Farmers' contact with agricultural extension in Haditha district and its relation to some variables

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the communicative level of farmers in the agricultural extension system in Haditha district through various means of communication and the relationship of this level with the age of the farmer, his educational achievement and his confidence in the agricultural extension system. A random sample of 10% of the total number of farmers 1138 was selected. The number of respondents was 114 farmers. A questionnaire was used to collect data from farmers through a personal interview. The results of the study showed that there is a significant weakness in the communication process between the farmers and the agricultural communication system by different means whether individual, collective or public, where 80.55, 94.74 and 90.50% of the farmers indicated that they did not communicate through these means, respectively. The study showed that there is a correlation between the level of communication and the farmers’ age, his educational achievement and his confidence in the agricultural extension system. The study recommended the necessity to develop the extension system and increase its effectiveness at all levels, whether local or central, and provide material and human support for it to carry out his tasks in the delivery of modern agricultural techniques and achieve comprehensive rural development.