The Perception of Rural Smallholders on the Role of ToTE Officers as Agricultural Extension Agents in Enhancing Cocoa Productivity in the East Coast Region of Sabah

Abstract

The effectiveness of agricultural productivity improvement programs depends on the acceptance of smallholder farmers as the beneficiaries of these programs. However, differences in values, social norms, and traditional farming practices between smallholders and the guidance provided by ToTE officers as agricultural extension agents may hinder the efforts of the Malaysian Cocoa Board to sustain cocoa productivity. Furthermore, cocoa remains the second most important commodity in Sabah's agricultural economy. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the perceptions of rural smallholders regarding the role of ToTE officers as agricultural extension agents in sustaining cocoa productivity. The research strategy employs a realist ontological approach and a positivist epistemological approach to statistically justify smallholder perceptions of ToTE officers. A quantitative case study design using a survey questionnaire was conducted with 195 smallholders, selected through a census sampling method in the districts of the East Coast Zone of Sabah. The findings show that most rural smallholders agree that ToTE officers play a significant role as change agents (mean 4.43). Additionally, the role of ToTE officers as problem solvers and process facilitators showed mean values of 4.40 each. Lastly, the role of ToTE officers as resource connectors demonstrated a mean value of 4.39. It is hoped that the findings of this study will provide guidance to policymakers, particularly the Rural Development Policy (RDP), to advance the agricultural sector and cocoa smallholders in alignment with Pillar 1: Economy, Pillar 7: Prosperous Life, and Pillar 10: Development, in accordance with the roles highlighted by community change agents.

References

Adebayo, K., Babu, S. C., Sanusi, R., & Sofola, M. (2015). Private sector participation in agricultural extension for cocoa farming in Nigeria: the case of multi-trex integrated foods. In Knowledge Driven Development. 141-162. Academic Press.

Adeoye, Y. M., Oluwole, A. F., & Blessing, L. A. (2013). Appraising the role of information communication technology (ICT) as a change agent for higher education in Nigeria. International Journal of Educational Administration and Policy Studies, 5(8),177-183.

Amanah, S., & Seminar, A. U. (2022). Sekolah lapang petani sebagai Community of Practice pengembangan inovasi kelompok di era digital. Jurnal Penyuluhan, 18(01),164-176. https://doi.org/ 10.25015/18202240307

Asnarulkhadi Abu Samah, A.S. (2021). Pendayaupayaan melalui pembangunan komuniti: Satu Refleksi. Syarahan Inagural. 12 November 2021. Dewan Seminar Al-Farabi, Fakulti Ekologi Manusia, Universiti Putra Malaysia. ISBN 978-967-2989-64-4.

Havelock, R. G. (1973). The Change Agent’s Guide to Innovation in Education. Educational Technology Publications, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

Charatsari, C., & Lioutas, E. D. (2020). Evaluating agricultural extension and education projects: The VELVET approach. Development in Practice, 30(4),548-557.

Cho, S.-Y., Sarker, M. A., Itohara, Y., Agbarevo, A., Tiraieyari, N., Hamzah, A., Samah, B. A., Ahmad, N. A., Hamid, K. A., Othman, Z., Meijer, S. S., Catacutan, D., Ajayi, O. C., Sileshi, G. W., Nieuwenhuis, M., Nordin, S., Rizal, A. R. A., Yahya, J., Effendy, Aikins, I. (2018). Extension agents and sustainable cocoa farming: A case study of extension agents in Sabah state, Malaysia. Modern Applied Science, 13(1), 210–218.

Dey, S. K., Khan, K. A., Tučková, Z., & Jibril, A. B. (2020). Motivation among travel agents in India: The moderating role of employee's expertise and marital status. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 18(2), 453-465.

Famuyiwa, B. S., Aroyenu, S. O., Adeyemi, E. A., Okeniyi, M. O., Agbongiarhouyi, A. E., & Yahaya, A. T. (2018). Farmers Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Cocoa Certification in Southwest Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Extension, 22(1),18–29.

Gugule, H., & Mesra, R. (2022). Peran program pengembangan dan pemberdayaan masyarakat (PPM) dalam inovasi tanaman coklat pada kelompok tani di Desa Mopusi Kabupaten Bolaang Mongondow. Jurnal Pendidikan Mandala, 7(4). https://doi.org/10.58258/jupe.v7i4.4139.

Havelock, R. G. (1973). The Change Agents Guide to Innovation in Education. Educational Technology Publications, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

Havelock, R.G. & Havelock, M.C. (1973). Training For Change Agents: A Guide to The Design of Training Programs in Education & Other Fields. University Of Michigan Press: East Lensing.

IACD. (2019). Standard Antarabangsa Bagi Praktis Pembangunan Komuniti. International Association for Community Development (IACD), Baltic Chambers, Suite 305, 50 Wellington Street, Glasgow G2 6HJ, Scotland, UK.

Ibrahim, I., Awang, A. H., & Manaf, A. A. (2018). Perception of the Extension Services and Good Agricultural Practices Among Independent Oil Palm Smallholders. E-Bangi: Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 13(3), 68–83.

