Changing communication systems and information flows: A case study of increasing regional autonomy and decreasing centralized power in a goat farming in Purworejo regency, Central Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Local autonomy was came into effect in Indonesia since 2010. This regulation bring change in government communication system. One of them is government communication system in Ettawa Crossbred (EC) goat farming in Purworejo regency. This study aims to: first, find out the link between regional autonomy and government communication system in EC goat farming in Purworejo regency (Central Java, Indonesia), second, find out the link among regional autonomy, the Election of Village Heads (EVH), and Farmer Groups (FG). The theory used in this research is communication system in the perspective of Niklas Luhmann. The method used is explorative case study. The result shows that regional autonomy has given an opportunity for local government (regency/city) to change the Regional Work Unit (RWU) in accordance with its interests. This change has made the structure of counselling EC goat farming into spin/zig-zag. Regional autonomy in the micro level, i.e. Election of Village Heads has also hindered the process of government communication system in counselling EC goat farming. Regional autonomy in micro level has complicated government communication system because it interfered farmer groups existence. Even though, farmer groups are structure where government communication system has been implemented, there are counselling from extension staff to farmers.