Perceived Roles of Agricultural Extension in Maize Food Availability among the Atoin Meto Community in North Central Timor, Indonesia

Abstract

Objective: To examine the associations between perceived agricultural extension-role dimensions—categorized as (X1) facilitator/educator, (X2) technical advisor/motivator, and (X3) organizer/linkage—and household maize food availability among Atoin Meto (Dawan) farmers practicing Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in North Central Timor (TTU) District, and to identify the dimension with the strongest standardized association in the multivariable model. Study Design: A quantitative analytical cross-sectional survey with an explanatory design, reported in accordance with the STROBE guidelines. Location and Duration: North Central Timor (TTU), East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Indonesia; conducted from 31 January 2025 to 31 December 2025. Methodology: A three-stage probability sampling procedure was used to select seven farmer groups, followed by the systematic selection of farmers within those groups, resulting in a final analytic sample of 68 respondents with complete data. Household maize food availability (Y) was measured using a six-item composite score ranging from 6 to 30. Agricultural extension roles were measured using 20 items and grouped into X1 (6 items; range 6–30), X2 (7 items; range 7–35), and X3 (7 items; range 7–35). Multiple linear regression in SPSS was used, with diagnostic tests for residual normality and homoscedasticity, multicollinearity (tolerance/VIF), and autocorrelation (Durbin–Watson). Results: The mean household maize food availability score was 26.67 ± 3.01 (scale range 6–30). The regression model was statistically significant (R = 0.595; R² = 0.354; adjusted R² = 0.346; p < 0.001; Durbin–Watson = 1.898). All three extension-role dimensions showed positive and statistically significant associations with household maize food availability: X1 (B = 0.152; β = 0.310; p = 0.001), X2 (B = 0.160; β = 0.421; p = 0.001), and X3 (B = 0.161; β = 0.437; p = 0.001). Multicollinearity diagnostics indicated substantial overlap among the predictors (VIF = 4.168–10.425). Conclusion: The facilitator/educator, technical advisor/motivator, and organizer/linkage dimensions of agricultural extension were positively associated with household maize food availability in TTU. Because these dimensions shared substantial variance, they are best interpreted as interconnected roles rather than as fully independent functions. Strengthening coordination across these roles may help support household staple availability.