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Agriculture extension is an effort to change the farmers’ behaviors as well as their families in order to solve their problems in farming, so that they will be able to increase production and their welfares. Success in Agriculture extension process is determined by appropriate method and media application. Objectives of the research were to study the extent of method and media application in extension and to formulate strategy of method and media application in extension on the Farmer Group of Harapan Sejahtera at the Subdistrict of East Tarakan. Respondents of the research were members Group of Women Farmers of Harapan Sejahtera, 23 women and 2 Informants of Agriculture extension agents. Data analysis used Likert’s scale and SWOT analysis. Results of the research showed that the extent of extension media and method application on the Farmer Group of Harapan Sejahtera are in medium categories, which have scores 11 and 12, respectively. Strategies of the application of method and media on extension toward the Farmer Group of Harapan Sejahtera include; (1) implementation of group method in giving the extension, (2) establishing the Meeting Hall as supporting means to perform extension activities, (3) utilizing online media (cyber extension) to transfer the extension.

During recent years the concept of farmer empowerment has been put on the agenda and now is a part of Indonesian’s government program. Empowerment of farmers’ group considered necessary because, in agricultural development, farmers’ group are the key development resource and subject in developing their agricultural efforts. This paper aims to explore the farmer’s group empowerment strategies to improve their income. The paper is based solely on the reviews of literature on the topic of farmer’s group and empowerment to explore the phenomena in the agricultural sector. Based on the findings, the paper proposes the farmers’ group empowerment strategies such as farmer’s group learning and innovation and information and communication technology (ICT) have a positive influence on improving their income. Keywords: Empowerment, farmers group, income, strategy, agriculture, learning, innovation, ICT

The objective of this research article was to discuss the benefit and the maintenance of social culture in the Gapoktan (Farmers Group Association), Agro Prima. The data were gathered by conducting in-depth interviews with 16 informants that consisted of the managers and the members of Agro Prima and the local government officials. The purpose was to find out the norms, the values, and the network of this group of farmers. The result showed that cultural values found in this group had brought about the strengthening of the element of social capital of its members. Their homogeneity of their religion and their ethnicity had caused them to be able to cope with any problems which arose in the Gapoktan, especially by using the principle of “holong mangalap holong” (being mutually affectionate). Besides that, the local people in this area firmly follow the cultural principle of “Tappal marsipagodangan, udut marsipaginjangan, marsipatua-tuaan aso dapot hadamean” (always instilling the sense of togetherness and the form of address for someone according to tradition followed from generation to generation) so that each member and the management of the group can maintain and develop harmonization in the organization. The use of this social capital can be seen from their activity in empowering in order to increase their welfare and economic condition. The Gapoktan, Agro Prima, also attempts to maintain and develop the organization so that it will become tenacious through the use of this social capital. El objetivo de este artículo de investigación fue discutir el beneficio y el mantenimiento de la cultura social en la Gapoktan (Asociación de Agricultores del Grupo), Agro Prima. Los datos se recopilaron mediante entrevistas en profundidad con 16 informantes que consistieron en los gerentes y los miembros de Agro Prima y los funcionarios del gobierno local. El propósito era descubrir las normas, los valores y la red de este grupo de agricultores. El resultado mostró que los valores culturales encontrados en este grupo habían provocado el fortalecimiento del elemento de capital social de sus miembros. Su homogeneidad de su religión y su origen étnico les había permitido hacer frente a cualquier problema que surgiera en Gapoktan, especialmente al usar el principio de "holong mangalap holong" (ser mutuamente cariñoso). Además de eso, la gente local en esta área sigue firmemente el principio cultural de "Tappal marsipagodangan, udut marsipaginjangan, marsipatua-tuaan aso dapot hadamean" (siempre inculcando el sentido de unión y la forma de dirigirse a alguien de acuerdo con la tradición seguida de generación en generación generación) para que cada miembro y la gerencia del grupo puedan mantener y desarrollar la armonización en la organización. El uso de este capital social puede verse en su actividad de empoderamiento para aumentar su bienestar y su condición económica. El Gapoktan, Agro Prima, también intenta mantener y desarrollar la organización para que sea tenaz a través del uso de este capital social. O objetivo deste artigo de pesquisa foi discutir o benefício e a manutenção da cultura social no Gapoktan (Associação de Grupos de Agricultores), Agro Prima. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas aprofundadas com 16 informantes, que consistiam dos gerentes e membros da Agro Prima e funcionários do governo local. O objetivo era descobrir as normas, os valores e a rede desse grupo de agricultores. O resultado mostrou que os valores culturais encontrados nesse grupo provocaram o fortalecimento do elemento capital social de seus membros. Sua homogeneidade de religião e etnia os levou a lidar com quaisquer problemas que surgissem no Gapoktan, especialmente usando o princípio de “holong mangalap holong” (sendo mutuamente afetuosos). Além disso, as pessoas locais nesta área seguem firmemente o princípio cultural de “Tappal marsipagodangan, udut marsipaginjangan, marsipatua-tuaan aso dapot hadamean” (sempre instilando o senso de união e a forma de endereço para alguém de acordo com a tradição seguida de geração em geração) para que cada membro e a gerência do grupo possam manter e desenvolver harmonização na organização. O uso desse capital social pode ser visto em sua atividade de empoderamento, a fim de aumentar seu bem-estar e condição econômica. O Gapoktan, Agro Prima, também tenta manter e desenvolver a organização para que se torne tenaz através do uso desse capital social.

