Department Of Agricultural Extension Research Articles

Exploring the Factors Affecting Job Satisfaction among Sub Assistant Agricultural Officers in Dinajpur District, Bangladesh

Ensuring job satisfaction is imperative due to its constructive impact on employee welfare, motivation, and output. Exploring the SAAOs’ extent of job satisfaction and finding out the influences of different socio-economic factors towards their job satisfaction, were the aims of this study. Data were collected using a pre-tested interview schedule from randomly selected seventy- one (71) SAAOs of seven upazilas of Dinajpur district. SAAOs’ job satisfaction was measured based on his/her extent of satisfaction with 10 selected items using a 4-point rating scale. The percentages, means, and standard deviations were employed to summarise the data gathered during the interviews. The inferential statistical investigation involved using correlation and regression analysis. Findings revealed that the highest proportion (53.5 percent) of the respondents had medium job satisfaction. The SAAOs were mostly dissatisfied with the financial support and lack of necessary supplies from the office provided by the organization. Ten independent variables namely, additional education, job demand, job control, organizational support, perceived colleagues’ support, job facilities, managerial orientation, psychological well-being, self-efficacy, and job performance had significant positive relationships with job satisfaction according to correlation analysis. According to multiple regression analysis, 64.4 percent of the variance in job satisfaction could be explained by all the independent variables, and organizational support, perceived colleagues’ support, psychological well-being, and job performance were the most significant factors. However, perceived colleagues’ support had the highest contribution (56.2 percent) in explaining the job satisfaction of SAAOs. For ensuring the job satisfaction of SAAOs, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) can emphasize on strategies like professional development of the SAAOs, feedback, rewards and accolades and a supportive organizational culture.

Self-Regulatory Learning Strategies for Senior Secondary Agriculture Students

Self-regulation is essential to the learning process as it enhance student performance. However, there is very little research on the self-regulatory strategies employed by students. Therefore, this study sought to identify self-regulatory learning strategies used by senior secondary agriculture students. The study used a descriptive survey design, and targeted agriculture students in senior secondary schools in Eswatini. Consequently, there were ten schools sampled using cluster sampling; which produced 356 respondents. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics. Three experts from the Department of Agricultural Education and Extension at the University of Eswatini ensured the validity of the questionnaire. A pilot study using 30 students indicated that the instrument was 72% reliable. Findings revealed that the senior secondary agriculture students used all the self-regulatory learning strategies. The most commonly used strategies were self-evaluation, structuring the environment, keeping records and monitoring, and organizing and transforming. The study also revealed that teachers were equipping students with self-regulatory strategies. Therefore, the study concluded that the senior secondary agriculture students used self-regulatory learning strategies. Based on the findings, it was recommended that teacher training institutions should equip agriculture teachers with self-regulatory strategies which will enable them to assist the students.

Relationship between Bacterial Bio-Fertilization at Different Levels of Plowing Depths and Some of Soil Physical Characteristics, Growth and Yield af Wheat Crops (Triticum astivum L.)

The study included the implementation of a factorial field experiment at the agricultural extension station affiliated with the Agricultural Extension Department in the Warka District, located north of Al-Muthanna Governorate, during the winter season 2022-2023. The soil texture of the field was loamy clay soil and the wheat variety was Research 22. The factorial experiment was designed according to the split-plot arrangement and (RCBD) design with three replications. The first factor represents the biological inoculum with B. subtilis and B. megaterium bacteria, with four levels, B0 without the addition of the inoculum, B1 with B. megaterium bacteria, and B2 with B. subtilis bacteria, and the fourth treatment, B3, included the double inoculum B1 + B2, and the second factor represents plowing depths with four levels, D1 represents zero plowing depth, D2 represents 10 cm plowing depth, D3 represents 20 cm plowing depth and D4 represents 30 cm plowing depth. The results showed the following. The results showed that the plowing depth D4 was superior to the control treatment and recorded the highest values in both plant height (100.74 cm) and moisture content was 41.26, 15.59 % in both flowering and harvesting stages respectively, while the depth D3 recorded a significant superiority in the weight of 1000 grains (49.14 gm). The B3 bacterial inoculum addition treatment was significantly superior to the control treatment.The highest values were recorded for plant height, weight of 1000 seeds, and moisture content in the harvest and flowering stages .The values were 100.26 cm, 46.63 g, 13.25%, 31.91% respectively. The results of the statistical analysis showed that the interaction treatment of the bacterial inoculum and plowing depth D4B1 was superior in plant height, the D3B2 treatment increased in the weight of 1000 seeds, and the D3B3 treatment was superior in moisture content for the flowering and harvesting stages. The values were 104.09 cm, 54.76 g, 44.35% and 17.50% respectively

