Factors Influencing Agricultural Extension Competence at Samosir

Island Agritourism, Lake Toba

Helena Tatcher Pakpahan, Ravik Karsidi, Sugihardjo and Sapja Anantayu

Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Indonesia

Keywords: Extensions, Competence, Agritourism, Samosir Island, Lake Toba.

Abstract: This study aimed to determine what factors affected agricultural extensions' competence in the agritourism

region of Samosir Island, Lake Toba. The research method is quantitative that uses a survey technique. The

data collection technique was questionnaires distributed to 44 agricultural extensions in Lake Toba's

Samosir island. The data analysis tool used is multiple linear regression with SPSS version 25. The results

of the study concluded that factors affecting the competence of the extensions were age, work experiences,

number of dependents, total income, number of fostered farmers, education and training, achievement

motivation, technology, and government policies. The level of education and the number of assisted villages

were the factors that did not affect the competence of agricultural extensions in the region of agritourism of

Samosir Island, Lake Toba.

1 INTRODUCTION

Lake Toba is the largest caldera lake globally,

located in North Sumatra Province. In the middle of

Lake Toba, there is an island called Samosir Island.

The enormous contributions to the regencies'

economy in the region of Lake Toba were

agriculture, plantations, farming/ livestock, fisheries,

trade, hotel, and restaurant sectors (tourism sectors).

Agricultural potential is developed as an agritourism

product/ attraction in each regency of the region of

Lake Toba. Agrotourism in the region of Lake Toba

will highlight the local culture in utilizing its

agricultural land so that it is expected to increase

farmers' income while conserving natural resources

(Anonimous, 2017). According to Knowd (2006),

the primary motivation to engage in agricultural

tourism is economic sustainability. The primary

motivation for agritourism in Sweden is social

contact and cultural exchange; the presence of

tourists is seen as favorable by farmers (Gössling

and Mattsson, 2002). According to Barbieri and

Mahoney (2009), agritourism is due to economic

motives and the need to generate additional income

in agriculture, namely the sustainability of

agriculture and the improvement of the quality of

family life. Mahaliyanaarachchi's (2016) research

result in Sri Lanka shows that agricultural extension

is significant in promoting and developing

agritourism. The Lake Toba regency has a strategic

position in national agricultural development, so its

existence needs to be supported by human resources,

especially by the agricultural extensions which are

competent in carrying out their duties. Responding

to the changes in the strategic environment, such as

agritourism, and the demands of the community's

needs for economic sustainability, it is necessary to

have the competence of the agricultural extensions

under this development.

The collaboration of farming communities and

agricultural extension services can build agritourism

both in the existing agricultural and new agricultural

ones. Extension activities are essential to invite

others to be interested in agritourism. The

agricultural extensions must be competent and

encourage farmers and the community to acquire

new knowledge (Živković at. al., 2009). The

competence of agricultural extension is needed to

carry out extension activities with the goals that

have been set (Pakpahan, 2017). The extensions' low

competence results in the extensions' low

performance, which will ultimately have an impact

on the services provided to farmers (Pakpahan,

2018). Conditions in the field illustrate that the

competence of the agricultural extensions is still not

as expected by farmers. The factors causing the low

competence of the extensions need to be identified

Pakpahan, H., Karsidi, R., Sugihardjo, . and Anantayu, S.

Factors Inﬂuencing Agricultural Extension Competence at Samosir Island Agritourism, Lake Toba.

DOI: 10.5220/0010805600003348

In Proceedings of the 3rd Annual International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities (AICOSH 2021), pages 119-124

ISBN: 978-989-758-603-3; ISSN: 2685-273X

119

and solutions sought. This research will answer the

factors that affect the competence of the extensions.

This paper aims to determine the factors that affect

the competence of agricultural extensions in the

region of agritourism of Samosir Island, Lake Toba.

2 METHOD

This research is located in Samosir Island, the

Province of North Sumatra. The research uses

quantitative research, namely survey research. The

data collection method used questionnaires

distributed to respondents as the research samples.

The populations in this study were all agricultural

extension workers in Samosir regencies. The method

of determining the sample in this study is the census.

