ارزيابي نظام ترويج كشاورزي ايران

Assessment of Agricultural Extension System in Iran

The main purpose of this study was to assess the agricultural extension system in Iran using a qualitative method. A questionnaire, confirmed by panel of experts and agricultural extension experts was prepared for data collecting. Reliability Index of the questionnaire calculated by Cronbach test was 0.79. The population of the study included all the extension officers (experts having bachelor or masters degree) employed in the Agriculture Extension Office- ministry off agriculture- working in 6 separate departments, (N=242). One hundred and fiftynine participants were chosen as the sample of the study by stratified randomized methode and ultimately 147 questionnaires were analyzed (n=147). The findings indicated that "the agricultural extension services" had a better condition regarding extension activities compared with other compilations (organization and execution structure, evaluation and supervision, link between extension and other establishments and programming). It was revealed that this system had the most success in extension activities (instruction and extension coverage, applying effective instructional methods, balance between the content of planning and farmersʹ activities ) and the least success in programming. The findings also indicated that the more educated the experts the less they were satisfied with extension activities. Independent variables such as years of service, age and job satisfaction could predict only 33.3 % of the viewpoint of the agents regarding the condition of agricultural extension system in Iran. Besides, a general assessment of extension system in Iran proved that the majority of the agents (84%) agreed to have a fundamental improvement in extension system in Iran.