Empowerment of Farmer Groups in Development Cocoa Agribusiness in Soppeng Regency
Asti Astari (a*), Sitti Bulkis (b), Kaimuddin (c)
(a) Agribusiness Study Program, Graduate School Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
*email : astiastari[at]pasca.unhas.ac.id
(b) Lecturer at Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to analyze the process of empowering cocoa farmer groups. This study used a qualitative research approach. Sampling in this study was conducted purposively consisting of 50 cocoa farmers. The sample in this study is the cocoa farmers who participated in the empowerment of farmer group program conducted in Soppeng, South Sulawesi province. Data collection techniques are done by interview, observation and documentation study. Data were analyzed using qualitative descriptive analysis. The results showed that the process of empowering cocoa farmer groups in Soppeng District consisted of, (a) At the stage of awareness and formation of conscious behavior, farmers do not realize that empowerment programs can provide benefits for them; (b) In the ability transformation stage, farmers have not been able to absorb all the learning that has been given by the counselor; and (c) At the stage of increasing intellectual and skills, intellectual abilities and skills of farmers are not yet optimal.
Keywords: cocoa agribusiness; farmer groups; the empowerment process
Topic: Extension of agriculture