Performance Of Extension Agents Research Articles

Performance of agricultural extension agents in Indonesia: evidence from a nationally representative survey

ABSTRACT Purpose This study analyses the performance of field extension agents in Indonesia using a multi-dimensional performance indicator. Methodology The study uses data from an online survey of a nationally representative sample of 1,974 field extension agents. Binary and ordinal probit models are utilised to analyse the performance of extension agents and the factors influencing it based on a multi-dimensional measurement of performance. Findings and practical implications Improved performance is associated with increased career progression, availability of external funds, the opportunity to collaborate, involvement in government programs, implementation of disciplinary measures and a diversified use of advisory methods. To promote performance, the government should encourage and improve the institutional arrangements. Theoretical implications This study introduces a multidimensional measurement that covers timeliness, targeting and content dimensions while capturing both the institutional arrangement and demographic characteristics in explaining performance. Originality/value This study introduces an online survey for extension agents that encompasses a nationally representative sample, thereby demonstrating this cost effective approach designed for rapid data collection and facilitating the measurement of performance during unforeseen events, such as the Covid-19 pandemic. Its broad applicability allows for a thorough analysis of agricultural extension agents’ performance in a variety of contexts.

PERCEPTION OF POULTRY FARMERS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF EXTENSION SERVICE DELIVERY IN WESTERN ZONE OF BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

The study assessed the perception of poultry farmers on the performance of extension agents on service delivery in western agricultural zone of Bauchi State, Nigeria. Four out of seven local governments areas with high concentration of poultry farmers were purposively selected. The data were collected from 120 poultry farmers using structured questionnaire. The data obtained were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results of the study showed that 78.3% of the respondents were married with 72.5% female and having mean age of 35.5. Majority (70%) have farm size below 200 birds, 82.5% of respondents had one form of formal education or the other. About 47% of the respondents had between 6-10years farming experience with 65% of them operating poultry farming as secondary occupation. The study established that the extension agents were perceived by the farmers having adequate knowledge of subject matters (mean = 4.26), good communication skills (mean = 4.45). The result of regression analysis showed that all the predictors yielded significant beta weights with their varied t-values which were all statistically significant (P<0.05) except education level. Age and sex of the respondents had negative but significant effect (P<0.01) on the perceived effectiveness. Based on this study, it was concluded that the extension service delivery in the zone was effective. The recommendation made was that more extension staff should be employed and deployed to poultry production areas.

Kinerja Penyuluh Pertanian Lapangan di Kecamatan Kotabunan Kabupaten Bolaang Mongondow Timur

This research aims to: 1). Knowing the internal factors and external factors agricultural field extension, 2). Knowing the performance of field agricultural extension in Kotabunan District, East Bolaang Mongondow Regency. This research was conducted from October to November 2022. The sampling method was purposive sampling. This research used primary data obtained through interviews and observation and secondary data obtained from books, previous research and BPS of Kotabunan District. The data obtained is presented in tabular form and then analyzed descriptively. Category determination is obtained based an assessment or score with the measurement method used is the Likert scale. The results of the study show that the internal factors that support are the extension workers are still in the productive age, some extension workers have a formal undergraduate education indicating that the human resources of the extension workers are quite good, most of the extension workers have enough years of work/work experience and all extension workers have attended training. The external factors that support the availability of sufficient facilities, infrastructure and information to make it easier for extension agents to carry out extension activities, good extension intensity can increase cooperative relations between farmers and a supportive reward system can increase enthusiasm and motivation for extension workers to work. The performance of field agricultural extension in Kotabunan District, East Bolaang Mongondow Regency is in the very good category. Performance indicators that show very good results include the preparation of extension programs, the availability of regional map data according to commodity zoning, the preparation of agricultural extension work plans in each work area, the dissemination of agricultural technology information evenly, and the growth and development of farmer empowerment and independence. The performance of extension agents that showed poor results was the realization of business partnerships between farmers and entrepreneurs and the realization of farmers' access to financial institutions.