The sample consisted of 44 respondents. This study

used the ordinal scale data, the scale given as an

object. The measurement scale used was a Likert

scale. The data that had been collected was then

measured and scored. The technique of analyzing

data used was multiple linear regression. This

research involved eleven independent variables (X1)

the age (years), (X2) the education level (years),

(X3) the work experience (years), (X4) the number

of dependents (life/ person), (X5) the total income

(rupiahs), (X6) the number of assisted villages

(villages), (X7) the number of fostered farmers

(souls/person), (X8) the education and training, (X9)

the achievement motivation, (X10) the technology

and (X11) the policies. The competency of the

extensions as a dependent variable.

3 RESULT AND DISCUSSION

A simultaneous test compares the F-count with the

F-table: Obtained F-count was 388.350, and F-table

was 2.09. F-count were significantly lower than F-

table (p < .05). It means that the independent

variables (i.e., age, education, work experiences,

number of dependents, total income, number of

assisted villages, number of assisted farmers,

education and training, achievement motivation,

technology, and government policy) simultaneously

have a significant effect on the dependent variable

(the competence of agritourism extensions).

Determination coefficient analysis was intended

to determine how much influence given by variable

X to variable Y. N use values of R

of 0.993 (99.3

%), which mean that the variation of the dependent

variable (the competence of the agritourism

extensions) could be explained by independent

variables namely, age, education level, work

experience, number of dependents, total income,

number of assisted villages, number of fostered

farmers, education and training, achievement

motivation, technology, and government policies

while the remaining 0.7 % was explained by other

variables that were not included in this estimation

model.

a. Age (X

) had an influence on the competence of

the extensions with the regression coefficient of -

14.984. It means that the age variable had an

influence on competence of the extension, if the

age increased by 1 year, the competency would

decrease by 14,984 and vice versa. Partial test by

comparing t-count and t-table was obtained for

the age t-count = - 25,363 > t-table = 2.036 with

a significant value of 0.00 <0.05. It showed that

partially the age had a significant effect on the

competence. The age was one of the factors that

affected a person's physical ability to be able to

accept the latest ideas or innovations, as well as

affected the way of thinking and the

competitiveness of everyone at work. The results

of this study were strengthened by

Padmowihardjo (2011), which stated that one's

age was strongly suspected to affect his ability,

both physical ability and thinking ability

(intelligence). The older one's age the less his

ability or it could be said that it would decrease

his ability.

b. Level of education (X

) had an influence on the

competence, with a regression coefficient of

0.556. It means that the education level variable

had an influence on the competence, if the

education variable increased by 1 year, the

competency would increase by 0.556 and vice

versa. Partial test by comparing t-count and t-

table was obtained for the education level t-count

= 1.395 < t-table = 2.036 with a significant value

of 0.173 > 0.05. It showed that partially the level

of education has no real effect on the

competence. The education played an important

role as a determinant of the quality of human

resources. The education was something that

could educate and help the development of a

human being completely, having knowledge,

having great character, being independent, and

having a strong personality. One's ability was

influenced by the level of education that had

been taken. The highly educated people were

relatively faster in receiving an update occured.

The higher the level of education would enable

one’s to think better in dealing with the situation.

AICOSH 2021 - The Annual International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities (AICOSH) “Life After Pandemic: Perspectives,

Changes, and Challenges”

120

c. Work experience (X

) had an influence on the

competence, with a regression coefficient of

- 3.397. It means that the work experience

variable had an influence on the competence, if

the work experience variable increased by 1 year,

the competency l would decrease by 3.397 and

vice versa. Partial test by comparing t-count and

t-tables was obtained for the work experience t-

count = -6.225 > t-table = 2.036 with a

significant value of 0.00 <0.05. It showed that

partially the working experience had a significant

effect on the competence.

d. Number of dependents (X

) had an influence on

the competence with a regression coefficient of -

5,390. It means that the variable number of

dependents had an influence on the competence,

if the variable number of dependents increased

by 1 unit, the competency would decrease by

5,390 and vice versa. Partial test by comparing t-

count and t-table was obtained for the number of

dependents t-count = - 12,537 > t-table = 2.036

with a sig value of 0.00 < 0.05. It showed that

partially the number of dependents had a

significant effect on the competence. The

number of dependents of a family were all

members of the family who were dependent of

the household whose took responsibility by the

head of the family. The more the number of a

family dependents, the more expenses (Baroh,

2011). The increasing number of dependents in

the family would reduce the competence of the

extensions.

