Investigation in the Role of Educational-extension Factors on Environmental Awareness of Chemical Pesticides use among Farmers involved in Rice Cultivation

This study was implemented to investigate the role of educational-extension factors on the environmental awareness of pesticide use among paddy farmers in Sari rural area. The study is an applied survey and the statistical population consisted of 28170 farmers residing in five districts. Using stratified proportional random sampling, 260 ones were selected as the sample by Cochran formula. Data were collected by a questionnaire, which its validity was obtained by a group of experts working in Jihad-e-agriculture ministry as well as a panel of faculty members of agricultural extension and education dept., university of Tehran. To measure reliability of the questionnaire, Coronbach’s Alpha formula was calculated. It turned out that there is a significant, positive correlation between some qualities of farmers such as background in acquaintance with extension service, participation in extension-education courses, FFS programs, number of extension contacts, rate of participation in extension-education workshops, study of extension publications with environmental awareness of pesticide use among paddy farmers. The results revealed that paddy farmers who participated in extensioneducation courses, FFS programs and demonstration fields, had higher level environmental awareness of pesticide use compared with those who did not attended such practices.