The Role of Extension Farms in Developing the Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes of Farmers in the Provinces of Central Iraq

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the role of extension farms in developing the knowledge and skill capabilities of farmers in the governorates of central Iraq through the following areas (the extent to which extension farms depend on the preparation and planning process, coordination and cooperation with the relevant authorities, the dissemination and transfer of agricultural innovations, the use of modern means of communication, the conduct of Research and development of agricultural innovations to address the problems of farmers, interaction and reactions of farmers with extension farms, the possibilities available). Also, this study dealt with identifying the problems and obstacles facing work in those farms. This study included (66) respondents were representing all extension employees working in extension farms, which numbered (19) farms in (5) provinces. The questionnaire form was used as a tool to collect data from respondents after ensuring its validity and consistency, and results showed that the role of extension farms in developing and developing the knowledge, skills and attitudes of the targeted farmers is weak and not at the required level, and the study showed weakness in process of preparing and planning extension activities, and absence of coordination and cooperation process and integration with the relevant authorities, and there is a great perception in process of spreading and transferring agricultural innovations and the lack of use of modern means of communication to interact with farmers, and that extension farms do not implement scientific research procedures to address the problems and needs of farmers, as it has been shown that there are material and financial problems and obstacles facing the workflow in these farms. The lack of number of extension staff and their weak knowledge and skills expertise, as well as administrative and communication problems. The study included some scientific recommendations to address the weaknesses, which will contribute to improving the performance and efficiency of work in extension farms.