Why Agricultural Extension Is Changing
Farmers today make decisions in an environment shaped by technological change, market uncertainty, environmental pressures, limited resources, and rapidly changing sources of agricultural information. Because farming conditions vary, technical recommendations cannot always be applied in exactly the same way to every farmer.
The researchers from the University of Kadiri note that agricultural extension can therefore serve a wider purpose. Beyond transferring information, extension can give farmers opportunities to learn, discuss problems, evaluate alternatives, and strengthen their ability to make decisions.
This shift is also connected to the growing diversity of agricultural information sources. Farmers may receive advice from government extension officers, private organizations, farmer groups, digital platforms, fellow farmers, and other providers. While this broader system can increase access to information, the relevance and usefulness of the information may differ depending on farmers' needs and circumstances.
The study also emphasizes that farmers should be viewed as active participants in learning. Their previous experience, local knowledge, available resources, and understanding of risks can influence how they interpret agricultural recommendations.
How the University of Kadiri Researchers Studied Farmers' Perspectives
Arissaryadin, Widi Artini, Nina Lisanty, and Nugraheni Hadiyanti used Q-methodology to examine farmers' subjective perspectives on agricultural extension as community education in Malang Regency.
The research was conducted from January to March 2026 and involved 40 farmers who had previous experience participating in agricultural extension activities. Participants were purposively selected to capture different experiences related to farming, farmer groups, agricultural commodities, extension activities, and innovation.
Instead of asking farmers to simply rate individual questions, the researchers provided 48 statements covering six areas:
- Education
- Capacity building
- Assistance and problem solving
- Innovation and technology transfer
- Empowerment
- Farmer independence
Each participant arranged the statements according to how closely they represented their own views, using a scale from −4 to +4. The researchers then analyzed the responses using PQMethod, including factor extraction and Varimax rotation, to identify recurring patterns in farmers' viewpoints.
Importantly, the researchers explain that the resulting factors are patterns of viewpoints rather than fixed categories of farmers. They should not be interpreted as percentages of the wider farmer population.
Four Ways Farmers Understand Agricultural Extension
The analysis identified four interconnected perspectives that together explained 72.1% of the variance in the Q-sort correlation matrix. Thirty-five Q-sorts were classified as defining sorts, while five showed overlapping patterns and were not assigned exclusively to one factor.
1. Education and Capacity Building
The first perspective emphasizes learning and farmers' ability to understand agricultural recommendations.
Farmers associated effective extension with understanding not only what action should be taken, but also why it is recommended. One statement about helping farmers understand the reasons behind recommendations received the highest possible score of +4 in this factor.
At the same time, the statement that extension agents should determine farmers' farming decisions received −4. This combination indicates a distinction between helping farmers develop the capacity to evaluate alternatives and making decisions on their behalf.
2. Assistance and Problem Solving
The second perspective places greater emphasis on practical support when farmers face problems in the field.
Farmers associated extension with accessible personnel, field-level diagnosis, consultation, and practical follow-up. The statement that extension agents need to be present when farmers face farming problems received +4.
This perspective places greater importance on immediate and practical solutions than on explanations alone.
3. Innovation and Technology Transfer
The third perspective focuses on agricultural innovation and technology demonstrations.
Farmers in this configuration placed strong emphasis on seeing evidence before adopting new technologies. Statements that technology demonstrations are more convincing than explanations alone and that farmers need to see evidence of results before adoption both received +4.
The researchers stress that this perspective does not mean farmers automatically accept every new technology. Instead, they value demonstrations, evidence, suitability assessments, costs, and practical evaluation before making decisions.
4. Empowerment and Farmer Independence
The fourth perspective emphasizes farmer agency, collective decision making, independent access to information, and reduced dependence on extension agents.
Statements supporting stronger farmer groups, independent access to information, and greater farmer independence received strong positive scores. The role of extension personnel is viewed primarily as facilitating learning, information access, discussion, and decision making rather than controlling farmers' choices.
Farmers Share Common Expectations
Despite differences among the four perspectives, the University of Kadiri research found several areas of agreement.
Farmers consistently valued extension services that:
- Respond to farmers' actual needs.
- Recognize farmers' experience as a source of knowledge.
- Go beyond lecture-based approaches.
- Encourage two-way discussion.
- Address real farming problems.
The statement that extension materials should correspond to farmers' needs received +4 in the first and fourth perspectives and +3 in the second and third. The statement that extension should be related to farmers' real problems received +4 in three perspectives and +3 in the technology-oriented perspective.
Another important finding concerns decision-making authority. The statement that extension agents should determine farmers' farming decisions received negative scores across all four perspectives: −4 in the education and capacity-building perspective, −3 in assistance and problem solving, −2 in innovation and technology transfer, and −4 in empowerment and farmer independence.
What the Findings Mean for Agricultural Extension
The findings suggest that agricultural extension can be designed as a multidimensional service rather than a single information-delivery system.
For farmers who prioritize learning, extension can focus on understanding, knowledge, and decision-making capacity. For those emphasizing immediate assistance, field diagnosis and practical consultation can become more important. Technology-oriented extension can use demonstrations and evidence to help farmers evaluate innovations, while empowerment-oriented approaches can strengthen farmer groups, information access, collective decision making, and independent learning.
The researchers recommend integrating learning and capacity building, responsive problem solving, appropriate technology demonstrations, and participatory empowerment according to farmers' needs and contexts. Extension agents should facilitate learning and decision making rather than determine farmers' farming decisions. Strengthening farmer groups and access to relevant information can also support greater independence.
Arissaryadin and colleagues at the University of Kadiri effectively frame agricultural extension as a process that helps farmers understand, evaluate, discuss, and make decisions rather than simply receive instructions. The research shows that the value of extension is connected not only to the information delivered but also to how well that information responds to farmers' experiences, needs, and real farming conditions.
Author Profile
Arissaryadin, Widi Artini, Nina Lisanty, and Nugraheni Hadiyanti are researchers affiliated with the University of Kadiri. Their 2026 article examines agricultural extension, community education, farmers' perspectives, and farmer decision-making in Malang Regency.
Source
Article Title: Farmers’ Perspectives on Agricultural Extension as Community Education: A Q-Methodology Study in Malang Regency
Journal: Indonesian Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Technology (MARCOPOLO)
Publication Year: 2026
Volume: 4, No. 4, pp. 245–264
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/marcopolo.v4i4.34
Official Journal: https://journalmarcopolo.my.id/index.php/marcopolo
.jpg)
0 Komentar