Home / Regular Issue / JSSH Vol. 30 (1) Jan. 2022 / JST-2908-2021

 

Work Performance of Extension Agents: Skills of Transfer of Technology and Human Resource Development in Cocoa Industry

Murni Azureen Mohd Pakri, Salim Hassan, Oluwatoyin Olagunju, Mohd Yusoff Abd Samad and Ramle Kasin

Pertanika Journal of Social Science and Humanities, Volume 30, Issue 1, January 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47836/pjst.30.1.05

Keywords: Extension agent; human resource development; training and development; transfer of technology; work performance

Published on: 10 January 2022

Transfer of technology (ToT) and human resource development (HRD) are essential components to acknowledge extension agents’ performance. Understanding the foundations and implications of ToT and HRD is vital for improving agriculture extension agents in research and extension programmes. This study was designed to determine extension agents’ ToT and HRD skills to explain the work performance of Malaysian Cocoa Board (MCB) extension agents in East Malaysia. A total of 315 productive cocoa farmers exposed to the extension activities for a minimum of five years and had attended two basic training from the agency were selected to answer the questionnaire within a month. The researcher applied Krejie and Morgan formula to determine the sample size based on the population using stratified random sampling. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression and Pearson correlation analysis. Results showed a positive and moderate relationship between ToT and HRD towards work performance. However, from the six variables tested, only three variables were significant towards work performance, namely technical skill (p=0.000), leadership skill (p=0.015) and decision-making skill (p=0.000). Therefore, the extension agents’ skills must be strengthened, their working knowledge updated, and new concepts for developing agriculture that can fulfil complicated demand patterns, reduce poverty and pressure and increase productivity must be developed. This study also strengthens the iceberg model by adding six characteristics of skills in extension agents. The outcomes would contribute to the policymakers and MCB’s management in elevating the extension agents’ performance through training and developing ToT and HRD.

  • Alessandri, G., Borgogni, L., Schaufeli, W. B., Caprara, G. V., & Consiglio, C. (2015). From positive orientation to job performance: The role of work engagement and self-efficacy beliefs. Journal of Happiness Studies, 16(3), 767-788. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-014-9543-2

  • Al-Rimawi, A., Tabieh, M., & Al-Qudah, H. (2016). Assessing growers’ perceptions of effective extension methods and information communication technologies for training vegetable growers in Jordan. International Journal of Economics and Finance, 8(8), 229-236. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijef.v8n8p229

  • Altalb, A. A. T., Filipek, T., & Skowron, P. (2015). The role of agricultural extension in the transfer and adoption of agricultural technologies. Asian Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences, 3(5), 500-507.

  • Anaeto, F. C., Asiabaka, C. C., Ani, A. O., Nnadi, F. N., Ugwoke, F. O., Asiabaka, I. P., Anaeto, C. A., & Ihekeronye, N. (2016). The roles of science and technology in national development. Direct Research Journal of Social Science and Educational Studies, 3(3), 38-43.

  • Anandajayasekeram, P. (2008). Concepts and practices in agricultural extension in developing countries: A source book. ILRI (aka ILCA and ILRAD).

  • Baig, M. B., & Aldosari, F. (2013). Agricultural extension in Asia: Constraints and options for improvement. Journal of Animal and Plant Science, 23, 619-632.

  • Chapman, E. F., Sisk, F. A., Schatten, J., & Miles, E. W. (2016). Human resource development and human resource management levers for sustained competitive advantage: Combining isomorphism and differentiation. Journal of Management & Organization, 24(4), 533-550. https://doi.org/10.1017/jmo.2016.37

  • Chu, L. C., & Lai, C. C. (2011). A research on the influence of leadership style and job characteristics on job performance among accountants of county and city government in Taiwan. Public Personnel Management, 40(2), 101-118. https://doi.org/10.1177/009102601104000202

  • Deadrick, D. L., & Stone, D. L. (2014). Human resource management: Past, present, and future. Human Resource Management Review, 3(24), 193-195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2014.03.002

  • Gerhart, B. (2012). Construct validity, causality, and policy recommendations: The case of high performance work practices systems. Human Resource Management Review, 2(22), 157-160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2011.12.002

  • Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(3), 607-610. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308

  • Lee, C. H. (2013). Planting cocoa-challenges and realities. Received September 2, 2019, from www.ipicex.com/doc1/2012/onral/planting cocoa – challenges and reality in malaysia.pdf

  • Malaysian Cocoa Board. (2018). Introduction (Target Groups Development). Retrieved September 2, 2019, from https://www.koko.gov.my/lkm/loader.cfm?page=1

  • Malaysian Cocoa Board. (2017). Statistics. Cultivation, production and grinding. Received September 2, 2019, from https://www.koko.gov.my/lkm/loader.cfm?page=10

  • Melak, D., & Negatu, W. (2012). Agricultural education and technical competency of development agents in Ethiopia. Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, 4(11), 347-351. https://doi.org/10.5897/JAERD12.037

  • Ministry for Primary Industries. (2013). Survey of technology transfer services to farmers and growers in New Zealand p.27. Retrieved September 2, 2019, from www.mpi.govt.nz

  • Motolani, M., Hassan, S., Olagunju, O., & Ramle, K. (2017). ToT and HRD competencies and its relationship to extension agents’ performance among cocoa smallholders. IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science (IOSR-JAVS), 10(12), 14-21. https://doi.org/10.9790/2380-1012021421

  • Okwoche, V. A. O., Eziehe, J. C., & Agabi, V. (2015). Determinants of job satisfaction among extension agents in Benue State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (BNARDA), Benue State, Nigeria. European Journal of Physical and Agricultural Sciences, 3(2), 38-48.

  • Olagunju, O. (2019). Perceptions of cocoa growers in Malaysia on relationship between transfer of technology skills, human resource development skills and extension agents’ work performance (Doctoral dissertation). Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia.

  • Rahim, M. S. (2008). Kompetensi dan amalan pendidikan pengembangan [Concept and practice of extension education]. Buletin Pengembangan, Bil, 1.

  • Sail, R. M. (2010). Kompetensi pembangunan sumberdaya manusia dan pemindahan teknologi dan kaitannya dengan prestasi kerja agen pendidikan pengembangan [Human resource development and transfer of technology competencies and their relationships to extension agents’ job performance]. Akademika, 79(1), 127-137.

  • Saleh, J. M., & Man, N. B. (2017). Training requirements of agricultural extension officers using Borich needs assessment model. Journal of Agricultural & Food Information, 18(2), 110-122. https://doi.org/10.1080/10496505.2017.1281748

  • Salleh, K. M., & Sulaiman, N. L. (2016). Competencies among human resource development practitioners according to disciplines and levels in Malaysian organizations. International Journal of Applied Business and Economic Research, 14(9), 521-533.

  • Spencer, L. M., & Spencer, P. S. M. (1993). Competence at work models for superior performance. John Wiley & Sons.

  • Tiraieyari, N., Hamzah, A., & Samah, B. A. (2014). Extension agents and sustainable cocoa farming: A case study of extension agents in Sabah state, Malaysia. Modern Applied Science, 8(6), 210-218. https://doi.org/10.5539/mas.v8n6p210

  • Wahab, S. A., Rose, R. C., & Osman, S. I. W. (2012). Defining the concepts of technology and technology transfer: A literature analysis. International Business Research, 5(1), 61-71. https://doi.org/10.5539/ibr.v5n1p61

ISSN 0128-7702

e-ISSN 2231-8534

Article ID

JST-2908-2021

Download Full Article PDF

Share this article

Recent Articles