Assessing the Process of Extension Program Development in Iranian Agricultural Extension System

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the process ofextension program development in Iranian Agricultural ExtensionSystem (IAES). The research instrument was a structuralquestionnaire with close-ended questions which its validity andreliability was confirmed by using expert panel and Cranach’salpha test, respectively. The target population of this researchincluded all extension managers who were responsible for doingextension activities in Iran’s townships (N=334). According toKrejcie and Morgan’s table, a number of 191 persons selected asstatistical sample in a stratified sampling method, and finally198 questionnaires were gathered and analyzed (n=198). Overall,the use of the process of extension program development inIAES was at less than moderate level. The other results also indicatedthere was the significantly positive relationship betweenselected demographic characteristics of extension managers withtheir viewpoint on the use of the process of extension programdevelopment in IAES. These results highlight the need for thereform of the process of agricultural extension program developmentin IAES.

Keywords

• Extension Manager
• Extension Program Development
• Agricultural Extension System
• Iran.