Jakarta, IO – This article summarizes the strategic issues I presented as a speaker invited to present at the National Seminar on Extension and Development Communication, organized by the Indonesian Association for Development Extension, Development Communication and Community Empowerment, in collaboration with the Polytechnic of Agricultural Development Medan on October 1, 2026.
At both global and national levels, there is a consensus that achieving food security is a fundamental pillar of national resilience. Amid climate change, global market dynamics, population growth and economic uncertainty, Indonesia’s ability to meet its food needs sustainably has become increasingly urgent and strategic. However, achieving food security requires more than just increasing agricultural commodity production. The government must also ensure that farmers possess the capacity to adapt, access technology, obtain market information, manage business risks and improve their well-being.
This is where agricultural extension plays a strategic role. Extension is not merely about conveying technology and innovation to farmers; it is a process of learning, mentoring, empowerment and human resource capacity building that enables farmers to make independent decisions based on adequate knowledge.
The agricultural sector and rural communities are undergoing a transformation toward business systems that are increasingly diverse, commercial, efficient and sustainable. Farmers no longer require information solely on how to increase productivity. They also need knowledge and skills regarding production cost management, business diversification, produce processing, market access, financing, risk mitigation and the utilization of digital technology.
These changing needs necessitate an update to agricultural extension policies. Extension systems that rely too heavily on a uniform approach and one-way communication are no longer adequate to address the diversity of Indonesia’s farmers. We require an extension system that is collaborative, adaptive and inclusive—one capable of connecting farmers with sources of knowledge, innovation and diverse economic opportunities.
Extension in the Context of Farmers Protection and Empowerment
Agricultural policy often faces a dilemma: whether to protect farmers from various risks or to encourage them to become increasingly productive and competitive business operators. In reality, these two approaches should go hand in hand. Protection is essential because farmers face numerous vulnerabilities—ranging from price fluctuations, rising production costs and limited capital to climate change and the risk of crop failure. Some of these risks lie beyond the farmers’ control. Without adequate protection mechanisms, even increased productivity does not necessarily translate into improved well-being.
Meanwhile, empowerment is necessary to ensure farmers do not remain perpetually dependent on government aid. Farmers need to be strengthened through education, training, extension services, access to technology, infrastructure development, institutional strengthening and expanded market access. Consequently, policies for farmer protection and empowerment must be integrated into a unified framework for agricultural transformation.
Upstream, the government needs to strengthen farmers’ access to seeds, fertilizers, financing, technology, infrastructure and technical support. Downstream, farmers require guaranteed market access, price information, a stronger bargaining position and opportunities to develop value-added products.
Protection mechanisms must also encompass farm risk management— such as agricultural insurance, compensation for crop failure in accordance with regulations and relevant social security schemes. At the same time, the regeneration of the farming workforce must be a top priority to ensure the agricultural sector does not lose productive, innovative and future-oriented talent.
Agricultural extension services serve to link these various instruments. Extension workers assist farmers in understanding technologies, accessing government programs, developing business groups and utilizing market information. However, extension services struggle to achieve optimal impact without the support of cross-sectoral policies and robust institutional frameworks. Therefore, any revision and strengthening of policies regarding farmer protection and empowerment must position extension services as a strategic instrument for integrating economic protection with capacity building for farmers.
Transformative Extension Institutions
A fundamental challenge for agricultural extension in Indonesia is establishing institutions capable of operating effectively amidst the division of government authority, regional diversity and the increasing complexity of agricultural issues. The effectiveness of extension institutions cannot be measured solely by the existence of organizations or the number of extension workers. A more critical metric is their ability to deliver services that farmers need in a timely, relevant and sustainable manner.
Institutional reform in this sector requires a balanced combination of decentralization, partnerships and the involvement of non-governmental sectors. The government retains primary responsibility for ensuring equitable access to extension services, particularly for smallholder farmers and communities in remote areas. However, the government need not be the sole source of knowledge and innovation. Higher education institutions, research agencies, agribusiness corporations, farming cooperatives, farmer organizations, local communities and digital technology providers can all contribute based on their respective areas of expertise.
