Utilization of the Lentera DESA Website in Blended Learning-Based Soil Fertility and Health Management Training in Yogyakarta

Abstract

Knowledge of soil fertility and soil health management is essential, especially in Yogyakarta, where the soil fertility and health of rice fields are low. This study employed an experimental research design involving 715 farmers, with data collected in August 2022 and June 2023. The research explored the effectiveness of a blended learning training scheme, especially in the use of The Lentera DESA website. The primary objectives were to identify factors that are related to the use of the Lentera DESA website and to examine the correlation between the duration of watching training videos and farmers’ knowledge. Factor analysis was carried out using multiple linear and mediated regression analyses. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to examine whether there is a relationship between video viewing duration and increased knowledge. As a result, four factors directly relate to the use of the Lentera DESA website, namely re-login activity (P = 0.001), farmer age (P = 0.047), presence of info-session (P = 0.054), and smartphone ownership (P = 0.023). Mediated regression analysis revealed that re-login activity plays an essential role in increasing the utilization of the Lentera DESA website through both partial mediation and complete mediation. However, using the Lentera DESA website as an online training medium showed no significant correlation with increasing farmers knowledge of soil fertility and soil health management.