Designing an extension model for agricultural knowledge dissemination in Galugah County, Mazandaran province, Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

• Fatemeh Shafiee

Department of Agricultural Extension & Education, Faculty of crop sciences, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran

Abstract

Keywords

• Food security
• Grouded theory
• Knowledge-based agrilcultre Production

Main Subjects

• Agricultural Economics, Extension and Education, Development, , ....

Extended Abstract

Objectives

Agricultural extension is a type of non-formal education and plays a key role in transferring knowledge to farmers. However, the knowledge diffusion and application rate produced by the farmers in different agricultural sectors are facing problems. Therefore, in this research, it was aimed to design a promotion model for agricultural knowledge dissemination in Galugah County of Mazandaran province

Method

In this paper research paradigm is qualitative and grounded theory is used as research method. The data collection tool was semi structured interview. A total of 14 interviwes were conducted with researchers, experts, agricultural extension agents, and innovator farmers (facilitators) in Galugah County of Mazandaran province. The research aimed to answer related questions by semis-structured interviews, such as: what factors affect the application of agricultural knowledge by the farmers of Golugah city? what problems and challenges are faced by faremers of Golugah city to apply knowledge? what will be the consequences of increasing the diffusion of agricultural knowledge in Golugah city? Theoretical method was used as sampling method and statistical samples were selected in a purposeful way and continued until the theoretical saturation point was reached. Then data collected were analyzed using ATLAS.ti 7.5 software. To analyze the data, three step coding method including open coding, axial coding (extracting categories and identifying the relationship between categories and determining the central phenomenon, explaining causal conditions, generalization of strategies, intervening and context conditions, consequences of strategies) and selective coding were used. In order to achieve reliability while reviewing previous research, to gain the necessary skills and flexibility in the researcher, two coders performed coding operations and the difference between them was minimal and in cases of disagreement, the best code was selected by discussion and exchange of views. To ensure the validity of this study was to triangulate which means that more than one researcher was involved collecting and analyzing data as well as external audit encodings and analysis by an expert who was not involved in the process of data collection and analysis will review and confirmation.

Result

In the first stage of coding, 83 introductory codes were identified and after refinement and integration, the codes were classified into 55 subcategories and 15 main categories. The obtained model includes causal conditions included: Generating appropriate knowledge and Availability of generated knowledge); strategies included: government and private sector support, policies of the country's agricultural sector, Rural youth and agricultural exploitation system; contextual conditions included: infrastructures and some personal, economic and social characteristics of users farmers, Intervening conditions included: factors preventing the penetration of knowledge and facilitating factors of knowledge diffusion; and consequences included agricultural development, and county comprehensive development).

Discussion

Today, compared to the past, knowledge- based economic has become a strategic and important issue in the economy of different societies and different fields, including agriculture. Since agriculture provides the country's food security, it is important to be knowledge-based.therefore it is suggested that Therefore, extension specialists, agent extensions and farmers should play a role in the production of knowledge and technology. Applied research will perform well when it produces appropriate knowledge needed by farmers, and extension system will be effective when it provides access to appropriate knowledge for farmers.