Strategic Roles of Agricultural Extension Agents and Information Technology Utilization in Rice Farmer Group Development in Teluk Kecapi Village, Ogan Ilir, Indonesia

Eka Mulyana, Yulia Sari, Merna Ayu Sulastri, Alisyiah Futri

Abstract


Digital transformation in the agricultural sector has accelerated the shift toward more adaptive and technology-based agricultural extension systems. Agricultural extension workers play a strategic role in supporting farmer group development through educational, facilitative, motivational, and institutional strengthening functions. This study aimed to analyze the role of agricultural extension workers, the utilization of information technology, extension competency, and their relationship with the development of rice farmer groups in Teluk Kecapi Village, Pemulutan District, Ogan Ilir Regency, South Sumatra, Indonesia. The study employed a survey method using Simple Random Sampling techniques involving members of rice farmer groups. Data were collected through structured interviews and questionnaires and analyzed using Likert Scale analysis and Spearman Rank Correlation. The findings revealed that the roles of agricultural extension workers, information technology utilization, extension competency, and farmer group development were categorized as high. Extension workers were perceived as actively facilitating agricultural information dissemination, digital communication, institutional strengthening, and farmer capacity development. The results further indicated that the roles of extension workers, digital platforms, digital content, personal attributes, and extension knowledge had positive and significant relationships with farmer group development. The study highlights that the integration of extension competency and digital technology utilization constitutes a critical factor in promoting more effective, adaptive, and sustainable farmer group development.

Keywords


agricultural extension, digital extension, farmer groups, information technology, extension competency

References


Abbasi, R., Martinez, P., & Ahmad, R. (2022). The digitization of agricultural industry – a systematic literature review on agriculture 4.0. Smart Agricultural Technology, 2, 100042. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2022.100042

Adamopoulou, E., & Alexakis, T. (2025). Analyzing Technology Adoption among Aging Farmers in The Era of Agriculture 4.0. 6036–6041. https://doi.org/10.21125/iceri.2025.1659

Amanah, S., & Seminar, A. U. (2022). Sekolah Lapang Petani sebagai Community of Practice Pengembangan Inovasi Kelompok di Era Digital. Jurnal Penyuluhan, 18(01), 164–176. https://doi.org/10.25015/18202240307

Anggreany, S., Sumardjo, P Lubis, D., & Syahyuti. (2026). Enhancing the Institutional Resilience of Farmer Corporations through Stakeholder Communication Networks and Digital Integration in Indonesia. Research on World Agricultural Economy, 266–279. https://doi.org/10.36956/rwae.v7i1.2566

Aregaw, Y. G., Endris, E. A., & Bojago, E. (2023). Factors Affecting the Competence Level of Agricultural Extension Agents: A Comprehensive Analysis of Core Competencies in Northwestern Ethiopia. Education Research International, 2023, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/7928467

Baga, L. M., Utami, A. D., & Wahyudi, A. F. (2023). Exploring the Relation between Farmer Group Membership and Agricultural Productivity: Evidence from Indonesian Rice Farming. AGRARIS: Journal of Agribusiness and Rural Development Research, 9(1), 65–78. https://doi.org/10.18196/agraris.v9i1.115

Dujali, I. L., Inutan, S. M. B., Bacus, M. S., Quijano-Pagutayao, A. S., & Sarita, V. B. (2025). Transforming Agricultural Extension in the Digital Age: A Review of ICT-Based Approaches and Innovations. International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, XII(III), 840–851. https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2025.12030064

Fabregas, R., Kremer, M., & Schilbach, F. (2019). Realizing the potential of digital development: The case of agricultural advice. Science, 366(6471). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aay3038

Febriyanti, R. (2023). Metodologi penelitian kuantitatif: Teknik sampling dan analisis data. Alfabeta.

Gultom, D. T., Nikmatullah, D., Syarief, Y. A., & Pratiwi, R. citra. (2024). Kompetensi Penyuluh Pertanian Lapangan dalam Peningkatan Kelas Kelompok Tani. Jurnal Penyuluhan, 20(02), 349–359. https://doi.org/10.25015/20202451110

Huanza, M., Sari, Y., Putri, T. W. S., & Amalina, D. (2025). Effectiveness Of Gapoktan As Formal Farmer Group In Supporting Sustainable Rice Farming. Journal of Agri Socio Economics and Business, 7(01). https://doi.org/10.31186/jaseb.07.1.29-44

Indraningsih, K. S., Ashari, A., Syahyuti, S., Anugrah, I. S., Suharyono, S., Saptana, S., Iswariyadi, A., Agustian, A., Purwantini, T. B., Ariani, M., & Mardiharini, M. (2023). Factors influencing the role and performance of independent agricultural extension workers in supporting agricultural extension. Open Agriculture, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2022-0164

Islamy, M. I. (2019). Pendekatan penelitian kuantitatif dalam ilmu sosial. Rajawali Pers.

