Indicators for Evaluating the Private Enterprises Providing Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PHD. Student , Agricultural Extension, University of Tehran

2 Professor of Agricultural Extension and Education , University of Tehran

3 Professor, Agricultural Extension and Education , University of Tehran

4 College of agricultural economics and development, Department of agricultural extension and education

Abstract

Effective evaluation has been always a serious and problematic issue in agricultural extension system. Although there have been some erratic efforts to develop indicators to assessing the public extension services, there is not a contextualized study to identify appropriate indicators to measuring the status of private extension enterprises, if any. In this regard, the main purpose of this study was to develop the relevant and situation-specific indicators which can be used for assessing the status and performance of private enterprises are engaged in agricultural extension and advisory delivery system. A mixed method research design was conducted, and key informant were purposively selected in both phases. Qualitative data were gathered by using semi-structured interviews and analyzed according to the fundamental assumptions of grounded theory. In contrast, quantitative data were collected in a survey using a researcher-made questionnaire and compared by Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). According to the results, 90 indicators were developed and classified into nine distinctive categories. In terms of their importance and priority, acquired indicators’ categories were nominated: services’ profitability, market efficiency, institutional development, accountability, professional expertise, enterprises’ resources, professional interactions, entrepreneurial innovation and coverage level, respectively. These indicators can be used by policy-makers of agricultural services system and private enterprises in extension evaluation and adjustment projects in a contextualized manner. 

Keywords

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Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research
Volume 48, Issue 3
November 2017
Pages 491-505

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