Agricultural extension workers play an essential role in the productivity of agricultural systems. Based on the actual conditions in the field, it can be seen that the level of extension services still needs to be higher due to a lack of human resources in the field of extension services. This research was conducted to determine the effectiveness of agricultural extension services andthe factors that influence the effectiveness of agricultural extension to farmers in Baubau City, Indonesia. The analytical method includes exogenous latent variables: human resources, technological progress, farming capital, farmer age, education, and farming experience. The effectiveness of agricultural extension is used as an endogenous latent variable. The research sample consisted of 110 rice farmers in Baubau City, and the Slovin formula was used to calculate the sample. The data collection for this research was carried out by distributing questionnaires to respondents, in-depth interviews, and direct observation in the city of Baubau. Using the AMOS application, quantitative analysis was carried out through structural equation modeling (SEM). The study results show that: (1) The factors that influence the effectiveness of agricultural extension in Baubau City are farming capital, farmer age, education, farming experience, and human resources, and (2) the influence of these factors on the effectiveness of agricultural extension is as follows: if the farming capital is high, human resources can be increased. In addition, the higher the farmer’s age, the lower the need for human resources. It is also noted that higher farmer education contributes to increased human capital, and increased experience in farming is associated with increased human capital. Thus, an increase in human resources will increase the effectiveness of agricultural extension. Significant factors that influence the effectiveness of agricultural extension in Baubau City, Southeast Sulawesi, are farming capital, farmer age, education, farming experience, and human resources.

As a staple food and a key component of livestock feed, the growing demand for maize in Indonesia has spurred the expansion of hybrid maize cultivation. However, despite advancements in seed technology and government initiatives to boost maize production, farmers in rural areas continue to face obstacles in accessing high-quality seeds. This study explores the influence of the marketing mix—encompassing product, price, promotion, and distribution—alongside personal factors on farmers’ purchasing decisions for hybrid maize seeds in Soppeng District. Utilizing structural equation modeling (SEM) and survey data from 100 respondents, the findings indicate that product quality and price are the most critical determinants, with farmers prioritizing seed performance and affordability. Distribution also plays a vital role in rural areas, ensuring that farmers can readily access high-quality seeds. At the same time, personal factors such as farming experience and income significantly shape purchasing behavior. Notably, promotional efforts appear to have a limited impact, suggesting that traditional marketing approaches may not be the most effective in this context. Seed companies should focus on product development, refine pricing strategies, and strengthen distribution networks to enhance market penetration. In parallel, policymakers can facilitate access to agricultural credit, invest in rural infrastructure, and promote farmer education programs to improve purchasing power and awareness. Ultimately, adapting marketing strategies to align with local economic and cultural conditions can drive greater adoption of hybrid seeds, boost agricultural productivity, and contribute to the long-term sustainability of rural farming communities.

The research objective was to examine the factors influencing the effectiveness of agricultural extension in clove farming in Sidrap Regency. Primary data were collected using structured interviews with 140 selected clove farmers to achieve this objective. The binary logistic regression model was employed to test the influence of fourteen independent variables on the dependent variable. The research results indicated that the variables of family size, mass communication approach, electronic media, and clove cultivation material significantly and positively impacted the effectiveness of agricultural extension in clove farming. Meanwhile, the variables of educational attainment, farming experiences, farmers’ cosmopolitanism, print media, and land area had a negative significant effect, and the other variables had no significant effect. These findings are important indicators and valuable insights in promoting and encouraging the effectiveness of extension in clove farming. The findings emphasize the significant role of family characteristics, agricultural extension approaches, and communication delivery methods in the diffusion of agricultural technology and enhancing the effectiveness of agricultural extension. Based on the research results, policy recommendations are proposed to enhance extension effectiveness in clove farming, specifically, augmented farmer education on clove cultivation and the intensification and extensification of mass extension methods, as well as using electronic media in extension activities.

This research is located in Jeneponto Regency and was conducted from February to March 2022. The goals of this research are 1) to determine the performance of agricultural extension workers during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Jeneponto Regency, 2) to evaluate how the Covid-19 Pandemic in Jeneponto Regency affected the effectiveness of agricultural extension workers by looking at internal and external aspects, and 3) to analyze the influence of the factors that most dominantly affect the performance of agricultural extension workers during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Jeneponto Regency. Simple random sampling is used to choose the sample, which includes 46 respondents across 6 subdistricts. Data from this study's data collection were examined by percentage descriptive analysis and multiple linear regression analysis using SPSS 25. The results showed that the performance of agricultural extension workers in Jeneponto Regency was in the high category and internal and external factors simultaneously affected the performance of agricultural extension workers. If in part only formal education, training, age, motivation, reward system, and the level of active participation of farmers have a significant effect. Meanwhile, the use of counseling media, work period / work experience, family dependents, availability of facilities and infrastructure, distance of work areas, number of assisted farmer groups, information technology, and support for coaching and supervision did not have a significant partial effect on the performance of agricultural extension workers during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Jeneponto Regency.

COVID-19 has caused global problems with complex ramifications. Vulnerable households worry about disruptions to food security. Mobility restrictions, decreased salaries, and supply chain disruptions have increased food insecurity. This study examined the best food security model and its determinants. The primary research data were collected from 257 respondents via cluster random sampling. Binary logistic regression, using R-Studio, was employed to analyze the data. The study showed that the Minimal Model (MM) was optimal in explaining food security status, with three predictors: the available food stock (AFS), education of the household head (EHH), and household income (HIc). This aligned with studies showing that food purchase ability depends on income and education. Male household heads demonstrated better food security than females, while women’s education influenced consumption through improved nutritional knowledge. Higher income provides more alternatives for meeting needs, while decreased income limits options. Food reserve storage influenced household food security during the pandemic. The Minimal Model effectively influenced food security through the AFS, EHH, and HIc. The findings underline the importance of available food stock, household head education, and household income in developing approaches to assist food-insecure households. The research makes a significant contribution to ensuring food availability and promoting sustainable development post-pandemic.

The objective of this research was to examine the determinants of farmer participation and shallot-farming development in search of effective farm management practices. The study used structural equation modeling data analysis. The primary data were collected from direct structural interviews with 150 randomly chosen shallot farmers in Bantaeng Regency, Indonesia. It was found that the latent variables of Physical Aspects of Land, System of Economy Peasant Society, and System of Political Peasant Society were fundamental factors that exerted a positive and significant influence on the latent variable of Farmer Participation. Therefore, improvements in the physical aspects of the land, the economic framework, and the political structure of agricultural communities could promote farmer participation. Furthermore, the latent variable of Farmer Participation and System of Political Peasant Society had a positive and significant impact on shallot-farming development. Thus, by increasing the influence of government officials and community leaders, shallot farming can be promoted. The farmers can then enhance their participation in shallot-farming plan formulation and implementation, providing the continued development of shallot farming. The findings of this study contribute significantly to the body of knowledge by validating previous research and proposing different ways to improve effective farm management practices in shallot farming.