Efektivitas Program Penyuluhan dan Pendampingan bagi Kelompok Hortikultura di Provinsi Lampung: Pendekatan Model Hierarkis

Abstract

The agricultural extension program serves as a key government instrument for strengthening the capacity of farmers and horticultural farmer groups. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of extension and mentoring programs on the performance of horticultural groups in Lampung Province. The data were obtained from the Lampung Province Directory of Other Agricultural Enterprises (DUTL) 2024, which includes 158 horticultural business units across 15 districts and municipalities. A quantitative analysis was conducted using the Hierarchical Model (Mixed Effects Model) to identify the effects of extension frequency, mentoring duration, and group status on the effectiveness scores of horticultural groups. The results indicate that extension frequency (β = 2.60; p < 0.001) and mentoring duration (β = 0.67; p < 0.001) have a significant positive effect on group effectiveness. In addition, government-assisted groups recorded effectiveness scores 5.27 points higher than independent groups. The random effect of districts was not significant, suggesting that program implementation is relatively uniform across regions. These findings confirm the importance of consistency and intensity in agricultural extension activities to enhance the performance of regional horticultural agribusinesses.