Strengthening of agent extension capacity in efforts to improve the empowerment of beef cattle farmers

Farmer empowerment is an effort to build power and provide motivation so that farmers can find out their potential and can make decisions and determine the actions they will take related to themselves, including reducing the effects of personal and social barriers to taking action through increased self-confidence through the transfer of power from the environment. To achieve farmer empowerment is closely related to the capacity of extension workers. This study aims to analyze the strengthening of the capacity of extension workers in the empowerment of beef cattle farmers. The research was conducted in Barru Regency, South Sulawesi Province with a descriptive research approach. The determination of extension agents as respondents is randomly calculated based on Slovin, with the number of respondents being 44 extension workers. The research data was collected by conducting a survey using data collection techniques, namely interviews using a questionnaire, focus group discussion, and in-depth interviews (in-depth study) to several key informants. The results showed that the capacity of extension workers in the efforts to empower beef cattle farmers with indicators of extension capacity in fostering partnerships between farmers and business actors, providing up-to-date information and technology, fostering entrepreneurship, breeder access to financial institutions, information on production and marketing facilities, ability in the technical field and the capacity of extension workers in planning programs according to needs are still in the medium category. For this reason, it is necessary to increase the quality and quantity of extension workers through strengthening the capacity of extension workers through education and training so that it can influence changes in farmers' mindsets on knowledge, attitudes and skills so that the welfare and empowerment of beef cattle farmers can be achieved