Transformational leadership and field-level accountability in smallholder beef cattle development under environmental uncertainty

FERDI FATHUROHMAN (Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal and Agricultural Sciences, Universitas Diponegoro. Jl. Prof. Jacob Rais, Tembalang, Semarang 50275, Central Java, Indonesia)
TITIK EKOWATI (Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal and Agricultural Sciences, Universitas Diponegoro. Jl. Prof. Jacob Rais, Tembalang, Semarang 50275, Central Java, Indonesia)
SIWI GAYATRI (Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal and Agricultural Sciences, Universitas Diponegoro. Jl. Prof. Jacob Rais, Tembalang, Semarang 50275, Central Java, Indonesia)
RETNO ADIWINARTI (Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal and Agricultural Sciences, Universitas Diponegoro. Jl. Prof. Jacob Rais, Tembalang, Semarang 50275, Central Java, Indonesia)
INA NURTANTI (Faculty of Sains and Technology, Universitas Muhammadiyah Karanganyar. Jl. Raya Solo-Tawangmangu Km. 12, Papahan, Tasikmadu, Karanganyar 57722, Central Java, Indonesia)
NEFI ANDRIANA FAJRI (Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Universitas Nahdlatul Wathan Mataram. Jl. Kaktus No. 1-3, Mataram City 83125, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia)
NURUL MUKMINAH (Department of Agroindustry, Politeknik Negeri Subang. Jl. Brigjen Katamso No. 37, Dangdeur, Subang 41285, West Java, Indonesia)
RAHMI RAHMAWATI (Department of Agroindustry, Politeknik Negeri Subang. Jl. Brigjen Katamso No. 37, Dangdeur, Subang 41285, West Java, Indonesia)

Asian Journal of Agriculture
Vol. 10 No. 1 (2026)

Abstract. Fathurohman F, Ekowati T, Gayatri S, Adiwinarti R, Nurtanti I, Fajri NA, Mukminah N, Rahmawati R. 2026. Transformational leadership and field-level accountability in smallholder beef cattle development under environmental uncertainty. Asian J Agric 10 (1): g100143. https://doi.org/10.13057/asianjagric/g100143. Accountability within Indonesia’s smallholder beef cattle development program (SIKOMANDAN) is crucial for ensuring national meat security, yet program implementation frequently faces complex field-level challenges such as biological risks and resource instability. This study investigates the institutional determinants of program accountability, focusing on the direct effects of System Integrity (SI), Internal Control Systems (ICS), and Transformational Leadership (TL), alongside the moderating roles of Organizational Commitment (OC) and Environmental Uncertainty (EU). A quantitative survey was conducted using a purposive sampling technique in Subang District, West Java, Indonesia, involving 125 local government officials and agricultural extension workers. Empirical data were evaluated using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to test both direct and interaction effects. The results show that Transformational Leadership (β = 0.458, p < 0.001) and System Integrity (β = 0.392, p < 0.001) significantly enhance accountability, with the model explaining 76.4% of variance (R² = 0.764). In contrast, the Internal Control System has no significant direct effect (β = -0.017, p = 0.814). Organizational Commitment emerges as a significant independent predictor (β = 0.512, p < 0.001) rather than a moderator. Environmental Uncertainty shows no direct effect but indicates a borderline negative effect on internal controls (β = -0.135, p = 0.058). These findings highlight that accountability in livestock governance is driven more by leadership and system integrity than by formal control mechanisms alone. Strengthening adaptive governance through leadership development and flexible operational procedures is essential for program effectiveness in volatile agricultural contexts.