Obstacles of the farmersʹʹ participation in extension-education courses held by Ministry of Jihad-Keshavarzy (Agricultural Ministry): case of Sahnecounty in Kermanshah province.

ABSTRACT: Human Resource Development (HRD) is a key factor to achieve rural sustainable development and in this regard, the ruralʹs participation indicator plays a vital role. However, fully participation is always faced to many problems and obstacles. Therefore, this study aimed at to explore the barriers of farmersʹ participation in extension education courses held in Kermanshah province, Sahne district. Statistical population of this study included 10000 farmers who didnʹt participate in the extension education courses held by Jihad-Agriculture Organization of Sahne district. The samplesʹ size was estimated by Morganʹs Table through a systematic random sampling method and it was 373. Data collected by a researcher-made questionnaire tool. The validity of questions within the questionnaire was verified by an expertʹs team and the reliability of questionnaire was estimated by the Cronbachʹs Alpha test and it was 0.72. Data analysis was done by both using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percent, mean, variance and standard deviation and using analytical methods include correlation coefficients and mean compare. The result showed that 23 variables of 39 different variables in the study were considered as the participation obstacles because of their higher rate in terms of mean value. The most important these obstacles were: no adaptation of the extension education courses to the farmersʹ needs, implementing the courses on the improper time, the lack of farmersʹ awareness to the courses time, the lack of farmersʹ awareness to the courses importance, a low interest to live in the village, no adaptation of the extension education courses to the available agriculture system. The results on one hand showed a positive relationship between the farmersʹ age and the variables individual, cultural and social obstacles, on the other hand, a negative relationship between the farmersʹ age and the variables economic and structural barriers. The results revealed the higher educational level of farmers, the lower cultural and psychological obstacles for participation. At the end in order to improve and promote the farmersʹ participation some suggestions were presented in accordance to the results.