THE ROLE OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION CENTERS IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN IRAQ

Ahmed Alhealyi,Dahham Aljarjary

doi:10.33899/magrj.2020.127573.1055

Abstract

The research aims to identify the role of agricultural extension centers in rural development in Iraq from the viewpoint of those working in, by identifying the degree to which agricultural extension centers play their role in rural development in the extension, economic and social fields. The degree to which these centers played their role in each of the aforementioned fields of rural development was determined and the items of these fields are arranged. The research community included (113) agricultural engineers and extensions working in the agricultural extension training centers in the country of (16) extension centers, except for the governorates of the Kurdistan region. The results showed the agreement the views of most the respondents that the extension centers in Iraq play a major and effective role in rural development through carrying out tasks and works in all fields of studied rural development (in general). Likewise, most of the respondents views agreed that the economic field comes at the forefront of these fields and the social field came in the second rank, whereas the extension field came in the last rank. In the researcher’s conclusions, he recommends the necessity of the continuity and support of the Ministry of Agriculture and those in charge of the extension apparatus in Iraq for extension centers due to the importance of its role in agricultural and rural development.

Highlights

The agricultural sector plays an important role in the economies of many developed and enhance countries of the world, and the countries of the world strive to develop the agricultural sector and develop it to meet the nutritional needs of the population and provide the necessary primary resources for many industries (Kashash, 2002)
Several major roles have been identified for the extension centers, the planning role includes identifying the resources of the local community, setting its priorities, planning for agricultural development activities and programs, the supporting role contributes to solving agricultural rural problems, discovering local leaders, and the extension role is to transfer agricultural information and recommendations to farmers and raise their awareness of the developments and technologies Agricultural and their participation in extension programs, and the coordinating role in coordination with civil and governmental rural organizations within the scope of the work of the extension center (Al-Khafaji, 2013)
The problem of this research is limited to answering the following questions: 1- What is the degree to which agricultural extension centers in Iraq play a role in rural development in general? 2- What is the degree to which agricultural extension centers in Iraq play their role in every field of rural development?

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The agricultural sector plays an important role in the economies of many developed and enhance countries of the world, and the countries of the world strive to develop the agricultural sector and develop it to meet the nutritional needs of the population and provide the necessary primary resources for many industries (Kashash, 2002). For the sake of extension work takes its role in agricultural and rural development, its necessary to have an appropriate methodology to choose good means which convey the extension massage One of these methods and means is to publish and establish extension centers that are seen as one of the paths to achieve agricultural and even rural development from the perspective of their role in the direction of disseminating knowledge and modern technologies in a manner More effective (Nassif, 2006). It represents a base for extension work at the village level. The problem of this research is limited to answering the following questions: 1- What is the degree to which agricultural extension centers in Iraq play a role in rural development in general? 2- What is the degree to which agricultural extension centers in Iraq play their role in every field of rural development (extension, economic and social)?

OBJECTIVES

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Findings

11 Extension Center in Holy Karbala 5