The study was published in Volume 5, Issue 2 (2026) of the Indonesian Journal of Advanced Research. It focuses on KWT Sahabat Sampah, a women-led farmer group in Bekasi that integrates household waste management with hydroponic vegetable production.
Responding to Urban Waste Pressures
Bekasi City faces mounting environmental pressure due to rapid urban growth and high levels of household waste generation. Approximately 1,800 tons of waste are produced daily, and a large portion does not reach formal recycling facilities. This situation strains municipal systems and raises environmental and public health concerns.
KWT Sahabat Sampah offers a community-based response. Established in 2019, the group transformed a former illegal dumping site into a functioning waste bank and hydroponic farming area. Members sort recyclable materials, compost organic waste, and cultivate vegetables for local markets.
The model combines environmental action with income-generating activities for homemakers. However, the study highlights that such initiatives require more than community motivation. Institutional consolidation and external recognition are essential and this is where agricultural extension becomes strategic.
Method: Census of All Members
The research was conducted between February and March 2025 using a descriptive quantitative design. All 35 members of KWT Sahabat Sampah participated through census sampling. Data collection included structured questionnaires, field observation, and interviews with the assigned extension agent.
Two main variables were measured:
- The role of the extension agent (education, information dissemination, facilitation, consultation, supervision, and evaluation).
- Institutional development (participation in decision-making, program implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and benefit utilization).
Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Spearman’s rank correlation.
Findings: Facilitation Is the Strongest Function
All six dimensions of extension performance were rated in the high category. Facilitation received the highest average score (mean 2.74 out of 3), followed by education and supervision. Overall extension performance was rated strongly positive (mean 2.56).
The findings indicate that the extension agent functioned less as a top-down instructor and more as a facilitator and coordinator. Key contributions included:
- Connecting the group with municipal waste programs
- Assisting in securing access to public land
- Facilitating regular meetings and collective decision-making
- Supporting permit and administrative processes
According to Unang of Siliwangi University, participatory engagement strengthens members’ confidence and ownership in organizational decisions. Rather than imposing technical solutions, the extension process redistributed decision-making authority within the group.
Strong Institutional Capacity, Limited Financial Returns
Institutional development indicators were also rated high. Participation in decision-making and program implementation achieved the strongest scores. Members actively deliberate on crop selection, revenue allocation, and operational planning. Leadership rotation further enhances accountability and shared responsibility.
However, economic benefit utilization scored slightly lower than other indicators. Income from hydroponic vegetable sales largely covers operational costs, limiting reinvestment capacity. The researchers note that improved access to credit schemes or municipal procurement programs could enhance financial sustainability.
Significant Positive Association
Spearman’s rank correlation analysis revealed a strong and statistically significant positive association between extension engagement and institutional development (ρ = 0.678; p < 0.01).
Although the cross-sectional design does not establish direct causality, the data indicate that more intensive and participatory extension engagement is associated with stronger organizational capacity.
In urban settings, community organizations operate within dense regulatory environments. Access to land, permits, and official recognition often determines long-term sustainability. In this case, the extension agent acted as a boundary actor—bridging informal community initiatives with formal municipal systems.
The study frames extension not merely as a technical advisory service, but as a form of institutional work. Through repeated facilitation, coordination, and recognition, extension activities help stabilize norms, routines, and governance structures within emerging urban organizations.
Policy and Practical Implications
The findings offer several policy implications:
- Urban extension services require cross-sector competencies beyond agronomy.
- Collaboration between agricultural and environmental agencies should be strengthened.
- Women-led groups can serve as local sustainability actors in waste management.
- Accessible financing mechanisms are critical for economic resilience.
The case of KWT Sahabat Sampah demonstrates that urban sustainability depends not only on infrastructure and regulation, but also on capable and legitimate community institutions.
Author Profiles
Unang, S.P., M.Si. is a lecturer in Agribusiness at Siliwangi University, specializing in agricultural extension, community empowerment, and institutional development in agribusiness.
Tedi Hartoyo, S.P., M.Si. is also an academic at Siliwangi University, with expertise in statistical methodology and quantitative data analysis for social and agricultural research.
Both authors actively study the transformation of agricultural extension systems in response to urbanization and social change.
Research Source
Unang & Hartoyo. 2026. “Reframing Agricultural Extension in Urban Sustainability: The Role of Extension Agents in Strengthening Women-Led Urban Farming Institutions.” Indonesian Journal of Advanced Research (IJAR), Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 233–240.
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