Jafaruddin, N., Diana, T. B., & Oktavia, H. F. (2026). Strategi Penguatan Kelembagaan Kelompok Tani untuk Meningkatkan Daya Saing Agribisnis Paprika (Studi Kasus di Kelompok Tani Dewa Family). Mimbar Agribisnis : Jurnal Pemikiran Masyarakat Ilmiah Berwawasan Agribisnis, 12(1), 1199. https://doi.org/10.25157/ma.v12i1.22479

Ma, W., Marini, M. A., & Rahut, D. B. (2023). Farmers’ organizations and sustainable development: An introduction. Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, 94(3), 683–700. https://doi.org/10.1111/apce.12449

Manono, B. O. (2025). Small-Scale Farming in the United States: Challenges and Pathways to Enhanced Productivity and Profitability. Sustainability, 17(15), 6752. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17156752

Mapiye, O., Makombe, G., Molotsi, A., Dzama, K., & Mapiye, C. (2023). Information and communication technologies (ICTs): The potential for enhancing the dissemination of agricultural information and services to smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Information Development, 39(3), 638–658. https://doi.org/10.1177/02666669211064847

Mosher, A. T. (1966). Getting agriculture moving: Essentials for development and modernization. Frederick A. Praeger.

Nettle, R., Major, J., Turner, L., & Harris, J. (2022). Selecting methods of agricultural extension to support diverse adoption pathways: a review and case studies. Animal Production Science, 64(1). https://doi.org/10.1071/AN22329

Novisma, A., & Iskandar, E. (2023). The study of millennial farmers behavior in agricultural production. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1183(1), 012112. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1183/1/012112

Oluwakemi Betty Arowosegbe, Oreoluwa Adesewa Alomaja, & Bashir B. Tiamiyu. (2024). The role of agricultural extension workers in transforming agricultural supply chains: enhancing innovation, technology adoption, and ethical practices in Nigeria. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 23(3), 2585–2602. https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.23.3.2962

Omotesho, K. F., Akinola-Soji, B., Adesiji, G. B., & Owojaiye, O. B. (2021). Knowledge and Competence of Agricultural Extension Field Workers in Farmer-Group Facilitation in Kwara State, Nigeria. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 69(2), 231–239. https://doi.org/10.11118/actaun.2021.020

Prajapati, C. S., Priya, N. K., Bishnoi, S., Vishwakarma, S. K., Buvaneswari, K., Shastri, S., Tripathi, S., & Jadhav, A. (2025). The Role of Participatory Approaches in Modern Agricultural Extension: Bridging Knowledge Gaps for Sustainable Farming Practices. Journal of Experimental Agriculture International, 47(2), 204–222. https://doi.org/10.9734/jeai/2025/v47i23281

Sahu, S., Bishnoi, S., Sharma, P. R., Satyapriya, Mahra, G. S., Burman, R. R., Barua, S., Misha Madhavan, M., Sangeetha, V., Sinha, S. K., Singh, R., Wason, M., Joshi, P., & Sharma, S. (2024). Exploring popular information sources and determinants of farmers’ access to agricultural extension services in the Indo-Gangetic plains. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1339243

Sari, N., Marta, A., & Afner, S. O. G. (2026). Hubungan Peran Penyuluh Pertanian dalam Efektifitas Penyaluran Pupuk Bersubsidi Petani Padi Sawah di Kabupaten 50 Kota, Sumatera. Mimbar Agribisnis : Jurnal Pemikiran Masyarakat Ilmiah Berwawasan Agribisnis, 12(1), 928. https://doi.org/10.25157/ma.v12i1.21718

Wardhana, Z. L. A., Novia, R. A., & Zulkifli, L. (2026). Peran Penyuluh Pertanian terhadap Keberdayaan Kelompok Tani di Kecamatan Kembaran Kabupaten Banyumas. Mimbar Agribisnis : Jurnal Pemikiran Masyarakat Ilmiah Berwawasan Agribisnis, 12(1), 812. https://doi.org/10.25157/ma.v12i1.21574




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.25157/ma.v12i2.24405

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2026 Eka Mulyana Mulyana, Yulia Sari, Yulia Sari, Merna Ayu Sulastri, Merna Ayu Sulastri, Alisyiah Futri, Alisyiah Futri

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Diterbitkan Oleh :

Fakultas Pertanian Universitas Galuh

Jl. RE Martadinata No. 150 Ciamis 46274

Telepon: 0265-7602739

Email: mimbaragribisnis@gmail.com

 

Ciptaan disebarluaskan di bawah Lisensi Creative Commons Atribusi 4.0 Internasional.

 __________________________________________________________________________________

Mimbar Agribisnis: Jurnal Pemikiran Masyarakat Ilmiah Berwawasan Agribisnis diindeks oleh: