Abstract:

Abstract Abstract Aquaculture extension services have a direct contact with fish farmers, therefore, have an important role to improve the economy in the fish farming sector. The increasing number of catfish farmer in Salatiga City, makes the task of aquaculture extension services more difficult to assist fostered catfish farmer. The purpose of this study was to analyze the role of aquaculture extension service in supporting catfish farmers in Salatiga City to increasing production and innovation. The method used in this research was qualitative approach through conducting interviews with aquaculture extension services as respondents and catfish farmer as informants. Observations was carried out in the field and data obtained were analyzed using triangulation method to validate data. The results obtained in this study are the role of aquaculture extension services to increased production of catfish farmers by conducting regular visits and consulting related to aquaculture management problems experienced by farmers. The role of aquaculture extension service to spur innovation for catfish farmers by facilitating training and mentoring to apply fisheries technology, facilitating farmers to get certified sangkuriang broodstock so they can increase seed production, facilitating farmers to get pellet machines and feed formulations training so they can produce independent feed, giving advice for farmers to selling their harvests in social media and assisting fish processing groups to keep them running well. Based on these results, the aquaculture extension services has several priorities, there are aquaculture management, technology application, market expansion and diversification of fishery products, while the application of Good Aquaculture Practices, independent seed production and independent feed production has not become a priority for extension services to be applied by catfish farmers. Keywords: Catfish, Counseling, Extension Service, Farmer, Mentoring

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