Expert's Viewpoint toward the Web- Based Design and Implementation of Agricultural Extension Services in Iran

This study aimed to identify experts’ viewpoint toward web-based design and implementation of agricultural extension services in Iran. The methodological approach was a descriptive and survey study. The statistical population of the study consisted of agricultural experts and active website managers in this field, of whom 310 people were randomly selected using the stratified sampling method. The data were collected by Questionnair and its content and face validity was evaluated by experts and its reliability measured using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The results showed that according to the respondents’ view, the prioritized expected activities from an agricultural service-extension website were providing online and accurate meteorological information along with appropriate extension messages, expressing farmers’ problems and dealing with them, providing information regarding latest news and introducing new research achievements. Prioritized structural and appearance properties of an agricultural extension services website were respectively, the easy use of website facilities, comprehensibility and understanding of messages, full subject coverage and offering comprehensive and specialized information. Compare mean results showed that the respondents who were web managers and believed to present the website content through a provincial form and emphasized the necessity of taking the advice of academic members for updating the website, assessed the importance of the structural and appearance properties of and agricultural extension service website with a higher priority. This study recommended developing the website content based on target audience needs and providing its services to all Iranian farmers and rural through a regional, free and online scope.