Participation level of farmer in the application of cacao production technology (Case in Ladongi Subdistrict, South East Sulawesi (Indonesia)

English. Cocoa is an important commodity in South East Sulawesi (95,000 ha with the production of 54,332 ton). The range of production was 150-650 kg/ha. This low level of productivity indicates that the farmers participation in the application of cocoa production technology was low. This research was conducted in desa Gunung Java Regency, Kolaka, South East Sulawesi. The objective of the research were to learn: (1) farmers participation level in the application of cocoa production technology, (2) factors affecting farmers participation in the application of cocoa production technology, (3) the relationship between the application of cocoa production technology with internal and external farmers characteristics. Results of this research showed that: (1) There was no significant correlation between participation in the application of cocoa production technology with internal and external characteristics such as: age, capital, the availability of facilities and cost level. While a significant correlation was observed in terms of formal education, experiences in cocoa business, family members, motivation in cocoa business, cosmopoliteness, the availability of information. (2) A low to medium level of farmers participation in the application of cocoa production technology was observed, (3) factor affecting in the participation in the application of cocoa production technology were formal education, experiences in cocoa business, family members, motivation in cocoa business cosmopoliteness, the avaibility of information, (4) the strongest factor to improve the farmers ability was visiting to farmers group by extension personnal, (5) there was no significant correlation between willingness of participation and participation ability was observed

Indonesian. Kakao adalah salah satu komoditi andalan Prop. Sulawesi Tenggara. Luas 95.000 ha, produksi 54.322 ton, dengan produktivitas 150-650 kg/ha. Rendahnya produktivitass menunjukkan bahwa partisipasi petani dalam penerapan teknologi produksi kakao rendah. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di desa Gunung Jaya, kecamatan Ladongi, Kab. Kolaka, Prop. Sulawesi Tenggara. Tujuan penelitian: (1) untuk mengetahui tingkat partisipasi petani dalam penerapan teknologi produksi kakao, (2) tingkat partisipasi petani dalam penerapan teknologi produksi kakao menunjukkan tingkat rendah sampai sedang, (3) hubungan antara partisipasi dalam penerapan teknologi produksi kakao dengan karakteristik internal dan karakteristik eksternal. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa: (1) tidak ada hubungan yang nyata antara partisipasi dalam penerapan teknologi produksi kakao dengan umur, modal, ketersediaan prasarana dan tingkat harga kakao sedangkan pendidikan formal, pengalaman berusahatani kakao, jumlah anggota keluarga, dorongan berusahatani kakao, kekosmopolitan, dan ketersediaan informasi menunjukkan hubungan yang nyata, (2) tingkat partisipasi petani dalam penerapan teknologi produksi kakao menunjukkan tingkat rendah sampai sedang, (3) faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi partisipasi dalam penerapan teknologi produksi kakao adalah: pendidikan formal, pengalaman berusahatani kakao, jumlah anggota keluarga, dorongan berusahatani kakao, kekosmopolitan, dan ketersediaan informasi