Analysis of Agribusiness Communication Network among Beef Cattle Farmers: Case Study at Sarimulya Mandiri as The Beginner’s Farmers Group

Abstract

Beef cattle farmers' organization has not developed as farmers’ economic institutions like expected. Empowerment and development of institution structure and production improvement need sufficient information to achieve its goal. Information will provide choices or alternatives for the components of a system. System components will provide information as a solution to the problem. This study is aimed to analyze the agribusiness information communication network in beef cattle farmer group. Analysis of communication network uses UNICET 6 analysis tool with an analysis unit of the individual. The result of the study reveals that: 1) the centralized or interlock personal structure of information network was found in the information network of farming, breeding, and institution. On the other hand, the radial personal network was found in the information network of marketing and animal health; 2) the farmers' group leader is the source of information.