THE PERFORMANCE OF LIVESTOCK EXTENSION AGENT IN EMPOWERMENT OF FARMERS AT PINRANG REGENCY, SOUTH SULAWESI, INDONESIA

-ABSTRACT\ud This study aimed to evaluate the performance of livestock extension agent in the empowerment of farmers. The study population was 101 people of extension agent. The collection of data through a survey using a questionnaire. The data collected is performance of extension livestock extension agent in three categories a). performance in preparation extension, b). performance in the implementation extension, c). performance in the evaluation of extension. Data analysis using descriptive analysis. The results showed that the performance of extension agent in preparation extension, as much as 88.71% making the data area and the potential for agro-ecosystems covering the work area map, a map of potential areas of work, monographic work area, and plan activities of extension. As well as 51.5% extension agent to guide farmers in the preparation of the business plan Performance of extension agent in the implementation extension showed 46.5% conduct dissemination of extension materials according to the needs of farmers over 8 topics extension in a year. A total of 92.0% extension agent perform the method of extension in the face-to-face more than 45 visits/year. Application of the method of extension more than 3 times/year is a demonstration method (56.4%), visit days (53.5%), and the course (56.4%). Performance of extension agent in the economic institutional development, namely the development of farmer groups into a limited liability company is still low (4.0%), on the other hand, development of farmers groups to cooperatives of farmers is high (49.5%). In the extension evaluation, 89.1% extension report on the implementation of extension per month, per quarter, and per year. Thus, it can be concluded that the performance of extension agent have generally been going well, and the need the role of extension agent in the development of farmer groups to become an economic institution in rural communities