Internal factors and competency on the performance model of self-support agricultural extensional agents in Serang City

Abstract

This study was conducted to analyze the internal factors that affect the competence and performance of self-support agricultural extension agents in Serang City. The study was designed as explanatory research, which explains the variables' position and the causal relationship between variables with a quantitative approach using Partial Least Square (PLS) analysis. Data collection was carried out from April to June 2021 with 34 respondents. The types of data collected were primary and secondary data. The data scale in this study was in the form of ratio data for internal factor variables and ordinal data for competence and performance variables. Based on the data processing results on the performance model of self-support agricultural extension agents in Serang City, it can be concluded that internal factors have a significant direct influence on competence with an influence value of 0.354. Internal factors also significantly influence the performance of self-support agricultural extension agents either directly with a value of 0.297 or indirectly through the competence variable with a value of 0.223. Competence also has a significant effect on performance, with a value of 0.631. Internal factors include training, experience, cosmopolitanism, and social status aspects. Competence must be enhanced to increase the performance of self-supporting agricultural educators. Competence of self-support agricultural teachers refers to the ability and capacity of self-support agricultural instructors to perform their duties. Enhancing the competence and performance of self-supporting agricultural extension workers can be accomplished by boosting their internal factors such as training, experience, and global exposure through training, internships, courses, and coordination meetings. Meanwhile, when recruiting independent agricultural extension workers, socioeconomic status might be considered.