The role of components in the challenges of New System of Agricultural Extension (NSAE) in Mazandaran

The purpose of this study was to analyze the status of the New System of Agricultural Extension (NSAE) and the role of components in the challenges ahead. The research method was quantitative and Causal-comparative. The sample size based on Cochran's formula for extension's workers was 157 people with Including 60 people of managers in selected cities the total sample size was 217. Stratified random sampling method with proportional assignment was used. The main tool for data collection was a questionnaire.The value of ordinal theta for research variables was 0.88 . The SPSS22 and Lisrel8.7 software were used for data analysis. The highest and lowest success rates were related to extension activities and repair and equipping of agricultural jihad centers, respectively. By using of Factor Analysis the challenges of NSAE were divided into six categories, which include: education and research, development and support, planning and policy-making, communication, organization and management. In total, these six factors explained about 73.2% of the total variance of the challenges of NSAE. In order to test the accuracy of the factor structure of the observed variables; Confirmatory factor analysis was used and the indices of χ2/df and RMSEA were equal to 2.49 and 0.043 respectively which confirmed the good fit of the model. Path analysis method was used to test the causal model of the impact of the components in creating the challenges. As a result, about 94% of the variance of the challenges variable was explained by the variables of the component of AENA.