The Impact of Agricultural Extension Site Approach on Optimizing Agricultural Input Consumption and increasing the yield of dominant products in Hamedan Province, Iran

Implementation of extension sites approach is one of the activities for empowering the farmers. The aims of extension site approach were increasing in quality and quantity and sustainable production of agricultural products. The purpose of this study was to compare consumption of inputs in five crops of irrigated wheat, rain fed wheat, rapeseed, sugar beet and potato before and after implementation of extension sites approach in Hamedan province in 2018-2019. This research is applied in term of purpose, is survey in term of collecting data, is quasi-experimental in term of controlling variables and is ex-post facto research in term of analyzing the data. The statistical population included 78 extension sites approach in Hamedan province. For selecting the sample, first of all five cities of Kabudar Ahang (north), Hamedan (center), Nahavand (south), Famenin (east), and Asadabad (west) selected from different geographical situation. The number of extension sites approach were 43 in these cities. Using Krejcie and Morgan’s sampling table, 36 sites selected as sample and unit of analysis (n=36). Following that 142 main and functional farmers were selected and studied using random sampling method. The results of t- test showed that the consumption of inputs decreased after the implementation of extension sites approach and there were differences between consumption of inputs before and after running model site, except for human labor force. In addition, farmer’s income and performance per unit area have increased since the extension site was launched.