PERSEPSI PETANI TERHADAP PERAN TENAGA PENDAMPING MAHASISWA / ALUMNI PADA PROGRAM UPAYA KHUSUS PENINGKATAN PRODUKSI PADI, JAGUNG, KEDELAI (UPSUS – PAJALE) DI KABUPATEN NAGAN RAYA OLEH Dedy Irmayanda / Agribisnis Unsyiah ABSTRAK Peran pendamping merupakan kegiatan yang dilakukan dilapangan bersama penyuluh dalam meningkatkan efektivitas pelaksanaan program dan kegiatan percepatan pencapaian swasembada padi, jagung dan kedelai di sentra-sentra produksi dengan melibatkan mahasiswa/alumni, dosen serta tenaga pemantau/supervisor. Tujuan dari penelitian ini mengetahui persepsi petani terhadap peran tenaga pendamping mahasiswa/alumni pada program UPSUS-PAJALE di Kabupaten Nagan Raya. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan metode survey. Analisis yang digunakan pada dalam penelitian ini yaitu analisis deskriptif. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukksn bahwa Berdasarkan analisis deskriptif yang dilakukan maka persepsi petani terhadap tenaga pendamping (Mahasiswa dan Alumni) telah berperan baik pada Program UPSUS PAJALE di kabupaten Nagan Raya. Kata Kunci : Program Upsus, Peran Pendamping, Padi, Jagung dan Kedelai FARMERS’ PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS THE ROLE OF UNIVERSISTY STUDENTS/ ALUMNI AS THE CO-LABORERS IN EFFORTS OF INCREASING RICE, CORN, AND SOYBEAN PRODUCTION (UPSUS – PAJALE) IN NAGAN RAYA REGENCY BY Dedy Irmayanda / Agribusiness Unsyiah ABSTRACT The co-laborers’ role is an activity which is conducted together in the field in collaboration with the extension agents in improving the effectiveness of the implementations of programs accelerating self-sufficiency programs of rice, corn, and soybean in the production centers by involving university students/ alumni, lecturers as well as supervisors. The purpose of this study is to know the farmers’ perceptions towards the role of university students/ alumni as the co-laborers participating in UPSUS-PAJALE in Nagan Raya. This study was conducted using survey method. The analysis used in this study was descriptive analysis. Based on the descriptive analysis conducted, the results show that farmers’ agree that the existence of co-laborers program (university students and alumni) has contributed well to UPSUS PAJALE program in Nagan Raya. Keywords: UPSUS Program, Farmers’ Perception, Co-laborers Role, Rice, Corn, and Soybean.