JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND EDUCATION RESEARCH
Year:2019 | Volume:12 | Issue:3 (47)|Papers Count:6

The purpose of this study was to investigate the farmers' adaptation intentions towards dust haze using the extended model of the "Protection Motivation Theory". This research was a descriptive study which was compiled using a researcher-made questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed by composite reliability and its validity confirmed in three ways of content, construct and discriminant. Data analyzed using SPSS V21 and Smart PLS software. According to the results, the subjective norms, disincentives, beliefs in climate change and maladaptation have positive and significant effects, as well as the adaptation assessment has a negative and significant effect on the farmers' adaptation intentions towards dust-haze. Results showed about 96% of the farmers’ adaptation intention towards dust-haze explained. The results showed that considering the slow effect nature of dust-haze, the estimated extended model in this study has an appropriate fit for assessing farmers' adaptation intention. In this context, due to the low visibility nature of the effects of climate change, adding tangible variables to farmers can increase model accuracy and it is recommended in future studies. According to the results, the farmer's fatalism leads to the denial of the dangers of the dust-haze. Lack of adequate financial resources is one of the main constraints on farmers' adaptation intention.

Today, a significant and continuous success of an organization relies heavily on human capital in the form of employees, which is possible through the empowerment of employees' jobs. Accordingly, the purpose of this survey study was to investigate the role of in-service virtual training courses in job empowerment of employees of the Fars province Agri-Jihad Organization. The statistical population of the study consisted of all the 495staff of Building No. 1 of the Agri-Jihad Organization of Fars province, of which 96 were selected by simple random sampling method. The data gathering tool included a questionnaire on psychological empowerment of Spreitzer and Mishra, and a researcher-made questionnaire for assessing the quality of in-service virtual education. Its face validity confirmed by a number of experts and its reliability calculated by calculating the Cronbach's Alpha coefficient for different measures (ranged between 0. 74 and 0. 96). The results of the evaluation of the quality of in-service virtual training showed that the quality of these trainings is relatively favorable from the staffs’ viewpoint. The results of the comparison of the job empowerment dimensions before and after participation in these courses showed that the sense of competence, autonomy and influence were significantly increased after the participation in the courses. The correlation matrix results indicated that there is a positive and significant relationship between the quality of in-service training and job empowerment of employees. Also, the results of regression analysis showed that quality of in-service training was the most important predictor of employee empowerment.

Healthy or organic products as a solution to healthy human and environment is being considered. In this regard, this Quantitative research is seeking to design a model for promoting healthy crop cultivation among Kermanshah province producers in order to advance the cultivation of this type of product. By review of the literature and the history of research The variables of the research were identified by using the planned behavioral, Health Beliefs and DOI Models. Using the Descriptive-correlation and structural equation modeling to validate variables promoting healthy crop production. The statistical population of the study consisted of 80304 of beneficiaries in Kermanshah province. A sample of 400 farmers in the province was selected by multistage cluster sampling with proportional assignment from seven cities. 400 researcher-made questionnaires were distributed among users in seven provinces. The data collection period was from 1396 to 1397. Data analysis was performed in descriptive statistics using SPSS version 23 and inferential statistics using SmartPlins version 3. Results from structural equations Showed that the Intention variable has the most impact on behavior and Comparative advantage Behavior, Compatibility, Attitude, Perceived behavioral control, Perceived benefits Threats have a positive and significant effect on the intention and healthy cropping behavior of the product.

In recent decades, empowerment is considered to serve as a mechanism for achieving agricultural development and subsequently, socio-economic sustainability in rural settlements. In other words, lack of attention to empowering rural residents and lack of appropriate political and social infrastructure in rural areas is a major barrier to participation in the development of rural settlements. A survey was conducted through questionnaires. The required data was collected from the farmers of Semirom County, of whom 262 were selected using multistage random sampling. The process of empowering farmers measured, with a 67-item scale, including subscales such as education and information, awareness and knowledge, information technology, financial resources, trust building, cooperation, and decision-making on social and economic issues. Rural development with a 49-item scale in environmental, socio-economic and physical development of settlements dimensions. The results showed that the empowerment of rural farmers was effective in improvement of crop yields, growth of rural residents’ income, and sustainable socio-economic development of rural settlements. However, it is suggested to pay more attention to improvement of farmers' income, and support and lead them for increasing the rate of savings and their participation in investment activities related to agriculture sector.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the barriers of effective use of virtual social networks in agricultural extension and education activities of Agricultural Jihad Organization of Zanjan province. The instrument for collecting data of this descriptive-correlation study was a researcher-made questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was approved by a panel of academic experts. Pre-test and calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficients were used to measure the reliability (α = 0/87-0/94). Agricultural experts in Agricultural Jihad Organization of Zanjan province in 2018 formed the population of the study (N=346) and samples were selected using stratified random sampling (n=105). Results of confirmatory factor analysis of barriers to effective use of virtual social networks in agricultural extension and education activities has been summarized in nine factors including: Low relevant and correct agricultural information with low security, administrative and social insecurity and lack of culture of the educational use of social networks, farmer's limited use of virtual social networks, negative organizational and managerial norms in using virtual social networks, financial and legal barriers in organization, inconsistent information and lack of local information, lack of professional and adequate knowledge of experts and outside computers. These factors explained 72. 54% of the total variance. Due to considerable amount of useful time that experts and farmers allocated to virtual social networks, it is recommended that to plan for this optimal and useful application of this capacity agricultural extension and education activities.

The aim of this study was to identifying ways of reducing the environmental hazards of chemical inputs from the experts' point of view in Agricultural Jihad and Environment Organization of Sari, Mazandaran province. The statistical population of the study consisted of 106 experts working in the Jihad-e-Agriculture and Environment Organization of Sari. Data were collected using a census method, using a questionnaire its validity was confirmed by a panel of experts and its reliability was reported by Cronbach's alpha of 0. 938 Factor analysis showed that the solutions were classified into five factors that explain the educational strategies as the first factor of 9. 467% of total dispersion. The second factor, called the ‘ ’ Social-Political’ ’ strategies, was 8. 616%, the third factor called the ‘ ’ Economic’ ’ strategies 7. 066%, the fourth factor called the‘ ’ Motivational’ ’ strategies of 6. 915%, and finally the fifth factor, called the ‘ ’ Technical’ ’ solutions, was 6. 81% of the variation of total of the above mentioned factors could explain 38. 873% of the total variation.