Insights from Farmers’ Rice Culture Practices under Integrated Rice–Crayfish Farming System in the Hongze Lake District of China

In recent years, rice–crayfish integrated farming has expanded rapidly in the Hongze Lake district of China as the booming consumer market of crayfish. However, the current rice cultivation technology limits rice yield and the economic profits of rice–crayfish integrated farming, and the characteristics and farmers’ practices of rice culture under the rice–crayfish integrated farming system are unknown. To understand the present rice culture practices in rice–crayfish integrated farming by farmers and their perceptions and provide direction for improvement, a survey was carried out in 2019 and 2020 in Xuyi County, a representative region of rice–crayfish integrated farming in the Hongze Lake district of China, comprising 208 farmers engaged in RCIF, and detailed and complex information was obtained using face-to-face conversations. Based on the survey results, we found that farmers have limited knowledge of the rice cultivation request in a specific RCIF mode and well-suited rice varieties and mechanical transplanting equipment and corresponding techniques are lacking in RCIF. In addition, farmers had no reliable and scientific methods for the use of nitrogen fertilizers and pest management schemes. In accordance with the constraints mentioned above, we put forward the following suggestions for rice culture improvement: (i) the local agricultural extension department should strengthen the RCIF mode and extend techniques and training; (ii) researchers should develop RCIF-suited rice varieties, mechanical transplanters, and related seedling-raising methods; (iii) researchers should clarify the occurrence regularity of soil properties and rice pests with continuous RCIF practices and provide corresponding guidance for nitrogen application and pest control schemes.

Requirements for Developing the Technical Capabilities of Agricultural Extension Service Providers to Face the Effects of Climate Change in Baghdad Province

The aim of the research is to determine the requirements for developing the technical capabilities of the agricultural extension service providers to face the effects of climatic changes in Baghdad Governorate, to achieve the goal of the research and in order to obtain the respondents’ approval of the requirements (28) requirements were identified in the light of the literature and studies related to the subject and the opinions of specialists to develop the technical capabilities of the agricultural extension service providers distributed on two axes (the ability to know the effects of climate changes, the ability to know the practices to reduce the effects of climate changes). The research community and sample included all workers in the provision of agricultural extension service in the province of Baghdad and distributed to the Department of Agriculture Baghdad Al-Karkh and agricultural divisions affiliated to it and the Department of Agricultural Extension and Training in the province of Baghdad, the number of (110) persons. The results of the research showed that there was a great agreement by the respondents on all requirements for developing technical capabilities.As the requirement (developing the ability of the extension service provider to inform farmers of the impact of climate changes on the production of summer and winter crops) ranked first in terms of the level of approval of the respondents, which obtained a weighted average of (3.84) and a percentage weight of (96.1%). While the requirement (developing the ability of the extension service provider to educate farmers about the possibility of fires occurring in farms as a result of rising temperatures due to climate changes) came in the last order in terms of approval with a weighted average of (3.36) and a percentage weight of (90.9%). The researcher recommended the importance of the competent authorities considering the requirements for developing the technical capabilities of agricultural extension service providers and working on applying them to develop the performance of agricultural extension service providers in the face of climate changes.

Exploring the association between social media and farmers' knowledge of a worldwide invasive agricultural pest, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Public education has profound effects on the management effectiveness of invasive alien species by shaping stakeholders' knowledge systems. However, our understanding of the association between social media and farmers' knowledge is lacking for the majority of invasive agricultural pests. In this study, we used the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, one of the most invasive insects globally, as a case to test the hypothesis that social media has a significant association with farmers' knowledge of FAW. To address this, we developed a theoretical framework, conducted extensive household questionnaires in the China-Myanmar-Laos border region (China), and used quantitative descriptions and binary logistic regressions in statistical analyses. Our results showed that (1) farmers frequently reported using 12 social media applications on smartphones (SMASs), and obtained FAW-relevant information from six of them, with high preferences for WeChat and TikTok, (2) farmers possessed a generally high level of knowledge of FAW which was significantly associated with their socio-demographic profiles, and (3) FAW-relevant information from SMASs was significantly associated with certain aspects of farmers' knowledge of FAW. We concluded that social media has a significant association with farmers' knowledge of FAW. We suggest that well-designed and -conducted educational programs based on the use of SMASs could help improve the management of FAW, and the Department of Agricultural Extension could play an important and necessary role. Our findings provide insights into this novel educational approach for the management of serious invasive agricultural pests. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Flash flooding considerations aside: Knowledge brokering by the extension and advisory services to adapt a farming system to flash flooding

