TOMATO FARMERS' PERCEPTIONS OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORKER’S PERFORMANCE AT DESA LEWOKELENG, KECAMATAN ILE BOLENG, KABUPATEN FLORES TIMUR

Abstract

This study aimed to determine tomato farmers' perceptions of the performance of agricultural extension workers and to identify the factors influencing these perceptions in Lewokeleng Village, Ile Boleng District, East Flores Regency. The research location was selected purposively, and the entire population of 35 tomato farmers was used as respondents through a census method. Data were collected through observation, interviews, documentation, and questionnaires using a Likert scale. Quantitative descriptive analysis was used to measure farmers' perceptions, while multiple linear regression was used to identify influencing factors. The results show that farmers' perceptions of agricultural extension worker performance were generally in the moderately satisfactory category, with 57.14% of respondents. The role of extension workers as communicators and innovators was perceived as relatively low, whereas their roles as facilitators and motivators were assessed more favorably. Regression results indicate that knowledge had a significant effect on farmers' perceptions, while farming experience, extension facilities, and social interaction had no significant effect.