STUDY OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION IN AGRIBUSINESS EXTENSION IN TASIKMALAYA REGENCY AND CITY, WEST JAVA']JAVA PROVINCE, INDONESIA

The era of digital information through electronic media and the flow of information through the virtual world network system has now penetrated remote villages. Dissemination of agricultural technology information by utilizing the internet network (online) greatly assists agricultural extension agents in carrying out their main duties. This study aims to analyze the application of digital technology in agricultural extension in the Regency and City of Tasikmalaya. The method used in this research is a mix method with quantitative and qualitative approaches. The data used in this study are primary data obtained from questionnaires and interviews with agricultural extension agents, and secondary data obtained from the Agricultural service and the Central Statistics Agency. Based on the results of the study, it was found that the WhatsApp digital application was more efficient to use in agricultural extension in the Regency and City of Tasikmalaya. The use of the WhatsApp application is considered more efficient to use and is more widely used by farmers in communicating with agricultural extension workers. This is also because WhatsApp is easier to use and understand by both farmers and extension workers in exchanging information either by video calls, chats and sending information in the form of videos and documents. From the data analysis, it was found that the use of the WhatsApp digital extension method in Tasikmalaya city has a very good performance (83.78%) and Tasikmalaya Regency has a very good performance (82.23%) access to extension to digital media shows that currently the use of WhatsApp is considered an important need for extension workers who are in the city and in the district, because their working hours are classified as flexible. This results in extension workers accessing the extension using WhatsApp more often. Based on the results obtained, it shows that the use of digital in agricultural extension is good enough in conveying information to farmers.