The development of agriculture sector and livelihood in Bangladesh are threatened by various climatic stressors, including flash flooding. Therefore, Extension and advisory services (EAS) need to navigate the knowledge landscape effectively to connect various farm actors and help secure the optimum benefits of knowledge and information for making rational decisions. However, little is known how EAS can perform this task to combat various effects of climate change. This study investigates the means of brokering knowledge by the EAS to help the farming sector adapt to flash flooding. The research was conducted in the north-eastern part of Bangladesh with 73 staff of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the largest public EAS in Bangladesh. The results showed that DAE primarily dealt with crop production-related information. However, EAS did not navigate knowledge and information about flash flooding, such as weather forecasting and crop-saving-embankments updates, among the farming actors. Moreover, they missed the broad utilization of internet-based-communication channels to rapidly navigate information and knowledge about possible flash flooding and its adaptation strategies. This article provides some policy implications to effectively support the adaptation of farming system to flash flooding through EAS.

Performance of Different Percentage of Urea as Foliar Fertilizer on Growth and Development of Rice (Rabi dhan1)

Nitrogen can dramatically stimulate plant productivity as well as yield potential of intensified agriculture system. The unavailability of Nitrogen fertilizer specially urea during critical period (sowing season, drought, flood.) hamper the rice production. It is noticed in literature that the effectiveness of nitrogen fertilizer increased if it is applied in plants through foliage along with soil application. Present research work was planned to evaluate this theme so that the loss of yield due to unavailability of urea can be reduced by foliar application at various growth stages of rice. A research work was conducted to examine the “Performance of different percentage of urea as foliar fertilizer on growth and development of rice (Rabi dhan 1).” at the Agronomy and Agricultural extension Department Field, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh from December 2022-May 2023. Rabi Dhan-1 rice variety with six different percentage of urea as foliar application were used for this experiment. 1. T1= N0% Control, 2. T2= 65% of recommended dose (N 50% as SA + 15% as FA), 3. T3= 70% of recommended dose (N50% as SA + 20% as FA), 4. T4= 75% of recommended dose (N50 % as SA + 25 % as FA), 5. T5= 80% of recommended dose (N60% as SA + 20% as FA) , 6. T6= N100% Soil application (Traditional practice). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The significant effect of liquid fertilizer was found on almost all the parameters under studied. All the phenological and growth parameters showed the highest performance in T4 = 75% of recommended dose (N50 % as SA+ 25 % as FA) and lowest in T1= N0% Control. The result showed that the phenological characters like plant height, total number of tiller hill-1 was highest inT4 while the lowest was in T1. Plant height was increased with the increase of the age of plants. Chlorophyll content increased slowly at the early stage of crop growth and later declined. All the yield contributing characters like plant height, total number of tiller hill-1, effective tiller hill-1, panicle length, number of grains panicle-1, number of filled grain panicle-1, 1000 grain weight and grain yield were varied significantly due to different doses of fertilizer application.

A Study on the Effectiveness of Utilization of the Union Digital Center Agricultural Information by the Farmers in Bangladesh

