Agriculture extension has changed Indonesian agriculture. History shows that Indonesian
agriculture has changed, and the change was influenced by agricultural extension. Before
1970 era, Indonesian economy was based on traditional agricultural development economy.
Since 1970, Indonesia has modernized its agricultural practice through introduction of
modern agricultural input (high yielding varieties, chemical fertilizer and pesticides),
agricultural practices (modern agricultural techniques) and services (irrigation, credit, and
marketing). All these modern technologies were delivered to Indonesian farmers (more
precisely, peasants) through modern and systematic agricultural extension services.
Agricultural modernization program, called the green revolution, was successful in Indonesia.
From previously being the biggest rice importer, Indonesia reached self-sufficiency in rice in
1984. Compared to the 1960’s, Indonesian agricultural today is very modern, with modern
input and modern supporting institutions.
Today, Indonesia is known as a democratic country with a highly decentralized government.
The local government, at district level, holds the major role in development. Agricultural
development management is also delegated to local government. As a result, agricultural
extension, as a part of agricultural development, is faced with changes in Indonesian
development. The questions to be dealt with are: how is the status of agricultural extension
in Indonesia in the dynamic of Indonesian development? In the future, what is the role of
agricultural extension in Indonesia, and how is it carried out.
1.2. Objectives
The objective of this paper is to describe current status and possible ways to meeting
emerging challenges of agricultural extension service in Indonesia. In detail, the objectives
of this paper are:
a. to describe the role of agricultural extension in Indonesia and its change
b. to discuss current and future issues in agricultural extension in Indonesia
1.3. Methodology
To fulfill the objectives, various data collection techniques are applied. These are:
a. Literature study, include official documents, research results. Most of the researches
are PhD dissertation and master thesis from Bogor Agricultural University. Official
government documents (reports, regulation etc) are also reviewed.
b. Interview with agricultural extension experts.
c. Interview with agricultural extension workers and administrators. In order to obtain
the current issues of agricultural extension in Indonesia, a series of formal and
informal discussions was done with agricultural officers, i.e. extension workers and
extension administrators from Bogor Regency, officers from Ministry of Agriculture
Republic of Indonesia.
II. EVOLUTION AND REFORMS OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION IN INDONESIA
Development of agricultural extension in Indonesia can be sorted into: (Abbas, 1995, Saragih,
2007):
2.1. Colonial Era
Systematic agricultural development was initiated by the Dutch Government. In 1817, they
built a botanical garden in Bogor, a small city near Jakarta, and planted about 50 commercial
agricultural commodities; including new rice varieties, nuts, palm oil, tea, tobacco, coffee,
sugar cane, and cassava. After that, they developed many agricultural research centers and
educational institutions in the area. They also carried out several agricultural extension
efforts to increase agricultural production to fulfill domestic and colonial government needs.
During that time, the colonial government discovered that there was a gap between farmer
practices and available technologies (Slamet, 2003).
In 1908 the Dutch Government appointed five agricultural advisors and in 1910 they
established Office of Agricultural Extension. They conducted an extensive range of work
(staple food and commercial commodity), from technical to credit system. This agricultural
extension system worked well; educating people and modernizing agricultural system in
Indonesia. They linked agricultural research to farmers, and distributed many commercial
crops. They also conducted rural training for farmers, constructed demonstration plots,
conducted study tours for farmers, and also made farming economic analysis.
During the Japan Colonial era, extension activities were non-existence. The colonial
government pushed farmers to plant staple food crops and other plants for the on-going war.
They also appointed officers to collect agricultural production for the war.
2.2. Sukarno Era (1945 – 1963)
The first systematic agricultural development conducted by the Government of Indonesia
was the Kasimo Plan. However, due to political instability, the development plan was not
well implemented. In 1950 the Government of Indonesia began to help farmers increase
their farming productivity through the establishment of Rural Community Education Center, to
introduce chemical fertilizers and pesticides, new variety of crops, improve irrigation system.