e. Total income (X

) had an influence on the

competence with a regression coefficient of –

8.212. It means that the variable of total income

had an influence on the competence if the

variable of total income increased by 1 unit, the

competency would decreased by 8.212 and vice

versa. Partial test by comparing t-count and t-

table was obtained for the total income t-count =

- 15.589 > t-table = 2.036 with a sig value of

0.00 <0.05. It showed that partially the total

income had a significant effect on the the

competence. A family should pay attention to the

number of children because it could affect the

family income (Rahayu and Tisnawati, 2014).

f. Number of assisted villages (X

) had an influence

on the competence with a regression coefficient

of 0.062. It means that the variable number of

assisted villages had an influence on the

competency, if the variable number of assisted

villages increased by 1 unit, the competency

would increase by 0.062 and vice versa. Partial

test by comparing t-count and t-table was

obtained for the number of assisted villages t-

count = 0.095 < t-table = 2.036 with a significant

value of 0.925 > 0.05, It showed that partially the

number of assisted villages have no real effect on

the competency. The target village was an area

where respondents carried out their duties and

responsibilities. The Government Regulations in

Law Number 19 of 2013 concerning Protection

and Empowerment of Farmers and the Minister

of Agriculture Regulations Number 72 of 2011

concerning Guidelines for Formulating

Functional Position Formation of Agricultural

Extension Officers stated that at least one

extension worker in one village with agricultural

potential.

g. Number of assisted farmers (X

) had an

influence on the competence with a regression

coefficient of – 12.917. It means that the variable

number of assisted farmers had an influence on

the competence if the variable number of assisted

farmers increased by 1 unit, the competency

would decrease by 12.917 and vice versa. Partial

test by comparing t-count and t-table was

obtained for the number of fostered farmers t-

count = - 24,578 > t-table = 2.036 with a

significant value of 0.00 <0.05 It shows that

partially the number of assisted farmers had a

significant effect on the competence. The wider

the working area, the more the number of

assisted farmer groups. The agricultural

extensions who had too many assisted farmer

groups would not have sufficient time to add and

deepen their knowledge and skills in order to

maintain the quality of their extension activities

so that the lack of time and the high workload

would be obstacles for the agricultural extensions

to improve their competence (Lakai et al al.,

2012).

h. Education and training (X

) had an effect on the

competence with a regression coefficient of

0.314. It means that the education and training

variable had an influence on the competence if

the education and training variable increased by

1 unit, the competency would increase by 0.314

and vice versa. Partial test by comparing t-count

and t-table was obtained for the education and

training t-count = 12.818 > t-table = 2.036 with a

significant value of 0.00 <0.05. It showed that

partially education and training had a significant

effect on the competence. The education and

training was one of the efforts to improve the

competence and performance of the agricultural

extensions so that they met work standards. The

education and training included two aspects,

Factors Inﬂuencing Agricultural Extension Competence at Samosir Island Agritourism, Lake Toba

121

namely the education and training which had the

same goal, that was to improve one's competency

in doing his job. The education and training of

the extensions could be seen from the indicators

used, namely, the ability of the education and

training providers, the suitability of the

curriculum with the implementation of training

and the evaluation of training. The results of the

study were in line with the concept put forward

by Blanchard and Huszeza (Gomes, 2002), an

effective training should include planning based

on needs, learning experiences, and planned

activities. Slamet (2003), stated that to improve

the competence of the extensions through

training, it was necessary to organize and

improve the training institutions which handle

the extensions. The extension workers should be

trained and practiced regularly through the

education and training and specific materials

about locations needed by farmers in agritourism

area. The competence could be improved

through training and education programs

(Bangun, 2012).