Aims: The aims of the study were to determine the effectiveness of Union Digital Center (UDC) in the utilization of agricultural information by the farmers, also to investigate the contribution of the selected characteristics of the farmers to the effectiveness of UDC in the utilization of agricultural information and to resolve the problems faced by the farmers in receiving agricultural information from the UDC. Study Design: It is a Field Survey Research. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in a union named Alokjhari under Khanshama Upazila of Dinajpur district of Bangladesh There are eight villages in this union. The study was conducted in these eight villages from January 2020 to February 2022. Methodology: The farmers of Alokjhari Union who were members of the Common Interest Group (CIG) under the National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) constitute the population of the study. According to Yamane’s (1967) formula, the sample size was determined as 154 from 200 respondents. A simple random sampling method was used in order to select the sample. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule. Descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression were used for analysis. Results: The highest proportion 49.4 percent of the farmers had low effectiveness of UDC in utilizing agricultural information compared to 30.5 percent with medium effectiveness and 20.1 percent with high effectiveness. And the highest effective information that the farmers asked for was found on ‘compost preparation’ followed by ‘tree plantation’, ‘recommended seed rate’, and so on. Among the influential variables level of education, family income, innovativeness, agricultural knowledge and aspiration provided a 53.1 percent contribution to the effectiveness of UDC. Conclusion: The findings indicate that UDC plays a moderate role in the utilization of agricultural information. Agricultural knowledge was the main contributor to the improvement of the effectiveness of UDC while agricultural knowledge should be increased to both farmers and UDC staff levels.

LEVEL OF EXTENSION METHODS IMPORTANCE FROM THE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORKERS POINT OF VIEW IN SULAIMANI GOVERNORATE

The aim of this study was to determine the level of agricultural extension methods importance from the extension workers point of view in Sulaimani governorate, then identify relationship between agricultural extension methods importance with some variables. The population consists of the all agricultural extension workers in agricultural extension directorate of Sulaimani and they were (137) workers, the sample of the research included (106) respondents representing nearly (%77) of the population, taken by a simple sampling random method. Questionnaire was prepared to collect the data. The results showed that the level of importance of extension methods were high tends to medium, group extension methods occupied the first rank in the level of importance of extension methods. Farm visit paragraph occupied the first rank in the individual method, then field demonstration paragraph occupied the first rank in the group method finally extension campaigns paragraph occupied the first rank in the mass method. The results also showed there is a significant relationship between the level of importance and each of the following variables (Previous training, Exposure to sources of the agricultural information. Attitude towards agricultural extension. Job satisfaction). While not significant relationship between the level of importance of extension methods and the other variables.
 The researchers recommended pay attention to energizing their programs through agricultural extension methods, and Focusing on activating the group method, Agricultural extension department should pay attention for the workers to participate in training courses.

Possibilities and Challenges of Dragon Fruit in Chapainawabganj Region of Bangladesh from the Growers Perspective

Farmers in Bangladesh are enthusiastic in dragon fruit farming as a new and promising crop that offers both difficulties and potential. The purpose of the study was to examine the advantages and disadvantages of this novel fruit from the perspective of growers. It is a descriptive survey research which was conducted in purposively selected four Upazilas of Chapainawabganj region of Bangladesh including Chapainawabganj Sadar, Gomastapur, Nachol, and Godagari from 16th April to 25th May, 2022. Pearson’s correlation test was administered to determine the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics of the growers and their knowledge on dragon fruit production. Socio-demographic profile of the randomly selected growers of the study revealed that majority of the respondents were in their middle age, highly educated, had a medium annual income with medium sized land, little farming experience, less training and higher cosmopolitan behavior. Majority of the dragon fruit growers showed high level of understanding regarding dragon fruit cultivation and their fellow farmers and mass media were determined to be the most effective sources of information. According to the study’s findings, the majority of farmers were inspired to grow dragon fruit because it is more resistant to pests and diseases, promotes excellent health, yields for a long time, and can be grown from both seeds and cuttings. Furthermore, the fruit has a higher profit margin than other field crops. Weeds, bird invasions, high labor expenses, lack of technical knowledge of farmers on dragon fruit farming were recognized as major obstacles to fruit production. According to a correlation analysis, farmers’ age, extension contacts, and cosmopolitan nature were significantly and positively correlated with their knowledge of growing dragon fruit. More government support, especially from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), and fixing the issues described above could increase the fruit’s future prospects in the country.

MANAGEMENT OF TOMATO FRUIT BORER (Helicoverpa armigera Hubner) THROUGH BIO AND CHEMICAL PESTICIDES

The study was conducted at the Department of Agricultural Extension, Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh and research was done in period from 15th January, 2021 to 30th December, 2021. Following a comparable random sampling technique, a sample of 120 Sub Assistant Agriculture Officers (SAAOs) were selected as respondents from five upazilas of Noakhali district, as like Noakhali Sadar, Kabirhat, Subornachar, Hatiya, Chatkhil, and Begomgonj. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, case studies and focus group discussion (FGD). The utilization level of ICTs was measured considering two aspects: i) collecting information and ii) providing services. Findings showed that a total of 43 percent and 75 percent of respondents used mobile phones regularly for collecting information and providing services, respectively. Among different ICT tools, the mobile phone was highly used by the respondents, both for official (97%) and personal purposes (100%). Overall utilization of ICT was very low. Only 30.45% percent and 5.77% percent respondents highly utilized ICTs for collecting information and providing services, respectively. A total of 45.55 and 75 % of respondents had low levels of utilization of ICTs for collecting information and providing service, respectively.