Tingkat Keberhasilan Kinerja Penyuluh dalam Meningkatkan Sumberdaya Petani Padi Sawah di Desa Tanah Poleang, Kecamatan Poleang Utara

This research was carried out from August to December 2021 in Tanah Poleang Village, North Poleang District, Bombana Regency and the location selection was determined purposively (purposive). This study aims to analyze the performance of extension workers and the level of success of extension workers in increasing the resources of lowland rice farmers. This study uses quantitative methods with the support of qualitative descriptive analysis data. The results showed that the performance of extension workers in increasing the resources of paddy rice farmers in Tanah Poleang Village was good in terms of responsiveness (56.25%), responsibility (59.38%), accountability (46.88%), and quality of service (50. 00%.) as a whole is in the medium category. The success rate of the performance of extension agents in increasing the resources of paddy rice farmers in Tanah Poleang Village based on the knowledge, attitudes and skills of farmers shows that each produces a percentage in each category for farmer knowledge getting a value of 53.13% in the high category, farmers' attitudes get a value 40.6% in the medium category and based on the skill of the farmer getting a score of 50.00% in the medium category.

Role performance of extension agents in post harvest activities of rice in southwestern Nigeria

Role performance of extension agents in post harvest activities of rice in southwestern Nigeria

Peer effects in agricultural extension: Evidence from community knowledge workers in rural Uganda

Peer effects are increasingly important in agricultural development through social learning and technology adoption among smallholder farmers in rural communities. In sub-Saharan Africa, peer effects can enhance rural development by improving the performance of rural extension workers, and thereby facilitate the diffusion of innovations among smallholder farmers. Yet, analyses of peer effects in the performance of extension agents remain limited. We respond to this knowledge gap by estimating peer effects in the performance of community knowledge workers (CKWs) who utilize smartphones to provide extension services in rural Uganda. We apply spatial econometric analysis to administrative data on the monthly performance of 650 CKWs across 13 Ugandan districts in 2011 (performance being measured by the amount of information provided in response to farmers’ requests). We found positive and statistically significant effects of the performance of the peers of CKWs on their respective performance by 49%. The result suggests that policy makers and development practitioners can utilize peer effects among rural extension agents like CKWs to improve the delivery of agricultural extension and advisory services and thereby, enhance agricultural growth and rural development in Uganda and similar contexts elsewhere.

Incentives to Improve Government Agricultural Extension Agent Performance: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Bangladesh

Previous articleNext article No AccessIncentives to Improve Government Extension Agent Performance: A Randomized Controlled Trial in BangladeshMd. Rajibul Alam and Yoko KijimaMd. Rajibul Alam Search for more articles by this author and Yoko Kijima Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Economic Development and Cultural Change Just Accepted Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/723492 Views: 38Total views on this site HistoryAccepted November 15, 2022 PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

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

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

Work Performance of Extension Agents: Skills of Transfer of Technology and Human Resource Development in Cocoa Industry

Transfer of technology (ToT) and human resource development (HRD) are essential components to acknowledge extension agents’ performance. Understanding the foundations and implications of ToT and HRD is vital for improving agriculture extension agents in research and extension programmes. This study was designed to determine extension agents’ ToT and HRD skills to explain the work performance of Malaysian Cocoa Board (MCB) extension agents in East Malaysia. A total of 315 productive cocoa farmers exposed to the extension activities for a minimum of five years and had attended two basic training from the agency were selected to answer the questionnaire within a month. The researcher applied Krejie and Morgan formula to determine the sample size based on the population using stratified random sampling. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression and Pearson correlation analysis. Results showed a positive and moderate relationship between ToT and HRD towards work performance. However, from the six variables tested, only three variables were significant towards work performance, namely technical skill (p=0.000), leadership skill (p=0.015) and decision-making skill (p=0.000). Therefore, the extension agents’ skills must be strengthened, their working knowledge updated, and new concepts for developing agriculture that can fulfil complicated demand patterns, reduce poverty and pressure and increase productivity must be developed. This study also strengthens the iceberg model by adding six characteristics of skills in extension agents. The outcomes would contribute to the policymakers and MCB’s management in elevating the extension agents’ performance through training and developing ToT and HRD.

