Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research

Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research

Farmers' Attitude towards New Agricultural Knowledge: the Case of Mehriz and Khatam Townships

Authors
Amir Hossein Alibaygi
Mohammad Dareh Zereshki
Mohammadreza Khaki
10.22059/ijaedr.2012.28588
Abstract
The purpose of this descriptive-correlational study was to analyze farmers' attitude toward new agricultural knowledge in Mehreiz and Khatam Townships. The statistical population for the study consisted of the farmers of Mehreiz and Khatam Township (N=22618). A multistage sample of farmers was selected (n=281). Based on the findings, the use of specialized publications and the recommendations of experts had the highest correlation with the attitude. A forty five percent of the farmers had positive attitudes towards new agricultural methods while the attitudes of 29 percent were negative. Advice from extension agents and agricultural experts, the willingness to have the education of their children continued, the use of new technologies in agriculture, the extent of study of the specialized agricultural publications, the rate of participation in extension and education programs, the rate of participation in family and farm decision-akings, and age were among the factors affecting farmers' attitudes towards the new agricultural procedures. These variables explained 44 percent of the variance among farmers’ attitudes.
Keywords
Attitude
Extension agents
farmers
New agricultural doctrines