Developing the capacity of extension and advisory organizations to support flash flooding adaptation: A case study from Bangladesh

Flash flooding is an extreme weather event that severely damages agricultural production and livelihoods. Flash flooding heavily impacts the rice production of Bangladesh, a crop which is the staple food of the country. The extension and advisory services (EAS) in Bangladesh are responsible for supporting farming communities to effectively manage various farming challenges. However, EAS have been found to lack the capacity to perform this role in the context of flash flooding. Moreover, little is known about what factors are critical for developing the capacity of EAS in this context. This study aims to explore the factors that influence the organizational capacity of EAS to help the rice farming community adapt to flash flooding in Bangladesh. The research examined the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), which is the largest public EAS organization in Bangladesh. Data was collected using focus group discussion, surveys and key informant interviews with DAE staff serving in the north-eastern part of Bangladesh prone to flash flooding. The results revealed that several aspects associated with involving EAS organizations in agricultural development forums and managing EAS staff competency influenced the development of the organizational capacity of EAS to combat flash flooding. The particular aspects include the influential position of the EAS organization in various committees, support for collaboration, a culture of freedom of work, recognition and rewards for good performance, manageable workloads, support for field activities, support for ICT use and means of transportation. Overall, this study highlights the consideration of several factors for developing the organizational capacity of EAS. It also suggests possible ways of developing those capacities to help the farming community adapt to climate change-induced flash flooding effects.

Effect of survey farmers’ knowledge and practices on the yield of sugarcane in Pakistan

Sugarcane (Saccharum interspecific hybrids) yield is greatly affected by different pests in Pakistan. A total of three hundred and thirty-six (336) volunteer sugarcane farmers were interviewed and their fields inspected. Major pests were noted as; rat (Bandicota bengalensis), termites (Heterotermes indicola), borer (Bissetia steniellus), and leafhopper (Pyrilla perpusilla). These occurred in single and combined status in sugarcane fields. Most (147/336) of the sugarcane farmers mentioned four types of pests in their fields. In general 200/336 of the sugarcane farmers had applied pesticides in single and combined forms in their fields, they achieved a maximum average yield of 80 t ha−1. The number of farmers who applied malathion was 36/336. They achieved an average yield of 105.5 kg ha−1. Only one sugarcane farmer applied regent and furadon in combined form and obtained an average yield of 92.6 kg ha−1 in their field. Linear regression showed a significant relationship between average sugarcane yield and pest infestation (R2 = 0.9689) as well as pesticide application (R2 = 0.9128) in the area investigated. In total 299 out of the 336 sugarcane farmers were small size landholders up to 2 ha. A limited number (35/336) of the farmers visited the public agricultural extension department for information and application techniques of pesticides against pests. It will be fruitful if the public and private agricultural extension departments start awareness programmes on pest infestation among sugarcane farmers and train them to practice recommended pesticide applications in their sugarcane fields.

Effect of Planting Dates on Yield Components and Qualitative Characteristics of Several Genotypes of Barley Hordeum vulgare L.