i. Achievement motivation (X

) had an influence on

the competence with a regression coefficient of

0.055. It means that the achievement motivation

variable had an influence on the competence if

the achievement motivation variable increased

by 1 unit, the extension’s competency would

increase by 0.055 and vice versa. Partial test by

comparing t-count and t-table was obtained for

the achievement motivation t-count = 2.815 > t-

table = 2.036 with a significant value of 0.008 <

0.05. It showed that partially the achievement

motivation had a significant effect on the

competence. The motivation for this research

was the intrinsic and extrinsic. The intrinsic

motivation was the motives that became active or

did not need to be stimulated from the outside,

because within each individual there was an urge

to do something. The intrinsic motivation were

responsibility and career while extrinsic

indicators were wages, working conditions and

status. The extrinsic motivation was the active

motives and it functioned because of external

stimuli. The Extrinsic motivation consisted of

working conditions, wages, and status. Good

working conditions, wages, and status would

affect the competence. The results of this study

were strengthened by Sterr (1996) and Gibson et.

al., (1989) which stated that there were two

conclusions, namely (1) the condition of

extrinsic, the condition of job which resulted in

discontent among employees if the condition did

not exist, those conditions such as wages, work

guarantee, working conditions and working

status; (2) the intrinsic conditions, work would

drive strong motivation such as achievement,

recognition and job responsibility. The

environment had a big role in motivating a

person, which was the place where one’s lived or

where one’s worked, higher status such as

promotions, wages which were payments for

physical services provided by employers to

workers. With rewards, one’s could be motivated

by the provision of rewards after one’s

performed an activity or a certain activity

(Suhardi, 2013). The greater the motivation that

an extension had towards his/her responsibilities

and career, the greater the effect on the

competence. The strength and weakness work

motivation had by a worker's would determine

the size of his or her achievements (Anoraga,

2011). According to Ma'ruf et al., (2011),

motivation had a significant effect in increasing

competence.

j. Technology (X

) had an influence on the

competence with a regression coefficient of

0.753. It means that the variable of technology

had an influence on the competence if the

variable of technology increased by 1 unit, the

competency would increase by 0.753 and vice

versa. Partial test by comparing t-count with t-

table was obtained for technology t-count =

8.274 > t-table = 2.036 with a significant value

of 0.00 <0.05. It showed that partially technology

had a significant effect on the competence.

Limited resources and learning facilities for the

extensions like books/ magazines, computer to

access information was limited and even did not

exist, lack of interaction with the learning

resources such discussed with related researchers

associated with the technology of specific

location associated with the increased

competence. The results of this study were

strengthened by Atrisiandy (2015), which stated

that technology could also help the course of an

agricultural extension. Nowadays, there was no

activities without using technology.

k. Government policy (X

) had an influence on the

competence with a regression coefficient of

1.630. It means that the government policy

variable had an influence on the competence if

the government policy variable increased by 1

unit, then the competency would increase by

1.630 and vice versa. Partial test by comparing t-

count and t-table was obtained for the

government policy t-count = 22.323 > t-table =

AICOSH 2021 - The Annual International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities (AICOSH) “Life After Pandemic: Perspectives,

Changes, and Challenges”

122

2.036 with a significance value of 0.00 <0.05. It

showed that partially the government policies

had a significant effect on the competence. The

government policies could shape the character of

the extensions so that it affected the competency

of the extensions. The government policies

related to the objectives, functions and targets of

the extension workers were stated in the

Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia No. 16

of 2006 concerning Agricultural, Fisheries, and

Forestry Extension Systems Chapter III Article

4. The government policies in implementing

agricultural extensions had the principles of

decentralization, participatory, openness, self-

reliance, equal partnership, accountability and

integration, as well as in line with the vision of

extension, namely extension workers who had

strong professional integrity and independent and

sustainable food security, with the mission of

realizing independent and sustainable food

security based on local resources and organizing

dynamic and agribusiness-oriented extension

services. The extensions’ career was

underdeveloped; the extensions got less

opportunities to participate in formal education

to a higher level, to follow activities such as

seminars and workshops, and to follow training

related to the field of counseling; an unclear of

career promotion development and a work

appreciation toward the extension workers

(reward and punishment).

1. Coefficient of e or error indicated that there were

other variables that affected the competence of

the extension’s that were not included in this

study.

4 CONCLUSION

The determinant factors that influenced on the

competence of the agricultural extensions in the

region of agritourism of Samosir Island, Lake Toba

were the age of the extension, the work experiences,

the number of dependents, the total income, the

number of assisted farmers, the education and

training, the achievement motivation, the

technology, and the government policies. The

factors that did not affect the competence of the

agricultural extensions in the region of agritourism

of Samosir Island, Lake Toba were the level of

education and the number of assisted villages.

