http://ojs.uho.ac.id/index.php/ijaserd doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.37149/ijaserd.v2i1.21711 ISSN: 2774-9126 (Online) International Journal of Agricultural Social Economics and Rural Development (Ijaserd) 2022:2(1):13-20 THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FACILITATOR'S ROLE IN SUSTAINABLE FARMER COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT Alia Fibrianingtyas 1*) , Vi'in Ayu Pertiwi 1) and Neza Fadia Rayesa 1) 1 Agriculture Faculty, University of Brawijaya *Corresponding author: alyaftyas@ub.ac.id To cite this article: Fibrianingtyas, A., Pertiwi, V., & Rayesa, N. (2022). The Effectiveness of Facilitator’s Role in Sustainable Farmer Community Empowerment. International Journal of Agricultural Social Economics and Rural Development (Ijaserd), 2(1), 13 - 20. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.37149/ijaserd.v2i1.21711 Received: November 16, 2021; Accepted: January 15, 2022; Published: January 22, 2022 ABSTRACT The smart city concept imposed by the Batu City Government of East Java Province was adopted from the 4.0 industrial revolution, but in reality, it has not been successful. The majority of the farmers are over 50 years old, so they have difficulty accepting this innovation. To address these gaps, it is necessary to play the role of community development actors (instructors, facilitators, or empowerers) to create a balance in the socio-ecosystem. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the effectiveness of the role of farmer assistant staff (TPP) to support agricultural extension to realize Batu smart city. The research was conducted in Batu City, especially Bumiaji, Junrejo, and Batu sub- districts. This study uses a quantitative approach with descriptive statistical data analysis. Data were obtained through interviews using questionnaires to farmers who received direct counseling and assistance from farmer assistants, especially in accessing Among Tani facilities. The respondent determination technique used in this study is saturated sampling. The samples selected were all Farmer Assistance Workers (TPP) in Batu City, totaling 40 people, 17 people from Bumiaji District, 13 people from Junrejo District, and ten people from Batu District. The results showed that the average age of the assistants was young and had a minimum education of S1 so that they were able to facilitate farmers, especially in accessing technology. The role of farmer assistants is very effective as facilitators, environmental analyzers, motivators, and farmer assistants, even though they are only included in the practical category as marketing partners. The effectiveness of farmer empowerment shows that from meeting the information needs needed by farmers, the level of cooperation between farmers and the level of innovation adaptation in the farmer's environment is high Keywords: agriculture development; descriptive; innovation; quantitative; smart city INTRODUCTION Advances in information and communication technology significantly affect the delivery of information and dissemination methods to farmers with a more comprehensive target range. These changes develop the duties and functions of extension, which from the beginning functioned as a conveyer of technical information for innovation to occur, have changed towards providing a more dynamic flow of information (Praditya, 2016). The development of the current era makes all activities and information can be done through mobile devices. So that farmers' sources of information can now be easily accessed anywhere, from aspects of technology, institutions, availability of logistics for production and marketing. The openness of access to information results from the effects of information and communication technology, especially the advancement of mobile phones and the internet. The emergence of new communication media variations resulted in reduced boundaries between media(Amin et al., 2013; Leeuwis, 2009). Information and communication technology in agricultural development requires a specific educational process and capacity building due to some technical difficulties and lack of skills to implement it (Mulyandari et al., 2010). This problem has become a common problem in developing countries motivated by the characteristics of farmers in that country. Most Indonesian farmers are small farmers (peasants) with several limitations, such as low capital, land tenure, skills, knowledge, accessibility of market information, and agricultural technology. The soft modernity or the ability of farmers to open themselves to renewal will worsen the condition of