Extension Agent Performance Level in Granary Areas, Malaysia as Perceived by Farmers

The consumption of rice in Malaysia are increasing and highly. However, Malaysia’s food self-sufficiency and security are under threat as the adoption and application level of the rice check technology among farmers still require development. This study was done in advance to avoid weak performance at new granary would be just the same as the old granary. This research was aim to determine the level of planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation (IVs) and work performance (DV) of extension agents in granary areas of Malaysia. The data were collected using quantitative research method. Cluster sampling technique was used to meet 542 respondents from granary areas; IADA KETARA,IADA Seberang Perak, IADA Rompin and IADA Pekan. The data were analysed using SPSS to determine the level of planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation and work performance of extension agents in granary areas of Malaysia. The finding of this research proved that the level of planning is high while, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of extension agents in both granary areas are in a moderate level. This means that improvement of planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation will improve the work performance. As a result, in order to improve work performance, extension programmes in granary areas should focus on these three variables. Modules and training should be offered to strengthen the capacity of extension agents in technology transfer in order to realise maximum output potential from both granaries.

Enhancing Work Performance of Extension Agents among Cocoa Farmers in Malaysia: The Influence of Human Resource Development Skills

This study examines the relationships between human resource development skills (leadership, decision making support, and social skills) with the work performance of extension agents among cocoa farmers in Malaysia. The study used stratified sampling technique to select 668 cocoa farmers who were exposed to extension programs facilitated by extension agents of the Malaysian Cocoa Board in 3 regions of Malaysia. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analyses. The results show that cocoa farmers rated level of work performance, leadership, decision making support, and social skills as high. Significant and positive correlation (p < 0.01) existed between each variable and work performance. Regression analysis results showed that leadership skill, decision making support skill, and social skill were significant predictors to enhance work performance. The R2 value of 0.564 indicates that the 3 skills gave 56.4 % explanation of the variance in extension agents’ work performance. The results also suggested that decision making support skill (β = 0.321) was the most important factor that influenced work performance, followed by leadership skill and social skill. Hence, decision making support skill, leadership skill, and social skill should be taken into consideration in enhancing work performance, especially among farmers and the extension agents who work with them, for continuous performance improvement in their work. The skills that have been identified in this study can be integrated into both the pre-service and in-service training and development of extension agents in their line of work to improve their skills in sharing new technology.

IMPROVED PERFORMANCE OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AGENTS WITH INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITIES AND TRAINING THROUGH JOB SATISFACTION

The research aims to find out whether there is any significant correlation between infrastructural facilities, training, and performance of agricultural extension agents, mediated by job satisfaction in the Agricultural Extension Office in Malang Raya. This research used a qualitative method. The data was collected using a questionnaire, and the technique used in taking the sample was saturation sampling. The sample comprised all agricultural extension agents who were also civil servants, who had working experience of a minimum of one year, and worked at the district-level agricultural extension office in Malang. The total respondents were 145 people. The data analysis was conducted using Partial Least Square (PLS) Method by employing the 3.0 SmartPLS program. The research results showed that all the hypotheses put forward were corroborated except the one dealing with infrastructural facilities. Infrastructural facilities did not have a significant effect on job satisfaction because their availability had not been considerably capitalized on in carrying out the agricultural extension. Besides, it was found that job satisfaction did not mediate the influence of infrastructure on the performance of the extension agents. Recommendations for research in the future on similar topics may use an additional comparison between the satisfaction of expert and skilled agricultural extension agents, and the research method may be developed using qualitative methods.