Again, political instability created difficulties in implementing the program. However, during
this period, the government had developed a new approach in extension. They initiated an
intensification project for 1000 hectares of paddy field, and provided financial support for
farmers (fertilizers, seeds, and cash). They had hoped that this intensification demonstration
be imitated by other farmers.
In 1959 there was a little change in agricultural extension development. The government
changed agricultural extension approach from slow-but-sure to a rapid personal approach;
olievlek-sijsteem to water drop system, expecting that all people (beneficiaries) will obtain
water from agricultural extension service. The government launched Komando Operasi
Gerakan Makmur (Prosperity Movement Operation Command) to achieve self-sufficiency in
rice. However, this movement failed, and at that time, due to the use of “command”
approach, farmers had negative perception towards agricultural extension.
During the last years of Sukarno Era, Indonesia faced a serious problem due to lack of food.
Many people became ill due to hunger. In 1963, the Faculty of Agricultural University of
Indonesia (now Bogor Agricultural University) sent their students and professors to rural area
to introduce new rice technology (5 technologies of rice: seeds, chemical fertilizers, pest
control, planting space and irrigation) to farmers. This action research was successful in
improvement of land productivity. Afterwards, the government took over the approach, and
called it BIMAS (Bimbingan Massal = Mass Guidance).
2.3. Suharto Era
Suharto regime continued the BIMAS as its main approach in agricultural development.
Besides extension services, the government also provided credit, and low-price agricultural
inputs (seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides). The government also provided cooperative
institutions to help farmers obtain agricultural inputs and market their products.
During that time, extension workers were recruited from all over Indonesia, and the
establishment of a very solid organization system. Around 35.000 agricultural extension
workers with various expertises were placed all over Indonesia. Very strong agricultural
extension organization existed from central government to village level.
During the three Five-Year Development Program (PELITA) in Suharto Era, economic
development was based on agricultural economic. Setiawan (2012) mentioned that in this
era agricultural sector held a superior position, and played a core strategy in development
grand design. A very important result of agricultural development in this era was selfsufficiency
in rice. Food and Agricultural Organization dedicated a special medal to Suharto
for the achievement in this effort.
However, there were many criticisms against agricultural development in this era. Even
though the government placed many extension workers and established a very strong
organization for them, democratic extension education was not demonstrated. Many experts
said that the agricultural extension workers used “coercion” to change farmers’ behavior.
Slamet (2003) said that agricultural extension was used only as tool to increase agricultural
(especially rice) production. Through this approach, agricultural extension activities were in
the same position as fertilizers for seeds, only to increase productivity, not to educate
farmers (Prabowo 2003).
Saragih (2007) mentioned that agricultural development during Suharto era had successfully
overcome first generation problem of agricultural development i.e. production and on-farm
problems. According to Fakih (2000), agricultural development during this era heavily used
“modern” agricultural input, such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Overuse of this input
during the green revolution in Indonesia had deteriorated environment.
2.4. Democracy and Decentralization Era
After Suharto stepped-down in 1998, there were big changes in development approaches in
Indonesia. Two of these changes that influenced agricultural extension were
democratization and decentralization. With decentralization approach, the main decision
makers and executors of agricultural development are local government, especially in
regency level.
This development brought about serious problems for agricultural development in general
and particularly for agricultural extension. In general, not so many local governments
emphasized agricultural sector as main engine of economic development, and agricultural
development became neglected.
In line with this, agricultural extension became stagnant. In many local governments,
agricultural extension institutions were abandoned. According to Slamet (2003b),
decentralization has brought agricultural extension in Indonesia to the worst situation, after
30 years of development. Balai Informasi Penyuluhan Pertanian (House of Information for
Agricultural Extension) ceased to exist and extension workers missed their “home”.
III. CURRENT STATUS, ISSUE, CHALLENGES
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