Analysis of Factors Affecting Rural Women's Agricultural Knowledge and Information System (AKIS) about Agricultural Processing in Borojen County

Agricultural sector is regarded as the most important supplier of food for human beings and development of agriculture without farmers' access to information and knowledge as well as paying attention to AKIS is not possible. The purpose of present study was to investigate factors affecting rural women's AKIS in the field of processing agricultural products. The statistical population was active rural women in the field of processing agricultural products in Gandoman county of Borojen. Sample sized was estimated to be 335 women. They were selected using simple random sampling method. Data were collected using a questionnaire, whose validity were confirmed by the agricultural extension experts. The reliability of constructs was evaluated by Cronbach's alpha coefficients. The data were analyzed through SPSS, smart PLS, and other statistical tests. The results showed that the level of agricultural knowledge and information of the rural women in Gandoman county was higher than average mean. Furthermore, the results of factor analysis revealed that the relationships between the variables of rural women's AKIS are significant at one per cent of error. Such results demonstrate a suitable data-model fitness. Training (β= 0.23), extensional (β=0.21). Market (β=0.19), and supportive factors (β=0.14) were the most important determinants of rural women's AKIS in Borojen city.