Transfer of Technology (Tot) Skills Factors Contributing to Work Performance Among Extension Agents in Malaysian Cocoa Board, Peninsular Malaysia

The main function of agricultural extensionists is to facilitate learning and disseminate new knowledge and technologies through non-formal educational settings. This will lead to improved agricultural productivity and increase farmers’ income. In the lens of the cocoa production scenario in Malaysia, it used to be a popular crop as this sector became the third-largest producer in the world since the 1980s, however that has changed over the years. Despite the reduced size of land use and the dropping production of cocoa over the past decades, exports of cocoa beans and cocoa products are growing steadily each year. Thus, with the overwhelming demand for Malaysian chocolate products from other regions, cocoa production should be boosted and not overlooked. Transfer of Technology (ToT) can be seen as the main catalyst that can improve farmers’ performance through extension agent capabilities, this study will determine the factors of ToT skills that contribute to the work performance of extension agents in the Malaysian Cocoa Board (MCB). A total of 353 productive cocoa farmers were employed in this study to evaluate the work performance of extension agents using a structured questionnaire. The data was analysed using descriptive and regression analyses. The results indicated that all the ToT skills (technical skill, technology delivery skill, and evaluation skill) are significant (p < 0.05) towards the work performance of extension agents. The R2 value of 0.520 implies that the three contributors explain about 52% of the variance in the work performance in this study. Hence, this shows the importance of ToT skills in improving the work performance of extension agents, particularly in the MCB and cocoa industry in Malaysia.

KINERJA PENYULUH PERTANIAN DALAM PENGEMBANGAN SUMBERDAYA MANUSIA PETANI DI DESA TOUNELET KECAMATAN SONDER

The purpose of this study is to describe the Performance of Agricultural Extension in the Development of Farmer Human Resources. This research was conducted in Tounelet Village, Sonder District, Minahasa District for 3 (three) months conducted in April to June 2018. Primary data was obtained directly from interviews with farmers, extension agents, agriculture, fisheries and forestry (BP3K) sub-districts of Sonder using questionnaires. Secondary data was obtained from the local government and the Sonder District Agricultural, Fisheries and Forestry Extension Agency (BP3K), there were books available at local bookstores and the internet through the Google search engine, Google Scholar to access scientific journal articles and thesis related to the topic of this research as well as various information about the performance of extension agents for the development of farmers' human resources and assessment of the performance of extension agents. The results showed that the performance value of agricultural extension agents, according to the criteria of Ruky (2001), reached 517, which meant that the performance of extension agents was sufficient.*erprm*

Impact of application of law no 16/2006 about fisheries and forestry agricultural extension system toward to performance of agricultural extension workers

This study aims to analyze the relationship of knowledge, attitudes, skills, and characteristics with the motivation and performance of agricultural extension workers after implementing Law No. 16 of 2006. The research location was determined purposively. Sampling uses the stratified quota method. The data collection method is direct and in-depth interviews, observation and documentation. The results of the study showed that the average motivation and performance of agricultural extension workers were in the medium category. Knowledge, attitudes, characteristics, and skills of agricultural extension workers in Tabanan Regency proved to have a significant positive effect on instructor motivation and performance. Knowledge, attitudes, and skills of agricultural extension workers in Gianyar Regency proved to have a real positive effect on motivation and performance. The motivation and performance of extension agents in Gianyar and Tabanan Districts are mostly in the moderate category. The motivation of agricultural instructors in Tabanan has a very significant positive effect on the performance of extension agents, while the motivation of agricultural extension agents in Gianyar Regency has a significantly positive relationship to performance.

