Extension Agents' Characteristics that Affect Meeting Farmers' Satisfaction (Case Study, Pishva, Varamin)

Agricultural extension is a client-oriented service the effectiveness and efficiency of which depends on the clientele’s satisfaction. Extension agents’ performance is one of the indices of extension services' performance. Extension agents’ performance has been assessed in different such ways as: study of their supervisors’ view points, study of agents’ themselves reports and as well studying farmers view points. It is believed that the appraisal method used in this survey–studying farmers' view points –is the most reliable and best coincides with the philosophy and principles of extension. This survey is aimed at assessing farmers’ satisfaction with extension agents’ performance and the factors that affect it. This survey is attended to through a descriptive one. The dependent variable, namely: farmers’ satisfaction with extension agents' performance-is assessed by means of several questions which attend to the different dimensions of agents' activities. The survey was impelemented in Pishva District in Varamin (Tehran Province). Sixty farmers were selected through categorical sampling method, with a final 56 questionnaires being analyzed through Spss/Win software. Results indicated that the extent of farmers' dry lands as well as their experience in farming had significant relationships with their degree of satisfaction. Regression equation revealed that the education level is a related factor, too. In short, the effective factors affecting farmers’ satisfaction were: scientific-operational skills of the extension agents, their communicational skills and finally their individual skills, respectively.