Determinants of Farmer Groups Participation in Enhancing the Benefits of Digital Agricultural Extension, Maros Regency, Indonesia: Using Structural Equation Modeling

Abstract

This study examined the determinants of farmer group participation in leveraging the benefits of digital agricultural extension services in Maros Regency, Indonesia.Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), we analyzed the effects of five exogenous latent variables-farmer characteristics, external support, ICT use, extension activities, and extension dynamics-on two endogenous variables (Endo-LV): farmer participation and the benefits of digital extension.Data were collected through validated questionnaires from 288 farmers and 26 extension workers selected via simple random sampling.The results showed that farmer participation was significantly influenced by use of ICT ( = 0.502, P<00.001) and extension dynamics ( = 0.538, P<00.001), while participation itself strongly predicted benefits ( = 10.071,P<00.001).The structural model demonstrated strong explanatory power, with exogenous variables explaining 64% of the variance in farmer participation (R = 0.640) and 77% of the variance in extension benefits (R = 0.771).Farmer participation also mediated the indirect effects of ICT use and extension dynamics on perceived benefits.Conversely, farmer characteristics and extension activities had limited or negative direct effects.These findings underscore the importance of participatory approaches and adaptive extension strategies in enhancing the effectiveness of digital agricultural innovations.

Access to Document

Other files and links

• Link to publication in Scopus
• Open Access Version Available

Fingerprint