Reasons for the Failure of Agricultural Extension Using Grounded Theory (Case Study: Lorestan Agricultural Jihad)

Agricultural extension has become an important structural policy tool to help farmers to be more competitive in the world market. Extension activities are being pulled in many directions and a wide range of activities. However although public extension organizations are common in developing counties, they are often their effectiveness is limited by many deficiencies and challenges and extension system as failing. So, the extension organization has not succeeded and the current extension model needs to be reformed. Therefore, in this research, we have tried to study the causes of the failure of agricultural extension through Classical Grounded Theory (CGT). In this regard, the statistical population of the study was members of the Khorramabad Agricultural Jihad and opinion leaders in the Khorramabad which were selected by purposeful sampling (15 persons). In the correct study, the result of coding collected data in different ways such as interview, observation and documents, which led to extract of 90 concepts and 15 categories. The results showed that categories "lack of attention to the agricultural sector", "executive policies", "economic factors", "structural weaknesses", "management weaknesses", "lack of technical and personal knowledge of experts", "The weakness of the system of higher education" and "weakness in facilities" were the reasons for the failure of agricultural extension. Strategic categories also include "reviewing the training of experts and empowering them," "focusing on farmers' wants and needs," "providing effective planning and plans", "monitoring and accountability", "occupational safety" and "balance between the pillars of extension". In this regard, suggestion following is forwarded, the categories of the training of experts their and empowerment, which in this regard suggested that mid-career training classes in order to update the knowledge of the staff and increase their knowledge and skills, they should be held.