Factors correlating to the success rate of agricultural extension in improving sustainability (a case study at BPP Tanjung Beringin, Tanjung Beringin Subdistrict, Serdang Bedagai Regency)

Abstract

Agricultural extension has a vital role in improving the sustainability of farming businesses, developing the people’s economy, increasing agricultural production, and changing the behaviour of farmers, especially toward their environment. The average productivity and the increase in annual average production of lowland rice in Tanjung Beringin Subdistrict were quite good and prospective. This study purposed to determine the main tasks implementation of agricultural extensionists in the Agricultural Extension Centre of Tanjung Beringin, to know the success rate of the main tasks implementation, and to analyse the correlation between the socio-economic characteristics of extensionists on the success rate in implementing their tasks. The research sample was determined by census methods, all extensionists were interviewed. The analysis method used was the Spearman Rank Correlation Test. The results showed that: The main tasks implementation of agricultural extensionists went finely, following the main tasks determined; The success rate of the main tasks implementation of agricultural extensionists was 87%, or in high-performance criteria; There was a significant correlation between the duration of education, the duration of being an extensionist, and the duration of extensionists’ working time with the success rate of their tasks, meanwhile the age and number of family dependents had an insignificant correlation.