This approach can be developed through the “knowledge triangle” concept—a partnership among educational institutions, research bodies and extension services that is oriented toward farmers’ needs. Higher education institutions generate knowledge and develop human resources; research agencies produce innovations; and extension workers help translate and adapt these innovations to field conditions (Subejo, 2023).
Farmers must be placed at the center of this knowledge network, rather than being treated merely as recipients of research findings. For instance, innovations in superior crop varieties do not automatically improve well-being if they are unsuited to agroecological conditions, unavailable in sufficient quantities, or lack a promising market. Similarly, precision agriculture technology will be of little help if farmers lack the knowledges and skills, infrastructure and resources to utilize it.
Therefore, the success of agricultural extension services relies on a reciprocal relationship among researchers, extension workers, farmers and market players. Knowledge must flow from laboratories to the fields, while farmers’ experiences must flow back to researchers and policymakers. This reform requires a clear division of roles, effective coordination mechanisms, adequate funding and a results-based evaluation system. In this way, collaboration moves beyond mere institutional jargon to become a practice that yields tangible benefits for farmers.
The Crucial Role of Technology and Digital Literacy
Advancements in information and communication technology offer significant opportunities to expand the reach and diversity of agricultural extension and communication services. The internet, social media, agricultural apps, instructional videos and various digital platforms enable information to reach farmers without relying solely on face-to-face meetings.
These opportunities are particularly relevant for Indonesia, given its vast archipelagic geography, transportation challenges in certain regions, and a shortage of extension workers relative to the demand for field services. Through digital technology, farmers can access information on production innovations, pest and disease control, weather forecasts, commodity prices and market opportunities. Extension workers can also utilize digital media to distribute educational materials, identify field issues and maintain communication with farmer groups.
However, the digitalization of extension services should not be viewed merely as transferring existing materials onto the internet. Effective digital transformation requires a shift in how information is produced, delivered, understood and utilized for decision-making. Information must be accurate, easy to understand, relevant to farmers’ needs and available when required. Digital content must also take into account local languages, education levels, commodity characteristics and the community’s socio-economic conditions.
Furthermore, the availability of internet connectivity, digital devices, electricity and user skills remain critical factors. Farmers living in areas with limited connectivity must not be deprived of their right to access quality extension services. Therefore, digital technology should expand the reach of extension services, rather than completely replace face-to-face interaction between extension workers and farmers. While technology can accelerate information dissemination, the processes of building trust, understanding social issues, facilitating deliberation and supporting behavioral change often require human interaction.
An effective strategy involves developing a hybrid extension model that combines conventional methods with digital media. While farmer group meetings, field demonstrations, field schools and in-person visits by extension workers remain essential, digital media can serve to expand reach, accelerate communication and provide continuous learning resources.
Investment in digital infrastructure will not yield optimal results without a concomitant upgrading of human resource capacity. Therefore, strengthening the digital literacy of extension workers must become a policy priority. Digital literacy extends beyond the mere ability to operate smartphones or use applications; extension workers need skills in searching for and evaluating information, distinguishing credible sources from misleading content, processing data, creating educational content and communicating effectively across various platforms.
Extension workers must also understand digital communication ethics, personal data protection, information security and responsible technology use. Furthermore, digital skills need to be integrated with substantive agricultural expertise. Extension workers must be able to assess whether circulating technological information aligns with local agro-ecological conditions and farmers’ needs. They also need to understand how to use data to identify problems, set priorities for assistance and evaluate the outcomes of extension activities. Capacity-building programs should go beyond short-term training; continuous learning, technical mentoring, communities of practice among extension workers and institutional support are required to ensure that new skills are effectively applied.
