Analyzing extension- education methods about combating the drought in agricultural sector: a case study in Hamedan County

Subject Areas : Agricultural Extension and Education Research

Mariam Yosefi Mohamadi ¹ , Reza Movahedi ² , Heshmatollah Saadi ³

1 - M.Sc., Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
2 - Associate Prof., Agricultural extension Education Dep., Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran,
3 - Associate Prof., Agricultural extension Education Dep., Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

Received: 2023-04-12 Accepted : 2023-07-30 Published : 2023-08-23

Keywords: Agricultural Experts, Extension Education Methods, Drought Combating, Agricultural sector, Farmers,

Abstract :

The purpose of this study was to investigate the extension methods about combating the drought in agricultural sector from the view points of the agricultural experts and farmers in Hamedan. The research was an applied research on the basis of the purpose, and it was a surveying study in terms of data gathering. Data were gathered through a questionnaire tool. The study population included both 8443 farmers and 135 agricultural experts from Hamedan County in 2020. Of those 367 farmers and 100 agricultural experts were selected by using Cochran's formula respectively. Validity of the questionnaire (face validity) was confirmed by the agricultural extension professors from Bu-Ali Sina University. To evaluate the reliability of the research instrument, Cronbach's alpha was used during a pre-test and it was 0.94 for the research' questions (extension education methods). The results showed that the most important extension methods to control drought which agreed with both farmers and experts were: training by local leaders, visiting demonstration farms, use advisory services. The results also showed that according to factor analysis of the farmers' views, extension methods to combat drought can be summarized in 4 groups including: extension and advisory services, transfer information by local communities, people and magazines, training with local leaders and councils, watching extension films and visiting extension agents. According to factor analysis of the experts' views, extension methods to combat drought can be summarized in 4 categories, which are: visit tours, using extension publications, using information networks, using cooperatives, village municipality and councils' capacities.