THE ROLE OF EXTENSION WORKERS IN EMPOWERING ORGANIC VEGETABLE FARMING AT THE HIDUP BARU FARMER’S GROUP AT DESA BAUMATA TIMUR, KECAMATAN TAEBENU, KABUPATEN KUPANG

Abstract

This study was conducted in Baumata Timur Village, Taebenu District, Kupang Regency, from June to July 2025. The objectives of this study were: (1) to describe the role of extension workers in empowering organic vegetable farming in the Hidup Baru Farmer Group in Baumata Timur Village; and (2) to determine the amount of farmer income obtained from organic vegetable farming. The research location was selected purposively, while the sample was determined using a saturated sampling technique involving all 33 members of the Hidup Baru Farmer Group. The data were analyzed using quantitative descriptive analysis through the calculation of average scores and the revenue-to-cost ratio (R/C ratio). The results showed that the role of agricultural extension workers in empowering organic vegetable farming in Baumata Timur Village was in the “as expected” category, with an average score of 3.48 and a maximum score achievement percentage of 69.68%, which falls within the “as expected” range of 68–83%. Financially, the R/C ratio was 1.57, meaning that every Rp1.00 of production cost generated Rp1.57 in revenue. An R/C value greater than 1 indicates that organic vegetable farming is feasible and profitable to develop. The study concludes that extension-based empowerment and production cost efficiency contribute substantially to increasing farmer income and supporting the sustainability of organic farming.