The Government can develop digital competency standards for extension workers in stages, accompanied by baseline skill assessments and periodic evaluations. Training must be tailored to regional conditions, commodity types and the appropriate level of available technology. Extension workers who have acquired digital competencies can also act as catalysts for learning at the local level. They can assist farmer groups in accessing information, building marketing networks and leveraging digital platforms to develop their businesses. In this way, the digitalization of extension services contributes simultaneously to enhancing the professionalism of extension workers and strengthening the capacity of farmers.
A Diverse, Farmer-Centric Approach
The diversity of Indonesian agriculture necessitates varied extension approaches. Rice farmers working irrigated areas, highland horticulturalists, plantation farmers in remote regions and agricultural entrepreneurs in peri-urban zones face distinct challenges. Furthermore, farmers differ in terms of education, economic status, business experience, age, local culture and access to technology.
Consequently, extension policies cannot rely on a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Segmenting farmers based on their needs should form the basis for determining content, communication methods, media, the intensity of support and the types of services provided. For farmers with internet access and adequate digital literacy, direct services via applications or digital platforms can be developed, allowing them to access information independently, as needed.
Conversely, for farmers with limited access and digital skills, farmer groups can serve as information conduits. Group leaders or individuals with greater proficiency can act as key figures who seek out, filter and share information with fellow members.
These direct and indirect access models can operate side-by-side. They are not mutually exclusive options but rather mechanisms to ensure that extension services reach communities with diverse circumstances. Government policy needs to encourage the periodic mapping of extension needs, the development of content tailored to local characteristics and the utilization of community figures and institutions as knowledge intermediaries. This approach is crucial to prevent digitalization from widening the gap between farmers with technological access and those left behind.
Given these challenges, five policy agendas warrant government priority. First, integrating extension services with policies for farmer protection and empowerment. Extension services must be integral to strategies aimed at boosting productivity, mitigating business risks, strengthening farmer institutions, fostering generational renewal and increasing incomes. Success should be measured by changes in farmers’ capacities and the tangible benefits they experience. Second, establish collaborative and adaptive extension service institutions.
The Government needs to clarify the division of roles and coordination mechanisms, while strengthening partnerships with universities, research institutions, the business sector, cooperatives and farmers’ organizations. Third, develop an inclusive digital ecosystem for extension services. Investments in networks and devices must be accompanied by the provision of quality content, advisory services, information verification mechanisms and alternative service options for farmers with limited digital access.
Fourth, the professionalism and digital literacy of extension workers must be upgraded. The Government needs to develop competency standards, continuous training, mentoring and reward systems that foster innovation and improve service quality. The fifth agenda item is to establish an impact-based evaluation system. Performance indicators for extension services should not merely count the number of meetings, training sessions, or distributed materials.
Evaluations must assess changes in farmers’ knowledge and practices, the adoption of innovations, cost efficiency, market access, risk management and improvements in farmers’ well-being. These agendas must be translated into work plans, budget allocations, measurable targets and cross-sector coordination. Implementation must take regional characteristics into account and proceed in stages, incorporating evaluations that allow for continuous policy improvement.
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Extension Services as a Strategic Investment
The future of Indonesian agriculture is determined by more than just superior seeds, fertilizers, mechanization, irrigation and land area; it also depends on the capacity of the people managing it to learn, innovate, collaborate and adapt to change. In this context, agricultural extension services must be positioned as a strategic investment in national development policies, rather than merely an administrative activity or a routine government program.
Robust extension services will help farmers translate knowledge into action, technology into productivity and market opportunities into increased income. However, this can only be achieved if extension services are supported by effective institutions, healthy partnerships, professional personnel and technology and innovations that meet community needs. While digital transformation offers immense opportunities, success ultimately hinges on people, trust and the relevance of the knowledge being shared.
The Government needs to shift from a purely production-oriented approach toward agricultural development that positions farmers as the primary agents of transformation. Protection must go hand-in-hand with empowerment, technology with literacy and innovation with equitable access. Through integrated policies, collaborative institutional arrangements and adaptive extension services, Indonesia has a greater opportunity to build a productive, resilient, inclusive and sustainable agricultural sector, while simultaneously improving the welfare of farmers—the foundation of our national food security.
