Strategies for Strengthening Agricultural Institutions in Support of Food Security: A Mixed-Methods Study from Parepare City, Indonesia

Abstract

Agricultural institutions play a crucial role in enhancing the effectiveness of agricultural development and strengthening food security, particularly in resource-limited areas such as Parepare City. This study aims to analyze the role of agricultural institutions and formulate institutional strengthening strategies to support food security. The study employed a mixed methods approach, with data collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and questionnaires. Institutional role analysis was conducted using MAXQDA, while strengthening strategies were analyzed using Interpretative Structural Modeling (ISM). The results suggest that agricultural institutions contribute through three sectors: the public sector, the voluntary sector, and the private sector, which play a role in providing production facilities, extension services, access to capital, food distribution, and digital-based marketing. The ISM analysis identified five priority strategies: increasing the capacity of extension workers, increasing farmer knowledge through education and mentoring, providing production facilities, providing fertilizers as needed, and using quality seeds to increase productivity. Strengthening human resource capacity and synergy between stakeholders emerged as key factors in realizing adaptive and sustainable agricultural institutions to support regional food security.