The experiment was carried out in one of the farms affiliated to the Department of Agricultural Extension / Ministry of Agriculture, in Muthanna Governorate / Warka District (25 km away from the governorate center), during the season (2021-2022) in order to study the effect of four planting dates (1, 10, 20, 30\\November) on yield components and qualitative traits of a number of genotypes (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, G6, G7, G8, G9) and Aba265 (G10) of barley crop. The experiment was applied using the design of completely randomized sectors according to split method With three replications, as the dates filled the main panels and the structures in the secondary panels, the results of the experiment showed: Most of the genotypes outperformed in both yield components and qualitative traits, as genotype G7 outperformed in the trait of number of spikes with an average of (610.3) spike m-2, and genotype G9 outperformed in the number of grains per spike with an average of (43.92) grains of spike m-1, Aba265 (G10) was superior in the trait of weight of one thousand grains with an average of (47.06) g, and for the character of the protein content in the grains, the genotypes G6, G1, G8, and G10 excelled without a significant difference between them with averages of (13.342, 13.225, 13.037 and 12.950)% Sequentially, the G1 genotype was superior to the specific weight and without a significant difference from the genotypes G2, G8, G6 and G3, where their averages reached (63.52, 63.47, 62.82, 62.58 and 62.40) kg hectoliter-1 respectively. The dates (30,20,1/November) were superior in the number of spikes, which were not significantly different from each other, with averages of (509.1, 506.2 and 496.3) spikes m-2, respectively, while the dates (20/11, 10/11 and 1 /11) In the trait of the number of grains in the spike and without a significant difference between them, with averages of (41.91, 41.90 and 40.40) grains of a spike-1 sequentially. The specific weight exceeded the date (1/11) with an average of (62.68) kg hectoliter-1.

Diffusion of Agricultural Ideas Through the Website of the Agricultural Extension and Training Department on the Social Networking “YouTube”

The research aim to identify the degree of diffused of agricultural ideas through the website of the Agricultural Extension and Training Department on the social network “YouTube”, as well as to find the correlation between the degree of diffusion of agricultural ideas and the variables: (video duration, agricultural idea specialization-Appropriate time of diffusion of the agricultural idea, the number of days since the diffusion of agricultural ideas, the independence of the agricultural idea. The researchers used the descriptive approach and the method of content analysis to achieve the objectives of the research, as the content of the website of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Training was analyzed on the YouTube, which is one of the formations of the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture on the link and for the period extending from (11/12/2020 to 27/12/2021), through Follow up on agricultural ideas that have been spread through the site, as the YouTube is characterized by publishing videos of different lengths of time and followers can watch, like and comment on them. One numeric value for each view, two numerical values for each like, and three values for each comment. The data were analyzed using a number of statistical methods, including range, category length, Spearman correlation coefficient, Pearson correlation coefficient and (t) test. The results showed that the number of agricultural ideas that were diffused during the research period amounted to (30) agricultural ideas, and it was found that (93.34%) of them had a low degree of publicity. While the least popular agricultural ideas were my idea (breeding domestic chickens and identifying bird flu), as it was found that there is a significant relationship between the degree of spread of agricultural ideas and each of (the specialization of the agricultural idea, and Appropriate time of diffusion) The researchers recommended activating the role of the official website of the Agricultural Extension and Training Department in a better way by introducing the site through social sites and pages in order to benefit from the ideas presented more, with the dissemination of agricultural ideas within a short period of time and at a time that suits the beneficiaries of them.

Effect of Planting Dates on Grain Yield and Qualitative Characteristics of Different Genotypes of Coarse Wheat, Triticum durum Desf L.

A field experiment was carried out at the Warka extension farm affiliated to the Agricultural Extension Department in the Ministry of Agriculture (north of Muthanna) during the winter season 2022-2021 (15 km from the center) in order to know the effect of different planting dates on the qualitative characteristics and grain yield of several combinations of coarse wheat. The experiment was applied using the Split Plot Design method and using the complete sectors design (R.C.B.D) and with three replications. The four sowing dates (1/11, 10/11, 20/11 and 30/11) occupied the main plates, while the genotypes (G1133, G65 and G1105 and G1229 and the approved variety for comparison. bohoth-7) Secondary panels. Split Plots. The results showed that the first date D1 (1/11) outperformed the grain protein, specific weight and dry gluten, which averaged 14.100%, 79.83 kg/ha and 9.55%, respectively. While the second date D2 (10/11) outperformed the grain yield 4.54 tons/ha. In succession and the fourth date, D4 (30/11) was superior in wet gluten content, which amounted to 28.59%, while the local cultivar Buhouth-7 was superior in grain protein with an average of 13.633%, while the genotype G1229 was superior in specific weight and content of wet gluten and dry gluten, which averaged 80.83 kg/hectoliter, 28.80% and 9.600%.

