Analysis of Factors Affecting the Performance of Agricultural Extension Agent in Langkat District

Abstract

Extension agent is one of the important factors in the agricultural process to deliver technology information and agricultural programs from government to farmers. The good performance of agricultural extension agents will have an impact on improving the performance of farmers to increase agricultural production.In Langkat Regency, the extension agent performance was not still optimal. Factors affecting the performance of the extension agent consist of internal and external factors. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of age, formal education, work experience, distance of work area, and a number of assisted villages against the performance of extension agent in Langkat district. Questionnaires were distributed by sensus method to 49 agricultural extension agent who works in Langkat. The data used consist of primary data and secondary data. Data analysis methods used are multiple regression. The results showed that age, a distance of work area and a number of assisted villages negatively affect against the performance of extension workers; while formal education and work experience have a positive effect against extension agent performance. Age and number of assisted villages had no significant effect on extension agent performance; while formal education, work experience, and distance of the working area have a significant effect against extension agent performance