EVALUATION OF LOWLAND RICE FARMERS’ SATISFACTION LEVEL WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORKERS AT DESA NOELBAKI, KECAMATAN KUPANG TENGAH, KABUPATEN KUPANG

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the performance attributes of agricultural extension workers and the satisfaction level of lowland rice farmers in Noelbaki Village, Kupang Tengah District, Kupang Regency. The study was motivated by a decline in lowland rice production over the last two years, indicating the need to evaluate the effectiveness of agricultural extension workers as farmer companions. The research used a survey method, with data collected through questionnaires and interviews with lowland rice farmers. Data were analyzed using qualitative descriptive analysis to describe extension worker performance, as well as Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) and Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) methods to evaluate farmers’ satisfaction levels. The results show that the performance of agricultural extension workers includes five service dimensions: tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. In general, extension worker performance has been good, although several indicators still need improvement, particularly ease of contact and ability to use the local language. The IPA results show that the importance level had an average score of 3.91, categorized as important, while the performance level had an average score of 3.49, categorized as satisfied. Meanwhile, the CSI analysis resulted in an index value of 69.6%, which is in the “satisfied” category based on the CSI criterion of 68–84%. Thus, lowland rice farmers in Noelbaki Village were satisfied with the performance of agricultural extension workers, although improvements in several attributes are still needed to enhance the quality of extension services.