EFEKTIVITAS KINERJA PENYULUHAN TERHADAP PELAKSANAAN PENYULUHAN TENTANG PERATURAN MENTERI-KELAUTAN PERIKANAN NOMOR 56/PERMEN-KP/2016 DI DESA MUARA BADAK ILIR KECAMATAN MUARA BADAK KABUPATEN KUTAI KARTANEGARA

This study was conducted for 6 months. It was started from October 2018 until March 2019. The purpose of this study was to find out whether the elucidation has been effective implemented the performance in prohibition of catch the Crab (scyllaseratta) in Muara Badak village. This study also was to find out the problems was faced by the investigator related to the prohibition policy of the crab with certain measure and the female who laid the eggs in the study location. The sampling method in this study was census method. The data was analysed with descriptive quantitative method with the Likert- Scale based on the answer from 24 questions to measure the effectiveness of investigator’s performance toward the implementation of elucidation about PERMEN-KP NOMOR 56/PERMEN-KP/2016 with the total 50 respondents. This study used Quantity of Work, Quality of Work, Job Knowledge, Creativenes, Cooporation, Dependability, Initiative, Personal Qualities as the indicators of investigator’s performance. 
 The findings of the study showed that the effectiveness of investigator’s performance toward the implementation of elucidation about PERMEN-KP NOMOR 56/PERMEN-KP/2016 partially based on the indicators of Quantity of Work with the score 5,34 Job Knoeledgewith the score 6,46, Cooporation with the score 5,12, Initiativewith the score 5,38, Personal Qualitieswith the score 6,5 was in average category. Overall the indicators were in average category with the score 39,86. Thus the performance of extension agents in Muara Badak ilir Village, Muara Badak Subdistrict, Kutai Kartanegara Regency is said to not be good enough in carrying out its duties as a socialization of the PERMEN-KP NOMOR56 / PERMEN-KP2016

PENGARUH KINERJA PENYULUH PERTANIAN TERHADAP PERILAKU PETANI PADA PENERAPAN TANAM JARWO 2:1 DI KECAMATAN BANJARANGKAN KABUPATEN KLUNGKUNG

ABSTRACT
 Banjarangkan District, Klungkung received the GP-PTT program with assemblies of Jajar Legowo 2: 1 planting technology where agricultural extension agents were the spearhead of program implementation. This study aims to: (1) determine the performance of agricultural extension workers according to farmers, (2) analyze the influence of extension workers' performance and farmer characteristics on farmer's behavior, (3) analyze the influence of farmer behavior on productivity. This research was conducted in Banjarangkan District, Klungkung Regency. Data collection was carried out from May to August 2018. The population in this study were farmers who participated in the GP-PTT program that used 2: 1 jajar legowo planting methods. The number of samples used was 96 farmers who were determined using the Slovin formula with a confidence level of 10%. Samples were taken using purposive sampling propotional technique. Data analyzed using descriptive analysis methods and statistics using version 3.0 SmartPLS. The results of the study show: (1) the performance of extension agents in Banjarangkan District is in a good category; (2) the instructor's performance and farmer's characteristics have a significant effect on farmer's behavior; (3) farmer's behavior has a significant effect on productivity. Suggestions that can be given in this study are: (1) the performance of the instructor in guiding the group's definitive plan needs to be improved; (2) non-formal education in the form of training and field schools whose intensity needs to be improved; (3) government support for financing non-formal education needs to be improved; (4) development of other research needs to be done with different constructs and indicators to support the government in taking policy.

The behavior of Extension Agents in Utilizing Information and Technology to Improve the Performance of Extension Agents in Lampung Province

The ability of individuals to utilize information and technology (IT) is needed, it also happens in the agriculture field. Extension agents are required to have the ability to use IT to support their performance. The ability to utilize IT can encourage the presence of professional, broad-minded and high-capacity extension agents. The high capacity of agents will facilitate them to carry out its performance. In fact, the problem in the field is the low performance of agricultural extension agents. It can be due to various issues such as low capacity, lack of infrastructure availability, low ability to access information and others, these issues were also found in extension agents in Lampung Province. The aim of this study is to measure the behavior of agricultural, fisheries and forestry extension agents in utilizing IT. This research is a descriptive study using a survey method with quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study was conducted in Lampung Province with 355 respondents. The results suggested that the knowledge of the extension agents in utilizing IT classified as the high category, however, the behavior of the extension agents in utilizing IT still needs to be improved to be good behavior in utilizing IT. Likewise, the extension agent’s skill in utilizing IT is still in the medium category, therefore the support of all parties is needed to increase extension agent’s behavior in utilizing IT becomes better and can support the performance of extension agents.

