Investigating Factors Influencing the Facilitation Competency of Agricultural Extension Experts

This survey research was conducted to investigate the professional facilitation competencies of agricultural extension experts. The statistical population of the study consisted of all extension practitioners working in different provincial extension departments of the Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture. Using Cochran's formula, 232 extension practitioners were selected as sample using multi-phase method. Content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of extension experts of ministry of Jihad-e- Agriculture and agricultural extension and education faculty members of the University of Tehran. Calculated Coronbach Alpha coefficient as an indication of the questionnaire’s reliability for the main parts of questionnaire (three categories of facilitation competencies in terms of both importance and current status) stood in range of 0.83 – 0.87. The data was analyzed through SPSS software. The findings revealed that the extent of competencies of facilitation of most of the respondents (80%) was from medium to relatively low. Calculated correlation coefficients indicated that there was a significant positive correlation observed between on agricultural extension expert’s competencies of facilitation and job record, collaboration in research-extension projects, field visits, membership in cooperatives, taking courses in facilitation field, participation in extension forums, record of being extension educator, as well as experience as facilitator. The results of a comparison with T-test indicated that there was a significant difference observed between competencies of facilitation of respondents as based field major, being a native extension agent, having taken course in facilitation field, experience as facilitator. According to ANOVA (F-test), there was a significant difference observed between measures of competencies of facilitation of respondents as based organizational unit, as well as the level of education.