Persepsi Petani Koko Terhadap Peranan Pegawai Pertanian dalam Inovasi Pertanian di Sabah

Abstract

Kelestarian pertanian merupakan strategi Lembaga Koko Malaysia (LKM) bagi membantu petani koko ke arah membasmi kemiskinan melalui peningkatan produktiviti komoditi. Strategi ini signifikan kepada petani berusia yang berhadapan dengan isu penurunan kualiti dan kuantiti biji koko. Kelestarian pertanian petani koko memerlukan penglibatan agensi pertanian melalui peranan pegawai pertanian untuk membawa inovasi pertanian. Sehubungan itu, kajian bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti persepsi petani terhadap peranan pegawai pertanian dalam membawa inovasi pertanian di Sabah. Kajian kuantitatif dengan pendekatan penyelidikan tinjauan dilaksanakan ke atas 195 orang petani. Borang soal selidik digunakan sebagai alat pengumpulan data. Taburan responden yang dibanci merangkumi daerah Pulau Sebatik, Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Sandakan dan Kinabatangan. Landasan teori adalah berdasarkan Teori Peranan Ejen Perubahan yang diolah dalam konteks peranan pegawai pertanian untuk menginovasi pertanian. Hasil kajian tentang tahap peranan ejen perubahan menurut persepsi petani adalah tinggi dan didominasi oleh peranan sebagai pemangkin perubahan. Diikuti, dengan peranan pegawai pertanian sebagai penyelesai masalah, pembantu proses dan penghubung sumber. Penemuan kajian memberi implikasi kepada pengkayaan ilmu melalui tumpuan isu pembangunan pertanian luar bandar. Dapatan kajian memberi kefahaman baharu kepada teori yang menjelaskan keperluan peranan pegawai pertanian sebagai perantara LKM untuk menginovasi pertanian. Ini bertepatan dengan usaha LKM bagi melestari industri koko negara.

Kata kunci: petani, pegawai pertanian, kuantitatif, banci, Sabah

Abstract: Agricultural sustainability is a strategy of the Malaysian Cocoa Board (MCB) to help cocoa farmers towards eradicating poverty through increasing commodity productivity. This strategy is significant for older farmers who are faced with the issue of decreasing quality and quantity of cocoa beans. Sustainability of cocoa farmers' agriculture requires the involvement of agricultural agencies through the role of agricultural employees to bring agricultural innovation. In this regard, the study aims to identify farmers' perceptions of the role of agricultural employees in bringing agricultural innovation in Sabah. A quantitative study using a review investigation approach was carried out on 195 farmers. The questionnaire form is used as a data collection tool. The distribution of respondents who were eviscerated included the areas of Sebatik Island, Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Sandakan and Kinabatangan. The theoretical basis is based on the Role of Change Agent Theory which is processed in the context of the role of agricultural employees to innovate agriculture. The results of the study regarding the stage of the role of agent of change according to farmers' perceptions are high and dominated by the role as a catalyst for change. Followed by the role of agricultural employees as problem solvers, process assistants and resource liaisons. The findings of the study have implications for enriching knowledge through focusing on rural agricultural development issues. The findings of the study provide new insight into the theory that explains the need for the role of agricultural employees as intermediaries for Malaysian Cocoa Board (MCB) to innovate agriculture. This coincides with Malaysian Cocoa Board (MCB) efforts to preserve the country's cocoa industry.

Keywords: Farmer; agricultural officers; quantitative; census; Sabah

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