Competence and Performance of Agricultural Extension Agents in Increasing Pig Farmers’ Performance in Timor-Leste (Published)
This research aims to identify the competence and performance of agricultural extension workers to improve the performance of pig farmers and analyze the factors that affect the competence and performance of agricultural extension workers in Timor-Leste. The research started from January to October 2019 in seven districts in Timor-Leste. Total respondents in this research consisted of 135 agricultural extension workers using simple random sampling and 340 pig farmers determined by the purposive sampling method. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to identify the characteristics of agricultural extensions and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis to determine the influence between variables and their supporting factors. The results showed that the characteristics of the extensions (t = 2.69; α = 0.05), competence (t = 3.11; α = 0.05), the motivation (t = 2.11; α = 0.05), and self-reliance, (t = 2.51; α = 0.05) had a significant effect on agricultural extensions’ performance. Characteristics of the extensions (t = 0.35, α = 0.05), competence (t = 0.35; α = 0.05), motivation (t = 0.35, α = 0.05), and self-reliance (t = 0.35, α = 0.05) has an indirect effect on pig farmers’ performance. Meanwhile, agricultural extension performance directly affects farmers’ performance (t=3.74, =0.05). This research concluded that the competence and performance of the agricultural extensions affected pig farmers’ performance in Timor-Leste.
Citation:Joao Americo, I Nyman Suparta, Ni Wayan Tatik Inggriati, Budi Rahayu Tanama Putri (2021) Competence and Performance of Agricultural Extension Agents in Increasing Pig Farmers’ Performance in Timor-Leste, International Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development Studies, Vol.8, No.5, pp.17-28
Keywords: Competence, Performance, extension, pig farmers