Penelitian ini mengkaji kinerja penyuluh pertanian di Kabupaten Konawe. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis (1) tingkat kinerja penyuluh pertanian dan apa penyebabnya, (2) pengaruh motivasi penyuluh pertanian, kemampuan penyuluh pertanian, tingkat pendidikan penyuluh pertanian, pertanian, masa kerja penyuluh pertanian, kepangkatan penyuluh pertanian, frekuensi pelatihan penyuluh pertanian dan dukungan sarana dan prasarana penyuluh pertanian terhadap kinerja penyuluh pertanian di Kabupaten Konawe. Penyuluh yang diteliti adalah semua penyuluh pertanian PNS yang bertugas di Kabupaten Konawe (130 orang). Untuk obyektivitas penilaian kinerja penyuluh pertanian diambil dua orang petani yang dipandang tahu dan berada di wilayah binaan seorang penyuluh pertanian, sehingga jumlah seluruh petani sampel adalah 260 orang. Data hasil penelitian dianalisis dengan (1) menggunakan uji proporsi, (2) menggunakan uji statistik path analysis (analisis jalur) dengan menggunakan Amos 16.0. Uji proporsi untuk mengukur tingkat kinerja penyuluh pertanian, dengan hipotesis bahwa diduga sebagian besar atau lebih dari 50% jumlah penyuluh pertanian mempunyai tingkat kinerja kurang baik. Berdasarkan hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa nilai Z hitung sebesar -7,89 memberikan hasil lebih kecil dari Z Tabel pada tingkat kepercayaan 5% sebesar 1,960, maka hipotesis yang menyatakan bahwa sebagian besar (> 50%) jumlah penyuluh mempunyai tingkat kinerja kurang baik ditolak, karena realita menunjukkan bahwa tingkat kinerja penyuluh pertanian cukup baik (60,77%). Selanjutnya berdasarkan hasil analisis menggunakan uji statistik path analysis (analisis jalur) menunjukkan bahwa: (1) faktor yang berpegaruh langsung dan nyata terhadap kinerja penyuluh pertanian adalah tingkat pendidikan penyuluh dan motivasi penyuluh. Faktor yang berpengaruh secara tidak langsung dan nyata terhadap kinerja penyuluh pertanian adalah dukungan sarana dan prasarana penyuluh melalui motivasi penyuluh, (2) unsur pendidikan merupakan unsur yang penting di dalam perhitungan/pengukuran kinerja penyuluh di samping kemampuan, motivasi, kesempatan dan lingkungan, (3) dukungan sarana dan prasarana sangat mempengaruhi kinerja secara nyata meskipun pengaruhnya tidak langsung. Hal ini karena di dalam melakukan penyuluhan, penyuluh akan dapat memberikan penyuluhan dengan baik dengan dukungan sarana dan prasarana yang lebih lengkap dan lebih baik.

This research assesses the performance of agricultural extension worker in the district of Konawe. This study aimed to analyze: (1) the level of performance of agricultural extension worker and and what caused it, (2) the motivation effect of the extension worker, the capability of extension worker, the education level of extension worker, the service year of the extension worker, the rank of the extension worker, the frequency of training of extension worker and the support of facilities and infrastructure extension worker related to the performance of agricultural extension in the district of Konawe. Extension worker who studied, were all of agricultural extension worker civil servants in which tasked in the district of Konawe (130 people). For objectivity of the performance appraisal of the agricultural extension worker were taken two farmers which know and live in the responsibility area of agricultural extension worker, so the total number of samples was 260 farmers. Data result were analyzed by: (1) using of the proportional test, (2) using statistical test of path analysis of Amos 16.0. The proportional test was performed to measure of performance level of the agricultural extension workers, with the hypothesis that most of the extension worker or more than 50% number extension worker has a poor performance level. The analysis results, showed that Z count value as much as -7.89 gives results smaller than the of Z table at 5% confidence level as much as 1.960, then the hypothesis which states that most (> 50%) number extension workers has a poor performance level rejected, it caused by a reality indicated that level of performance of the agricultural extension workers was quite good (60,77%). Furthermore, based on the results of the analysis using a statistical test of path analysis showed that: (1) the factors influenced directly and significantly to the performance of agricultural extension workers was the level of education and motivation of extension workers. Factor which influenced indirectly and significantly to the performance of agriculture extension was the support of facilities and infrastructure of extension workers through motivation of extension worker, (2) educational element is an important element in the calculation / measurement of performance extension worker in addition to ability, motivation, opportunity and environment, (3) the Support of facilities and infrastructure greatly affect performance significantly although the effect is not direct, because extension worker will be able to provide agriculture extension well with the support of facilities and infrastructure a more complete and better.

Kata Kunci : Kinerja, Penyuluhan, Pertanian