The Local Government’s Strategy Optimizing Extension Worker Role for Smallholder Empowerment

Abstract

The study objectives were to analyze 1. The level of the extension worker’s role. 2. The level of smallholder empowerment 3. Effect of the extension worker role on smallholder’s empowerment. 4. Formulating strategies to optimize the extension worker’s roles. The study was designed as a survey method, population is 568 farmers in four villages that carry out smallholder empowerment programs. Using a purposive sample, farmers who own land ≤ 20,000 square meters. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modelling (SEM). The study results showed that 1. The level of extension worker role in smallholder empowerment programs is in a low category. 2. The level of the smallholder’s empowerment is in a low category. 3. There are two aspects of the role of extension workers effect on smallholder empowerment namely accessing information-learning and credibility-competency of extension workers. However, there is no effect of dialogic communication on smallholder empowerment 4. The local government strategies for optimizing extension worker roles through enhancing two aspects, 1. Institutional support of BPPT through providing training and disseminating innovation-technology. 2. Local government policy support to increase the capacity of extension workers through formal and informal education, providing incentives, rewarding, and preparing facilities.