Investigation of agricultural extension challenges concerning interaction with other AKIS actors from agricultural extension specialists` view point

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Senior Experts, Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modarres University, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modarres University, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Iran

Abstract

This study Investigates challenges facing extension services concerning interaction with other AKIS[1] actors from agricultural extension specialists` point of view. The research design for this study employed a survey method. Though Krejcie and Morgan simply size table and 103 specialists were purposive selected as a sample out of 140 agricultural extension specialists ‎in Iran and finally 90 questionnaires was collected. A questionnaire was used to collect data concerning interactive challenges of extension services with other six AKIS actors namely research sector, education sector, farmers, policy makers, private sector and farmers organization. Specialists` interaction with other related sub-systems was also investigated. Content and face validity of the questionnaire were confirmed by a panel of experts consisting of agricultural extension and education specialists. Questionnaire reliability was estimated by calculating Cronbach’s alpha. The overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the instrument was 0.95. Results of this study revealed that interactive challenges of extension services were as follow respectively; interaction with policy makers, research centers, farmers, education sector, farmers’ organization and privet sector. Findings showed that major challenges facing extension services in interaction with other intended actors in this study were; lack of guaranteed sanction by policy-makers in reflection the problems facing farmers through extension agents, reluctance of researchers and extension agents to cooperate with each other, disproportion ratio of extension agents and farmers, and inadequate experiences of private sector in providing extension services. Findings revealed that there was no significant difference between perceptions of agricultural extension faculty members, ministerial senior managers of deputy of agricultural extension and education and Ph.D. Student regarding interactive challenges of agricultural extension services with other AKIS actors.



[1] Agricultural Knowledge and Information System






 

Keywords


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