Level of Usage of Extension Methods by Agricultural Extension Workers in Sulaimani Governorate

The aim of this study is to determine the level of usage of agricultural extension methods by agricultural extension workers in Sulaimani governorate and their correlation with each of the following personal and functional variables (age, gender, educational level, specialization, job title, duration of the employment service, duration of the agricultural extension service, previous training, exposure to sources of the agricultural information, attitude towards agricultural extension and job satisfaction). The target population consists of all agricultural extension workers who work in the agricultural extension directorate of Sulaimani totaling 137 workers while the answers obtained from the respondents were limited to 111 workers, representing 81% of the research population. Data were collected by questionnaire, the first part included data relating to some personal and functional variables, while the second part focused on determining the level of usage of agricultural extension methods. Data analyzed by using, Arithmetic mean, Weight percentage, Simple correlation coefficient of (Pearson), ordinal correlation coefficient of (Spearman) and Multiple step-wise Regression analysis by using the statistical program SPSS. The results showed that the level of usage of extension methods is medium and tends to low, the individual extension methods came in the first rank in the level of usage of extension methods. The results also showed a significant correlation between the level of usage of agricultural extension methods and each of the following variables: age, duration of the employment service, duration of the agricultural extension service, exposure to sources of the agricultural information, attitude towards agricultural extension and job satisfaction; while not significant correlation was found between the level of usage of extension methods and other variables .The researchers recommend the concerned authorities for the agricultural sector in Sulaimani governorate pay more attention to the agricultural sector and activate its supporting operations and opening intensive training courses are very necessary for the stuff who works in the agricultural extension sections departments and activating role of media in developing agriculture in the region by opening television channels majoring in the agricultural programs.