THE REALITY OF DEVELOPING THE USE OF MODERN MEANS IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORK IN NINEVEH GOVERNORATE\IRAQ

Luma Monther Adress; Hafsa Fatah Hadi; Anhar Mohammed Ali; Ahmad Awad Taleb

Авторы

Luma Monther Adress College of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Mosul, Department of Agricultural Extension and Technology Transfer
Hafsa Fatah Hadi College of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Mosul, Department of Agricultural Extension and Technology Transfer
Anhar Mohammed Ali College of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Mosul, Department of Agricultural Extension and Technology Transfer
Ahmad Awad Taleb College of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Mosul, Department of Agricultural Extension and Technology Transfer

Ключевые слова:

Development Reality, Modern Methods, Guidance Work, Nineveh Governorate

Аннотация

The study was aimed at determining the status and level of use and development of modern digital tools in agricultural extension in the Nineveh Governorate, such as agricultural extension content, digital interaction and participation, digital extension, modern communication technologies, smartphones and agricultural applications, multimedia, and agricultural videos. It also explored the link between current use and development of modern tools and selected variables at personal and professional level. It was administered using two questionnaires. The first section gathered personal and professional information, and the second section had 60 items in six sections, each containing 10 items. The questionnaire had a Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of 0.95 and showed face validity. The study was carried out on 256 extension workers in the Nineveh Agriculture Directorate and its agricultural divisions (32). A random sample of 200 extension workers (about 78% of the population) was drawn. Data were analysed in SPSS. The findings showed moderate general level of development and modern tools used in agricultural extension work, leaning towards high. The use of modern communication tools was high, while the use of smartphones and agricultural applications was moderate, tending toward high. Digital platforms and the use of multimedia was moderate and tending to low, while digital interaction and participation was high. Digital extension content development was moderate, leaning to high. There was no significant relationship with education level, specialization, years of service or participation in training courses relating to digital technologies. Age and years of service in agricultural extension were found to be significantly correlated at 0.05 level and Internet use frequency at 0.01 level, while owning a smart phone and the most frequently used digital tool were significantly correlated at 0.05 level. The study suggests aligning digital tools and resources to farmers' needs and capacities, and building partnerships between the Nineveh Agriculture Directorate, universities, and research centers to create relevant digital platforms and tools. Extension workers' perspectives regarding barriers to the utilization of modern digital technologies in agricultural extension should be explored for further research.

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