Effectiveness of agricultural counseling methods during the covid-19 pandemic to increasing rice production in Maros District

The effectiveness of agricultural extension is an extension effort to achieve maximum results by utilizing existing resources. The implementation of Agricultural Extension during the Covid-19 pandemic is shown through the methods used so that it has a direct or indirect impact on the behavior of farmers in terms of increasing knowledge, attitudes, and skills so that their rice production increases. This study aims to determine the application of agricultural extension methods that are effectively used during the Covid-19 pandemic. The population of this study was all members of the farmer group located in Maros district. Sample determination using a method with a purposive sampling system. The data analysis method is qualitative descriptive analysis. The results of the study found that an effective agricultural extension method during the Covid-19 pandemic was an individual counseling method.


Introduction
The effectiveness of agricultural extension can be interpreted as an extended effort to achieve maximum results by utilizing existing resources.Counseling that takes place regularly, is directed and helps broaden the horizons for farmers to be able to adopt knowledge and information as part of efforts to increase income [1].
Agricultural extension is a process of social, economic and political change to empower and strengthen the ability of the community through a participatory joint learning process, so that there is a change in behavior in stakeholders involved in the development process in order to realize an increasingly prosperous a sustainable life manner.The purpose of agricultural extension in the development of the agribusiness system is to increase the income and welfare of farmers and their families and the agribusiness community through increasing productivity and business efficiency, by increasing their ability and empowerment [2].
Since the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia in March 2020, several local governments including the Maros Regency Government have prohibited their people from gathering in any form of activity.In addition, people are also reluctant to attend meetings for fear of contracting the coronavirus, but agricultural counseling in Maros Regency must still be carried out to increase agricultural production [3].Therefore, the implementation of counseling must be supported by extension methods that are in accordance with the material needs of farmers so that they can produce effective and efficient quality farmer performance so as to increase rice production [4].Rice commodity is one of the food crop 1230 (2023) 012037 IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1230/1/012037 2 commodities that has a strategic role in the development of agriculture and the economy of an area [5].Rice commodity is one of the leading commodities in Maros Regency.Maros Regency is one of the regencies that has a very strategic agricultural business in South Sulawesi.Total rice production is 299,539.14tons with a harvest area of 56,356.60 ha [6].

Research methods
This survey was conducted in Maros County.Targeted location considering increased rice production in Maros province during the Covid-19 pandemic.The population in this study were members of farmer groups who were active in extension activities.Sampling is carried out by proportional sampling, which then from the members of the farmer group who have been designated as a sample will be randomized by farmer samples, with a total sample of 10%.The number of samples in this study was 94 people.The data collected consists of primary data and secondary data.Primary data were taken by direct observation and interviews by respondents.Meanwhile, secondary data were obtained from literature books, journals and agencies related to this study.The research implementation methods used in this study consist of : Observation, Questionnaire, Interview and Data Processing.The data that has been obtained from the interview results through the questionnaire is processed with a qualitative descriptive analysis method [7].

Results and discussion
The agricultural extension method is a way of delivering counseling materials through communication media by agricultural extension workers to farmers and their families, to be able and accustomed to using new technology [8].

Mass extension methods
This method is not much different from the group counseling method, it's just that in conducting counseling This method is used to reach wider and more targets, usually using media such as radio, television, slides and newspapers.The mass counseling method in Maros Regency was only carried out several times during the COVID-19 pandemic because during the COVID-19 pandemic, crowds were prohibited to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 virus.The mass counseling method during the COVID19 pandemic in Maros Regency was carried out at the time of the distribution of certified seeds.Certified seeds greatly affect productivity, yield quality and disease resistance.From the results of the study, it can be said that the mass counseling method was not liked by farmers as many as 44 people with a value of 88, very disliked by 27 people with a value of 27, liked by 20 people with a value of 60, very liked by 3 people with a value of 12.

Group method
This method is directed at group activities to carry out more productive activities based on cooperation.This method usually uses the medium of meetings on the basis of cooperation in activities such as courses, exercises, discussions and demonstrations.The group method is directed to the stage of assessing and trying.During the COVID-19 pandemic, this method was implemented in Maros district during a demonstration of how to make liquid organic fertilizer to reduce pests and diseases in rice plants.From the results of the study, it can be said that the mass counseling method is not liked by farmers as many as 35 people with a value of 70, very dislike 38 people with a value of 38, liked by 15 people with a value of 45, very liked by 6 people with a value of 24.  2 shows that 21 farmers liked the group extension method with a total value of 69.Thus, overall farmers do not like the group extension method with a percentage index of 61.01% and belongs to the high category.

Individual methods
This method is based on the direct relationship of extension workers with the target so that farmers are more free and open to discuss their problems privately.All obstacles or problems faced by farmers regarding the cultivation of rice crops can be notified directly to the extension workers.On the other hand, home visits and farm business visits create a sense of family.During the Covid-19 pandemic, Maros often uses individual methods because extension workers can deliver counseling materials directly and can find out directly the problems faced by farmers.So that farmers' skills increase and cause an increase in production.
From the results of the study, it can be said that the individual counseling method is not liked by farmers as many as 15 people with a value of 30, very dislike 2 people with a value of 2, liked by 53 people with a value of 159, very liked by 24 people with a value of 96.Table 3 shows that 17 farmers disliked the individual extension method with a total score of 32.Thus, overall farmers also really like the individual counseling method with a percentage index of 66.57% and is included in the high category.It can also be said that farmers have benefited from individual counseling methods carried out by government agencies and extension workers because farmers directly see with their own eyes so that the application of direct information and knowledge can be absorbed properly.

Conclusion
Based on the results of research in the field, it can be concluded that the individual counseling method during the covid-19 pandemic in maros regency is effective.This is because many farmers like individual counseling methods while other methods are not preferred by farmers due to the Covid 19 pandemic situation.

Table 1 .
Results of mass agricultural extension method activities to farmers at the research siteTable1shows that 23 farmers liked the individual extension method with a total value of 72.Thus, overall farmers do not like the Mass extension method with a percentage index of 61.49% and belong to the high category.The method of mass counseling in Maros Regency during the covid 19 pandemic was not liked by farmers.1230 (2023) 012037

Table 2 .
Results of Group Agricultural Extension Method Activities to Farmers at the research site

Table 3 .
Results of Anjangsana Agricultural Extension Method Activities to Farmers at the research