Article
PEMANFAATAN MEDIA SOSIAL YOUTUBE DALAM USAHATANI JAGUNG MANIS DI DESA ALEBO KECAMATAN KONDA KABUPATEN KONAWE SELATAN
Jurnal Ilmiah Penyuluhan dan Pengembangan Masyarakat, Vol. 6 No. 3 (2026), hlm. 462–471
Abstrak
Digital transformation has reshaped the dissemination of agricultural information from conventional extension services toward the utilization of social media as a faster, more accessible, and interactive learning resource. YouTube is one of the digital platforms that provides agricultural information through audiovisual content, thereby offering significant potential to enhance farmers' knowledge and skills in farm management. This study aimed to analyze the utilization of YouTube as a social media platform in sweet corn farming in Alebo Village, Konda District, South Konawe Regency, Indonesia. The study employed a quantitative approach using a survey method. The research site was purposively selected, while the entire population of 30 sweet corn farmers was included as respondents using a census technique. Data were collected through observation, interviews, questionnaires, documentation, and literature review, and were analyzed descriptively using a Likert scale and class interval analysis. The utilization of YouTube was examined through three principal dimensions: as a source of agricultural information, a medium of entertainment, and a source of up-to-date agricultural knowledge. The findings revealed that the utilization of YouTube was categorized as high across all dimensions. Specifically, 100% of respondents used YouTube as a source of agricultural information, 90% as a medium of entertainment, and 96.7% as a source of current agricultural knowledge. Various video contents related to cultivation techniques, improved varieties, fertilizer application, pest and disease management, agricultural technologies, and farmers' practical experiences served as valuable learning resources that enhanced technical understanding and supported decision-making in sweet corn farming. The audiovisual presentation of information enabled farmers to better understand and implement agricultural innovations according to local farming conditions. The findings indicate that YouTube has evolved beyond its function as an entertainment platform to become an effective digital learning medium that expands farmers' access to agricultural information, strengthens farmers' capacity, and accelerates the adoption of innovations in sweet corn farming.