Analisis Kelembagaan Penyuluhan Pertanian di Propinsi Riau

Abstract

This era of regional autonomy with its emphasis on the efficiency of institutions and improved human resources has made some changes in the extension paradigm. Different regions have different responses. Some still maintain their extension institutions as they were in the past while others have changed the extension system. The varied institutions that are responsible for agricultural extension have certainly resulted in different performance, and consequently affected the main target of agricultural development, namely farmers. This study was intended to: (1) identify the structure of agricultural extension institutions in the regional autonomy era in the Province of Riau, (2) analyze the implementation of agricultural extensions in different institutions, and (3) analyze the effect of different extension implementation on the performance of extension workers and the degree of technological application among farmers. This is a descriptive study through a survey conducted from March to April 2008 in three regencies/towns, namely Pekanbaru, Kampar Regency and Pelalawan Regency. The data collected for the study consist of primary and secondary data. The primary data were obtained from a structured interview by using questionnaires and a focus group discussion. The secondary data were collected by examining documents or reports from the related institutions. To determine alternative strategies in developing the extension institutions in the Province of Riau, an analysis was made on the internal and external factors, followed with a further analysis of SWOT (strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threat); and to determine the strategy priorities, the study used the method of quantitative strategic planning matrix (QSPM). The study results showed that the implementation of Laws Number 22/1999 and Number 32/2004 along with the regulations under the laws has caused the agricultural extensions in the Province of Riau to experience coevolution in the social infrastructure of agricultural extensions in both regencies/towns and districts. In the implementation, the functions of services and arrangement still dominate the working system of extension. The existence of extension institutions has not been able to accommodate the interests of extension, and the frequency of LAKU is not fully implemented yet. The condition of an extension institution can influence the performance of agricultural extension and give different views on appropriate recommendations in the technology application by farmers. The formulated strategy in developing the agricultural extension institutions in the Province of Riau is to form a separate and specific institution that regulates agricultural extension through the following programs: a) reorganization of the agricultural extension institutions, b) improvement of human resource for agricultural extension, c) improvement in the quality of agricultural extension activities. Therefore, it is urgent to unite extension workers under one institution that can accommodate the interests of agricultural extension workers and farmers as the implementation of Law Number 16/2006.