Komunikasi Politik dan Proses Pengambilan Keputusan: Pembelajaran Model Prima Tani menjadi Program Simantri di Bali

Political communication becomes an important aspect in the advocation process, dissemination of innovation, and central agricultural development program. Regional autonomy and a decentralized development model have not been a driver of the sustainability of leaders and bureaucracies in the region towards agricultural sector development policies. This condition impacts the slow process of dissemination and adoption of technological innovations. Prima Tani is one of the agricultural development innovation models, initiated by the Agricultural Research and Development Agency and being adopted by the Provincial Government of Bali into the Simantri. The transformation process of the Prima Tani Model to the Simantri Program was supported by the Governor of Bali, in line with the strategic program of Bali Province towards Bali Mandara (forward, safe, peace, and prosperity). This paper aims to analyze the process of political communication and decision-making of the Prima Tani Model in Simantri Program in Bali Province. The research location was established because Bali Province successfully transformed the innovation of the Prima Tani Model into a regional agricultural development program (Simantri). Data and information are done by snowballing method. The results of the study are delivered descriptively and qualitatively. The result showed that political communication becomes an important process in Simantri Program. An important role in the decision-making process was carried out by the governor and outlined in the governor’s rules as a political document of Bali. Political communication strategies were carried out through power politics and through bureaucratic politics and advocacy in addition to socialization programs in the centre and region of the community. The Simantri Program will continue to support the economy of rural communities in Bali, despite the change of regional leaders.