Solutions for Improving Agricultural Extension Performance to Achieve Food Security from the Perspective of Agricultural Extension Experts

Planning in the system of agricultural extension for systematic and balanced development in order to achieve food security requires identification, determination and presenting strategies that are compatible with the internal and external environment of the system. Therefore, the purpose of the present research was to identify, determine and present strategies to improve the functioning of the extension system to achieve food security. The statistical population of the study consisted of 130 agricultural policy makers and experts of agricultural extension and development the country who were surveyed. Delphi method was used in three rounds. The strategies were identified and refined in three Delphi rounds. Then, using content analysis technique, they were classified into two main categories: macro and local strategies. Macro strategies fall into three structural, infrastructure, and cultural sub-categories, and local strategies into four structural, infrastructure, research, and cultural sub-categories.Finally, Nvivo software was used to present a comprehensive paradigm of performance improvement strategies for achieving food security. The findings of the software showed that training of human resources in extension in the field of food security, paying attention to the tangible and intangible needs of the users, clarifying the functional areas of the promotion system to move towards food security, promoting knowledge and Updating training in line with global food safety standards is one of the most prominent strategies to improve agricultural extension performance to achieve food security.