Assessment of Information Literacy of Farmers and Related Factors (Case Study: Torogh Region of Mashhad)

Education and learning is an important pillar of sustainable development. Information literacy can help farmers to access and use the information for sustainable agriculture. The present study aimed to assess the information literacy of farmers and related factors in the Torogh region of Mashhad County. The descriptive-correlation research method was used and 176 farmers were examined through a simple random sampling method. The data collection tool was a questionnaire which its formal validity confirmed by the face validity of faculty members of the Department of Library Science of Ferdosi University of Mashhad and Department of Agricultural Extension and Education of Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was calculated for questionnaire reliability (α=0.79). The results showed that the information literacy of farmers can be assessed at a medium level. Also, information literacy is independent of age, some pieces of agricultural land and the annual income of farmers. But there is a significant and negative correlation between total information literacy and agricultural history. Among the five dimensions of information literacy, studied farmers have a better condition in "adhere to the ethical and legal principles of the use of information". On the contrary, they are weakest in "achieving the required information efficiently and efficiently". This is suggested that necessary training courses for farmers be provided to enhance their capabilities in access and use of agricultural information.