ICTs, smallholder agriculture and farmers’ livelihood improvement in developing countries: Evidence from Tanzania

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are among the profound tools to help the poor and marginalized rural smallholder farmers make a difference in their lives. This paper seeks to understand how the recent development of ICTs helps increase agricultural productivity and improve smallholder farmers’ livelihoods in Tanzania. We employed a fuzzy sets Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) technique to select the most relevant 24 literature from 2163 literature and analyze the drivers ( conditions) that influence ICT use among the smallholder farmers, which in turn leads to increased agricultural productivity and improved farmers’ livelihoods ( outcomes). In addition, the authors conducted in-depth interviews with some local smallholder farmers in Tanzania's same regions, as shown in the reviewed literature, to understand how ICTs worked in the field. Findings revealed that ICTs had been increasingly used for and directly linked with agricultural transformation, increased agricultural productivity and improved rural livelihoods in Tanzania in the past two decades. Smallholder farmers rely on ICT tools, particularly mobile phones and radios, to access agricultural-related information, which helps them increase agricultural productivity. The limited number of public extension service agents forces most smallholder farmers to opt for ICTs as an alternative source of agricultural information. In this case, the agricultural extension department from the ministry of agriculture should work closely with telecom, broadcasting companies and other stakeholders to strengthen and initiate more appropriate ICT infrastructure and services targeting the smallholder farmers.

Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Measures Initiated by Farmers in Aravalli Hill Zone of Rajasthan, India

Aims: To study about the adaptation and mitigation measures initiated by the farmers against climate change in local conditions.
 Study Design: Ex-post-facto research design was followed.
 Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication, Bhagwant University, Ajmer during 2019-2022.
 Methodology: The study was conducted in Aravalli Hill Zone of Rajasthan to understand adaptation & mitigation measures employed by farmers to the adverse effects of climate change. In the investigation region, 240 farmers were randomly selected.
 Results: In the region 95.83 per cent of the farmers pursued that soil and water conservation was the most widely practiced strategy. Whereas, almost three fourths of the respondents were practicing adoption of drought tolerant and early maturing crop varieties were (75%), use of small-scale irrigation (73.75%), enhancing participatory forest management (73.33%) and afforestation/ reforestation (72.91%), while (70. 83%) practiced diversification of small ruminant animals and changing cropping calendar of agricultural activities. In the constants of the maize crop adaptation measures against excess rainfall was 70.83 per cent of delayed sowing dates; this change in sowing date was adopted by the farmers and adaptation measures in maize crop against deficit rainfall observed by the investigator that 69.58 per cent of the farmers found that delayed sowing dates had affected them.
 Conclusion: The local people employed different strategies to adapt the adverse effects of climate change, there were constraints that limit the farmer’s adaptation strategies i. e. lack of financial support, lack of climate information and lack of technical skills. Therefore, the local decision makers such as agricultural sector, microfinance sector, and meteorological agency should provide farmers credit access and climate information to reduce shortage of finance and lack of climate information. There is also need of providing training to the farmers on improved agricultural technology and market access to enhance their climate resilience conditions.

Knowledge of Agricultural Extension Agents with Climate Changes Phenomenon, And Their Implementation Level for Extensional Activities Which Related with It in Ninavah Governorate

objectives of this study were to: identify the knowledge of agricultural extension agents in climate changes phenomenon, Identify the relationship between the knowledge of agricultural extension agents and some factor, and Identify the implementation level of agricultural extension agents for extensional activities which related in climate changes phenomenon. Randomly sampling procedure was used in this study, The population consisted of 50% (106 Agricultural extension agents) of the total respondents (212 Agricultural extension agents) in Ninavah governorate. The data collected through questionnaire were analyzed through different statistical techniques. data set included 19 items and were measured for validity and quality by specialist at the Agricultural Extension Department, based on the evaluation process, three of the items were removed, 20 questionnaires were excluded after determining the data consistency (reliability coefficient was 0.82). In this research descriptive statistics such as percentages, mean values and frequency tables was applying to organize and analyze the data. The results show that Majority of them were had agricultural institute. Majority of the respondents were male. level knowledge of agricultural extension agents in climate changes phenomenon is medium with a tendency to low. result show that Educational level and Gender were the factors which significant effective on climate change knowledge of respondents. Also The results showed that the most extension activities carried out by the respondents are (The awareness of negative effects of the use excessive to irrigation water) and (The awareness of Planting drought-tolerant crops). according to previous results recommended It was The agricultural extension must prepare for the new challenges Resulting of climate change through training its staff and raising awareness programs, especially for categories which were their knowledge (middle and low) in field climate change to meet their knowledge needs revealed by the results of the study.