in determining the work performance of extension agents. Thus, this study determines the relationship between ToT skills, HRD skills, and the work performance of extension agents in the Sarawak cocoa industry. Stratified random sampling has been employed in this research with 148 respondents to evaluate the performance of extension agents. The data were analyzed using descriptive, correlational, and regression analysis. This research showed that all the skills of ToT and HRD have a positive relationship with work performance. Regression analysis showed that decision-making, social, and technical skills have a significant value of <0.05. The improvement work performance of extension agents in ToT and HRD skills will aid the production of cocoa beans in Sarawak to be improved as expected by MCB. Smallholders will have more access to knowledge, technology, and information related to the cocoa industry, so there is a chance to increase the production of cocoa beans in the region