IMPROVEMENT OF BEGINNERS CAPACITY FOR BEGINNERS IN SUMENEP OF EAST JAVA, INDONESIA

Abstract

Farmers are the main actors in the agricultural sector production activities as well as part of the community whose welfare needs to be improved. With extension workers can help farmers in receiving all agricultural information that is developing effectively. Increasing extension programs in the development of farmer groups needs to be implemented in a participatory manner so that the principles of equality, transparency, responsibility, accountability and cooperation can become new changes in farmer empowerment. The extension worker decides to select and organize the message content and symbols used in the message. Extension techniques are selecting, arranging, simplifying, and presenting. Symbols that are easily observed and the most widely used are language. In its activities as an agent of change, it always provides directions that can raise awareness of agricultural business actors. The role of the extension worker as a facilitator, namely the role of the extension worker to create a conducive learning atmosphere for farmers, the indicators are: efforts to get farmers closer to information sources, provision of learning facilities, frequency interactions, and the methods used. The farmer group has several functions, namely as a learning class, a production unit and a vehicle for cooperation. In class learning, groups will have a close relationship and participate when planning, in implementing them, knowing the benefits and will be evaluated. Farmer groups are regulated in the Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture Number 82 of 2013 concerning Guidelines for the Development of Farmers' Groups and Farmer Group Associations which defines that "A farmer group is a group of farmers / ranchers / planters formed on the basis of common interests, equality of social, economic and natural environmental conditions., commodity commonality, and familiarity to improve and develop members' businesses. Within the farmer group, there are members of the farmer group who are referred to as the main actors and entrepreneurs.

Keywords

• extension officers
• farmer groups
• facilitators