Analysis of educational-extension factors affecting the Formation of Apricot Value Chain in Mahneshan Township

ABSTRACTToday, the agricultural extension and education system is a facilitator in the process of identifying needs, creating ideas, providing innovative plans for improving the quality of inputs, innovation in the production process of agricultural and livestock products, innovation in the process of processing, packaging, distribution, branding, innovation in insurance services, Finance and marketing have a significant impact. The aim of this study was to investigate the educational-extension factors affecting the formation of the apricot value chain in Mahneshan Township. Statistical population for this study consisted apricat orchard growers in the central part of Mahneshan city of Zanjan province (N = 1502). The sample size was determined to be 309 based on Krejcie and Morgan's table. Multi-stage sampling method was used to access the samples and complete the questionnaires. In the present study, the face and content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of experts. Cronbach's alpha method was used to calculate the reliability of the questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability were used to determine the reliability of the questionnaire. The findings showed that the use of educational and extension programs with a path coefficient of 0.65 had the most significant effect and the educational and extension services with a path coefficient of 0.20 had the least impact on the formation of the value chain. These variables explained 54% of the value chain variance.