Structural equation model of Farmer competence and cocoa sustainability in Aceh, Indonesia

Cocoa development presently has been constrained by the lack of human resources in technology application and farming management. High competence in technical, managerial and social aspects are needed to achieve high farming performance showed by farming sustainability. This paper aims to analyse the factors influencing farmer competence in implementing good agricultural practices on cocoa production and cocoa farming sustainability. Research was conducted in Pidie Jaya and Southeast Aceh, Indonesia in June – October 2019. Data and information were gathered from 352 cocoa farmers by survey methods. The results showed that farmers have high competence but cocoa farming sustainability is low. Factors that significantly affected farmer competence were farmers' characteristics, the effectiveness of extension services and the level of farmers' internet literacy. The factors that had direct and significant effects on cocoa farming sustainability were farmer competencies, the level of farmer adaptation to environmental changes and institutional support. The strategy of developing farmers' competencies can be done through increasing the effectiveness of extension services and widening farmers' access to the internet and skill in utilizing the internet to develop knowledge and skills in the application of technology.