The Role of Information Communication Technologies in Agricultural Extension Delivery

Agriculture is the backbone of many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, lack of efficient extension systems to support agricultural development is widely seen as a missing link in agricultural transformation in the region. International development agencies have in the past four decades invested heavily in various extension models such as the Training and Visit and Farmer Field School systems in order to enhance the performance of extension workers. Despite such investments, the performance of extension agents does remain suboptimal in many contexts. Studies in other sectors show that incentivizing worker performance through nudges such as incentive realignment schemes that tie worker performance to a pay/bonus system could enhance worker productivity. However, there is a lack of incentive realignment studies that estimate the performance of extension agents insub-Saharan Africa. A potential hindrance to the application of such scheme to extension is the absence of monitoring mechanisms to track the performance of extension agents who often work across diverse local contexts to reach smallholder farmers with extension advice. This study empirically estimates the effect of an information communication technology (ICT)-based payment incentive system that tracks the performance of extension workers in rural Uganda. It undertakes a quasi-experimental ex-post impact assessment of a payment incentive realignment as an exogenous shift in the price of labor for extension services by Ugandan Community Knowledge Workers (CKWs) in 2011. This study applies a difference–in–difference with propensity score matching technique to estimate the effect of an ICT-based incentive re-alignment scheme in 2011, on the performance of 461 CKWs in rural Uganda. The study shows that CKWs in rural Uganda respond positively to an ICT-based performance incentive scheme that affects the price of labor. Results suggest that such performance systems can enhance the productivity of CKWs – an exemplar of rural extension agents in Uganda and elsewhere in developing countries. It also finds that younger CKWs respond more productively to higher incentives than their older counterparts. Therefore, the study suggests that extension policies that tie extension agents’ performance to ICT-based payment incentives could enhance their performance and contribute towards the sustainable developments goals on food security, among others, through multiplier effects.Keywords: Agricultural extension, community knowledge workers, ICT-based performance incentives

ANALISIS KINERJA PENYULUH TERHADAP PEMBERDAYAAN KELOMPOK USAHA PETERNAKAN SAPI DI DESA TONDEGESAN KECAMATAN KAWANGKOAN KABUPATEN MINAHASA

ABSTRACTANALYSIS OF INSTRUCTOR PERFORMANCE TO EMPOWERING CATTLE BREEDING BUSINESS GROUP AT TONDEGESAN VILLAGE OF KAWANGKOAN DISTRICT. The purpose of this study was to analyze the performance of instructors on empowerment of cattle business groups in Tondegesan Village, Kawangkoan District, Minahasa Regency. This research was carried out by using data miles and huberman analysis which was carried out when the data collection took place in the field. The study population was all members of the serentape business group. The sampling method for farmers is based on indications to assess performance, namely productivity, responsiveness, and responsibility. The results showed that the performance of extension agents was mostly in the successful category. The success of the instructor's performance in the productivity level is in the successful category with a percentage of 93.33%, in the level of responsiveness in the successful category with a percentage of 73.33%, and the level of responsibility in the successful category with a percentage of 93.33%. Based on the research,concluded that the performance of the instructor towards the empowerment of business groups in the village of Tondegesan, Kawangkoan Subdistrict which was measured in terms of productivity, responsiveness and responsibilitysuccessful.Keywords: Performance, Extension, Empowerment