Judul: Pengaruh Kompetensi Terhadap Kinerja Petani Di Wilayah Agam, Sumatera Barat
Abstrak: Global market competition at present demands an improvement of the enterprise competitiveness to develop horticulture business in Indonesia. The largest producer of the commodity in Indonesia located in Agam, West Sumatra. Number of activities in developing the farmers competence were accomplished with the purpose to improve the performance and the crop yield. The objective of this research are, 1) analyzing the general description of farmers competence in region Agam, West Sumatra, 2) analyzing the perception of the farmers competence and performance in region Agam, West Sumatra, 3) analyzing the effect of competence on farmers performance in region Agam, West Sumatra, 4) providing the best recommendations regarding the competence enhancement programs that could improve the farmers performance in region Agam, West Sumatra. Based on the results of the research that quantitatively analyzed with the SEM method Partial Least Square approach, generated that the competence affects on performance. The more improved farmers competence results in the more improved farmers performance.
Keyword: SEM (Structural Equation Modeling) Partial Least Square, performance, competence

Judul: Competence and powerness of the cattle farmers to improving beef business (case on West Seram, Mollucas)
Abstrak: The research objectives are: (1) To find out and describe the factors related to the competencies and capabilities of farmers due to manage and improving beef business, (2) To find out the level of cattle farmer competencies and develop the product, and (3) To formulate or to design a strategy how to improve cattle farmer powerness in We st Seram. Structural Equation Model (SEM) was used to analyze quantitative data. From the five variable used to measure the cattle farmer competencies, it can be showed that only three of the variables significantly effect the farmer’s competencies. Those variable were human capital, physical capital and natural capital. The competencies level of the farmers on semi intensive and intensive care system were higher than extensive care system. The farmer entrepreneur competencies were higher than technical competencies. There’re significant effects of the human capital, social capital, physical capital and local government support to the powerness or capabilities of the farmers.
Keyword: marketing system, farmer empowerment, human resources, farmer entrepreneur competencies, natural resources

Judul: Posisi Filogenetik Kura-Kura Carettochelys Insculpta  (Reptillia: Testudinata)
Abstrak: Carettochelys insculpta is an endemic freshwater turtle of southern Papua and northern Australia. Phylogenetic position of this turtle is remain unresolved until now. Most of the research conducted show close relationships of C. insculpta and members of Trionychidae family. However, some of the research show distance between C. insculpta and members of Trionychidae family. This research is conducted to analyze phylogenetic relationship between C. insculpta and other members of Testudinata using 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and both gene as markers. DNA samples were obtained from three different organisms of C. insculpta. Two species used as outgroups were Alligator mississippiensis and Iguana iguana. Phylogenetic analysis was carried out using Neighbor-Joining method with Felsenstein 1981 (F81) modeltest. A polytomy tree of Testudinata was produced by using 12S rRNA gene. However, analysis using 16S rRNA and both genes as markers confirmed that C. insculpta was located between the Chelonidae and the Trionychidae family.
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