Educational needs of Fig growers in optimal water storage management in drought conditions, Case: Estahban County

This descriptive and survey study aimed to identify educational needs of Fig growers in optimal water storage management in drought conditions. The target population in the study consisted all of the 4440 Fig growers in Estahban County. Using systematic randomized sampling method and Cochran formula, 350 Fig growers were selected as research samples. Data gathered through a questionnaire and its face validity was confirmed by investigation committee and researchers in Fig research center of Estahban. Reliability was determined by conducting a pilot study project and Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the main part of the questionnaire namely educational needs of Fig growers in optimal water storage management was 0.77. Data were analyzed using SPSS/Win19 software. The results showed that educational needs of Fig growers in optimal water storage management were soil texture amendment using sandy-clay soils, proper method of pruning and proper pruning time and determine the volume of any irrigation cycle. Also the correlation results showed that there was a significant correlation between variables such as education, participation in social activities, number refer to the Agricultural Service Center, attendance in extension classes, relationships with friends and neighbors and model farmers, Fig cultivation area, number meet with extension worker, the number of hours reading general newspapers during the day, the average age of the Fig trees, Fig garden distance to Agricultural Service Center, number of hours listening to the radio during the day and optimal water storage management. Also, the compare mean results showed that there is a significant difference between mean the amount of Fig grower’s information about optimal water storage management in terms of gender and main job. This study recommended continuing holding educational classes and attention to the provision of the necessary measures to more communicate and interact between Fig growers and experts and their benefit from expert advice with the centrality of optimal water storage management issue.