The purpose of this study was to assess the role of agricultural extension in the development of Farmers in Sub Benua Nirae, Abeli District of Kendari. This study uses a quantitative descriptively. Samples were used as research informants are 20 farmers who are members of 4 groups of farmers and also an Agricultural Extension Workers in Sub Benua Nirae, Abeli District of Kendari City. Agricultural Extension Workers in Sub Benua plays an important role in the development of farmer groups, especially as farmers supervisor, facilitator, organizer and motivator. The level of the role of educator judged by the farmers in good enough category

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of environmental and pre-milking sanitation on milk quality of dairy cow in the farmers. Milk quality were measured from samples that were taken from cows managed by farmers in Pakem, Sleman during the existing condition and implementation of treatment. Twenty three dairy cows were used to observed the effect of treatment, namely improve environmental sanitation and pre-milking. The treatment consisted of cleaning the floor stable, water and feed trough, washing the cow and udder, drying udder and discarded the first milk flow. The results showed that improving sanitation significantly decreased milk acidity from 0.19% to 0.14% and number of bacteria in milk. The treatments could also increase milk density and solid non fat. The study concluded that improving environmental sanitation and pre-milking gave significant effect to milk quality.

Since the 1960s, Ethiopia has been inducing changes in its approaches to agricultural extension through reforms. In 2010, the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources adopted a Participatory Extension System. Farmers' group formation accompanies the reform process. This paper analyzes and discusses how the newly adopted system is structured and operates, the characteristics of extension services, and the evaluation system employed in agricultural extension, and assesses the challenges and opportunities associated with the system. Data are drawn from field research carried out in 2015/16 in two districts of Southwestern Ethiopia. A mixed methods approach was employed, combining qualitative and quantitative data-collection tools: household survey, expert and key informant interviews, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), participant observation, and desk literature review. ATLAS.ti and SPSS were used for data analysis. The findings show that, despite the reforms and a steadily increasing number of development agents, the advisory service has not yet satisfied farmers' demands. The formation of farmers' groups to increase extension coverage and promote collective action has limited effects and lacks uniformity across study sites. High input and low output prices are the other limitations on technology adoption and scaling-up. Despite the emerging opportunities, the agricultural extension system is constrained by multiple challenges and often perceived as an extended arm of the state, and less as a useful service provider. From the analyses, we identified a need to create a national strategy for an agricultural extension system that gives space for pluralistic advisory services while still nurturing the efficiency, effectiveness and inclusiveness of the public agricultural extension service. In addition, proper decentralization needs to be promoted to improve participation and encourage all categories of farmers to develop a sense of ownership and become beneficiaries of the agricultural extension system.

Agriculture tourism sector in Batu, Indonesia has strong potential with its natural environment. The Makmur Abadi farmers group is one of the farmer groups in Tulungrejo that offers apple pick tours. Visitors to Makmur Abadi have been increasing in recent years. This study aims to know visitors characteristics, factors that affects visit frequency and analyze the consumer surplus value of tourists in Makmur Abadi using travel cost method. The primary data was collected from visitors of Makmur Abadi from July to August 2013 and was analyzed using multiple regression models. The results shows that the characteristics of visitors in Makmur Abadi are dominated by visitors who are 31-40 years old, 69% respondents are males and 31% are females with most of the visitors already married. Most of the visitors have obtained the educational qualification of bachelor or diploma and most of the visitor’s occupation being government employees and entrepreneurs had personal income ranging from Rp. 3,000,000 – Rp. 4,999,000 per month. 83% of the visitors have only 2-5 leisure periods per month and most of the visitors came from Java, Bali and Sumatra Islands. The factors that significantly affects visit frequency are income, travel time Makmur Abadi, leisure time, marital status, revisit, infrastructures, and perception. The consumer surplus in Makmur Abadi apple pick tour is Rp. 2,584,390 per year per person.

En el marco del proyecto de Observatorios de Dinámicas Territoriales (LABINTEX) se participa en 4 dispositivos de investigación participativa sobre diferentes situaciones territoriales con el objetivo de analizar la capacidad de dichos dispositivos de crear redes socio-técnicas con capacidad de agencia. Dos de estos dispositivos (CapVert y ObsTAE) están vinculados a situaciones de grupos de productores implicados en procesos de transición agroecológica. En ambos se realiza una caracterización de diferentes situaciones grupales y se hacen seguimientos de grupos seleccionados. En esta ponencia nos proponemos caracterizar estos dispositivos y mostrar algunos avances de los seguimientos realizados. Dos hipótesis principales guían esta presentación: 1) la pertenencia a un grupo facilita el proceso de transición agroecológica 2) Existe una correlación entre el avance en prácticas agroecológicas y la emergencia de nuevas formas de cooperación entre los productores y actores del territorio. Los primeros trabajos de terreno nos alientan a validar ambas hipótesis., In the framework of the project “Observatories of Territorial Dynamics” (LABINTEX) we participate in 4 devices of participatory research on different territorial situations in order to test the ability of these devices to create socio-technical networks with agency capability. Two of these devices (Capvert and ObsTAE) are linked to situations of farmers groups involved in processes of agroecological transition. In both cases the different group situations are characterized and monitoring of selected groups is made. In this paper we propose to characterize these devices and show some progress in the performed follow-ups. Two main hypotheses guide this presentation: 1) membership to a group facilitates the process of agroecological transition 2) There is a correlation between moving forward to agro-ecological practices and the emergence of new forms of cooperation between producers and actors of the territory. The first field works encourage us to validate both hypotheses.