SUGGESTIONS

It was necessary to conduct further research related

to professional extensions in the region of

agritourism whether the environmental factors, the

extension capabilities, the role of the extensions, the

independence of the extensions, the farmers needed

in the region of agritourism, and the competency of

the extensions in the region of agritourism.

REFERENCES

Anoraga. 2011. Management Psychology. Rineka Cipta,

Bandung.

Atrisiandy, K. 2014. Agricultural Extension

Professionalism Development Through Mastery of

Information Technology (Ti),

https://docplayer.info/46193069, Access November

20, 2019; 08.16.

Bangun, W. 2012. Human Resource Management.

Erlangga, Jakarta.

Barbieri, C & E. Mahoney. 2009. Why Is Diversification

an Attractive Farm Adjustment Strategy? Insights

from Texas Farmers and Ranchers. Journal of Rural

Studies. Vol 25, no1, pp.58-66.

Baroh. 2011. Analysis of Added Value and Distribution of

Jackfruit Chips Case Study on Jackfruit Chips

Agroindustry in Lumajang. LP UMM, Malang.

Gibson, J.L., J. M Ivancevich., & J. H Donelly. 1989.

Organizations. Translated by Agus Dharma. Erlangga,

Jakarta.

Gomes, F. C. 2002. Human Resource Management. Andi,

Yogyakarta.

Gössling, S and Mattsson S. 2002. Farm Tourism in

Sweden: Structure e, Growth and Characteristics.

Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism. Vol

2, no 1, pp.17-30.

Knowd. 2006. Tourism as a Mechanism for Farm

Survival. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. Vol 14, no

1, pp. 24-42.

Lakai D, Jayaratne, K. S. U., G. E. Moore, M. J. Kistler.

2012. Barriers And Effective Educational Strategies

To Develop Extension Agents' Professional

Competencies. Journal of Extension. Vol 50, no 40,pp.

1-7.

Mahaliyanaarachchi R. P. 2016. Role Of Agricultural

Extension In Promotion And Development Of Agri

Tourism In Sri Lanka. Sabaragamuwa University

Journal. Vol 6, no 1, pp.13-22.

Padmowihardjo S.2013. Reorganizing Agricultural

Extension in the Era of Agribusiness Development.

Agriculture Department. Jakarta.

Pakpahan H. T. 2017. Agricultural Extension. Plantaxia

Publishers, Yogyakarta.

Permentan No 72. 2011. About Guidelines Functional

Formation of Agricultural Extension.

Factors Inﬂuencing Agricultural Extension Competence at Samosir Island Agritourism, Lake Toba

123

Rahayu S. U and N. M. Tisnawati. 2014. Analysis of the

Influence of Number of Family Dependents, Age,

Education and Employment Status on Single Parent

Women's Family Income. Journal of Applied

Quantitative Economics. Vol 7, no 2, pp.83.

Slamet M. 2003. A New Paradigm of Agricultural

Extension in the Era of Regional Autonomy. In

Shaping Patterns of Human Development Behavior.

Edited by: Adjat Sudrajat and Ida Yustina, IPB Press,

Bogor.

Steers R. M. L., W. Porter, & G. A Bigley. 1996.

Motivation and Leadership at Work. The McGraw-

Hill. Companies. Inc, New York.

Suhardi. 2013. The Science Of Motivation The Book of

Motivation. PT. Elex Media Komputindo, Jakarta.

RI Law. No.16 Year 2006. About Extension System for

Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry. Ministry of

Forestry, Forestry Development Center, Jakarta.

RI Law. No. 19 Years. 2013. “on the Protection and

Empowerment of Farmers”.

Zivkovic D., Jelic, S., Z. Rajic. 2009. Agricultural

Extension Service in the Function of Rural

Development. Paper prepared for presentation at the

113

EAAE Seminar “The Role of Knowledge,

Innovation and Human Capital In Multifunctional

Agriculture and Territorial Rural Development”,

Belgrade, Republic of Serbia December 9-11.

AICOSH 2021 - The Annual International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities (AICOSH) “Life After Pandemic: Perspectives,

Changes, and Challenges”

124