President Joko Widodo on March 24, 2020,
stated that even in a pandemic, the economic sector,
including agriculture, must continue to move and
produce by observing health protocols. The purpose of
this study was to determine the strategy for applying
extension methods and agricultural extension materials
in accordance with the new normal era in Serang
Regency, viewed from the technical, economic, and
social aspects of the institution as well as linking aspects
of audience characteristics to the discussion, both on the
on-farm and off-farm segments; to find out the
appropriate agricultural extension model, and to
determine the priority scale of the elements analyzed.
The research method used is a mixed method, which
combines descriptive-exploratory methods with the
Analytical Hierarchy Process, supported by 37
participants located in Serang Regency. Based on the
results of the analysis, the strategy for implementing
extension methods and agricultural extension materials
in the new normal era in Serang Regency, the priority
criteria are on the technical aspects, and in terms of
indicators, the main priority is the material indicators,
then followed by the second priority, namely the
extension method indicators. The details are as follows:
In the on-farm segment, several agricultural extension
materials that are suitable to be delivered in the new
normal era include: technical cultivation of food crops,
ornamental plants, fruit plants, biopharmaceuticals,
post-harvest, fish and livestock cultivation, utilization of
yards and rice fields, with the strategy of counseling
methods is to continue to do face-to-face meetings, such
as lectures, discussions, practice, technical guidance,
field schools, pilot plots, field trips by applying health
protocols; except that the distribution of learning videos,
e-modules, and e-leaflets can be done through social
media, or virtual learning; In the off-farm segment,
several materials that are suitable to be delivered in the
new normal era include: online product marketing;
utilization of information technology; entrepreneurship,
farming analysis, marketing and partnership growth,
group planning, and health protocol materials, with
strategies for implementing virtual extension methods,
and several other materials that require practice to be
combined with face-to-face methods; To increase the
effectiveness of agricultural extension in the new normal
era, it is necessary to apply an integrated model or
pattern of agricultural extension involving various
sectors and stakeholders; Increasing the competence of
agricultural extension workers needs to be improved, in
this new normal era, especially regarding: agricultural
applications; audio visual aid, agricultural
mechanization; farming analysis; business partnership;
urban farming; research methodology and plant
breeding; problem solving, and visits to best practices.
Keywords :
Strategy for the Implementation of Extension Methods, Agricultural Extension Materials, Agricultural Extension Competencies.