Ilesanmi, J. O., & Afolabi, J. A. (2020). Determinants of adoption of improved Cocoa technologies in Ekiti state, Nigeria. International Journal of Agricultural Economics, 5(2), 36-42. https://doi.org/ 10.11648/j.ijae.20200502.11.

Jasmin, Arif Shah. Asmuni, A., & Ismail, A. (2013). Roles of extension agents towards agricultural practice in Malaysia. International Journal on Advanced Science, Engineering, and Information Technology,  3(1), 59-63.

Jelsma, I., Woittiez, L.S., Ollivier, J., Dharmawan, A.H. (2019). Do Wealthy Farmers Implement Better Agricultural Practices? An Assessment of Implementation of Good Agricultural Practices Among Different Types of Independent Oil Palm Smallholders in Riau, Indonesia. Agric. Syst, 1(7): 63–76.

Kasin, R. (2012) Contribution of Group Dynamics Factors to Technology Adoption Among Malaysia Cocoa Farmer Clusters. [Doctoral Dissertation. University Putra Malaysia].

Leathers, S. J., Spielfogel, J. E., Blakey, J., Christian, E., & Atkins, M. S. (2016). The Effect of a Change Ejen on Use of Evidence-Based Mental Health Practices. Journal of Administration and Policy in Mental Health. 43(5), 768–782.

Maoba, S. (2016). Farmers’ perception of agricultural extension service delivery in Germiston Region, Gauteng Province, South Africa. South African Journal of Agricultural Extension, 44(2),167-173.

Miyittah, M. K., Kosivi, R. K., Tulashie, S. K., Addi, M. N., & Tawiah, J. Y. (2022). The need for alternative pest management methods to mitigate risks among cocoa farmers in the Volta region, Ghana. Heliyon, 8(12). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12591.

Noviatin, Syarifuddin., Asnarulkhadi, Abu Samah., Nik Ahmad Sufian, Burhan., & Jasmin Arif Shah. (2021) The Role and Competence of Agricultural Development Officers as Community Developers: A Scoping Review. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(12), 1568–1581. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v11-i12/11439.

Noviatin, Syarifuddin., Jasmin, Arif Shah., Asnarulkhadi, Abu Samah., & Nik Ahmad Sufian, Burhan. (2024). Pengetahuan, Sikap dan Praktis (KAP) Komuniti Pekebun Kecil Koko (KPKK) berkaitan Malaysian Good Agricultural Practices (MyGAP). e-Bangi: Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 21(4), 569 – 582. https://doi.org/10.17576/ebangi.2024.2104.45.

Oke, O. S., Nosiru, M. O., Ogunbela, A. A., Marizu, J. T., Lawah, M. O., Jatto, K. A., ... & Agbeyomi, O. S. (2020). Assessment of extension officer contribution to cocoa production in Nigeria. Journal Of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 24(7), 1123-1128. https://doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v24i7.1.

Rahim Md. Sail & Asnarulkhadi Abu Samah (2010). Community development through community capacity building: A social science perspective. Journal of American Science, 6(2), 68-76.

Rahim Md. Sail. (2010). Empowering of Agricultural Extensionists Through Knowledge and Skill Of The Extension Profession. In International Conference on Agricultural Extension 2010 (AGREX’10): Empowering of Agri-Food Stakesholder in Facing Global Challenges Towards Sustainability, 26-28 Oct. 2010, Palm Garden Hotel, IOI Resort Putrajaya, Malaysia.

Sulaiman, M., Hayrol, A., Mohd, S. O., Bahaman, A. S., Abu Samah, A., & Siti, A. R. (2011). Receiving the agriculture information through mass media and interpersonal sources among the rural community. American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, 6(3), 451-461.

Takemura, K., Uchida, Y. & Yoshikawa, S. (2014). Roles Of Extension Officers to Promote Social Capital in Japanase Agricultural Communities. Journal PLOS One, 9(3), 1-9.

Tanjungsari, K., Hariadi, S. S., & Sulastri, E. (2016). Pengaruh peran petugas lapang terhadap partisipasi petani dalam pengembangan Model Desa Kakao di Kabupaten Gunungkidul. Agro Ekonomi. Vol. 27(2), 121-135. https://doi.org/10.22146/jae.22877.

Tiraeyari, N. (2009). Relationships Between Extension Workers' Competencies and Job Performance in Implementing the Good Agricultural Practices Programme In Malaysia. [Doctoral Dissertation. University Putra Malaysia].

Tiraieyari, N., Hamzah, A., & Samah, B. A. (2014). Extension ejens and sustainable cocoa farming: A case study of extension agents in Sabah state, Malaysia. Modern Applied Science, 8(6), 210–218.

Yamoah, F. A., Kaba, J. S., Botchie, D., & Amankwah-Amoah, J. (2021). Working towards sustainable innovation for green waste benefits: The role of awareness of consequences in the adoption of shaded cocoa agroforestry in Ghana. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(3), 1–14.

Yusuf, M.S.A. (2019). Extension Agents’s Performance in Transferring Rice Check Technology in Granary Areas Of Malaysia As Perceived By Farmers. [Master Thesis. University Putra Malaysia].