International Journal of Agricultural Science Research and Technology in Extension and Education Systems
Volume:2 Issue: 4, Dec 2012

Entrepreneurship is the driving force behind the economy of any country. It is strongly believed that without entrepreneurial activities the process of agricultural development will not be achieved. This requires the proper transformation of capital and skill. The agricultural students should possess creativity in order for them to be able to start new businesses. However with the support of the university reaching this goal is impossible. Hence the objective of this descriptive-correlative paper is to evaluate the entrepreneurial atmosphere created by the university as well as its effects on the tendency of agricultural students to start creative businesses. The statistical population of this research includes the agricultural students studying in Islamic Azad University, Ilam Branch (320 people), among which 169 ones were selected by using Bartlett table and random sampling method as the sample for the study. The research tool was a questionnaire. Its validation was confirmed by structural equation modeling and its stability by using Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient (0.91). Based on the results the tendency of the students towards entrepreneurship is estimated as an average tendency. The results of modeling showed that the entrepreneurial supports of the university possess an indirect impact on the tendency of the students to start a new business via changing the attitude towards entrepreneurship and general skills. The results of the current study can have implications for the educational structure of agriculture. Hence we recommended some methods for creating a proper entrepreneurial atmosphere for paving the way of creating new businesses in this field. [Roya Eshraqi and Alireza Poursaeed. Modeling the Effects of Entrepreneurship Atmosphere on the Tendency of Agricultural Students for Beginning Creative Businesses. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology in Extension and Education Systems, 2012; 2(4):157-163].

Nowadays, thousands tons of chemicals material are used to increase agricultural production that provides a risky situation for the communities. Recently, biological or organic agriculture is considered to get rid of such problems. But this style of agriculture is facing with many difficulties and challenges. This study was performed in three phases by using Delphi method. In this regard, the statistical population of the study were 32 experts of Jihad Agricultural Organization of Kohkiluyeh Va Buyer Ahmad Province, Iran. The results show that, regarding economic barriers, lack of governmental support; regarding social - cultural barriers, lack of consumption culture of organic products and regarding the political and administrative barriers, lack of clear policies and legislation in the field of organic farming are the main obstacles. Weakness in the education system for the production and consumption of organic products is also among the highest priorities in educational barriers. Education and culturalization in the field organic agriculture and appointing a special organization for this purpose seems to be essential. [Masoud Samian et al. Educational, Social, Economical Barriers of Organic Agriculture Implementation. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology in Extension and Education Systems, 2012; 2(4):165-170].

The purpose of this study was analyzing perception of agricultural college experts and managers of Islamic Azad University Shoushtar Branch regarding development of knowledge management. Agricultural college experts and managers were considered as a statistical population (N=38). This research was conducted in June 2012 to April 2013. All individuals were investigated. After confirm the validity of the instrument by panel of experts, to determine the reliability was used Cronbach alpha coefficient. Cronbach alpha coefficient was obtained for all sections of the questionnaire over 0.81. Method of research was descriptive and correlative. Based on the results, the correlation between status of knowledge acquisition and absorption with knowledge management in 0.01 level, was significant. Also the correlation between organizational culture and perceptions of experts and managers in 0.05 level, was significant. The results also showed that organizational culture, leadership style and knowledge about IT can explain 74% of variance of perception of agricultural college experts and managers regarding the development of knowledge management. [Masoud Ahmadinejad. Analyzing Knowledge Management of Experts and Managers in Agricultural College of Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar Branch. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology in Extension and Education Systems, 2012; 2(4):171-174].

This study examined the knowledge and perception of farmers regarding privatization and commercialization of agricultural extension services in Delta State, Nigeria. A sample size of 90 farmers in contact with extension agents was randomly selected for the study. Data for the study was collected through the use of a validated structured interview schedule. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in analyzing data generated from the study. Results show that respondents had a low to moderate knowledge regarding the concept, principles and objectives of privatization and commercialization. Respondents also had a favorable perception towards privatization and commercialization of agricultural extension services. There was no significant difference in the perceptions of small, medium and large-scale farmers. The study concludes that the favorable perception held by the respondents is an indication of their willingness to accept the introduction of privatization and commercialization in agricultural extension services delivery. It therefore recommends that the government of Delta State should consider privatizing and/or commercializing agricultural extension services in the state. [Ajieh Patrick Chuks. Farmers’ Knowledge and Perception regarding Privatization and Commercialization of Agricultural Extension Services in Delta State, Nigeria. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology in Extension and Education Systems, 2012; 2(4):175-179].

The purpose of this research was to analyzing the perception and technical knowledge of wheat farmers in shoushtar township, Khouzestan province, Iran regarding organic farming products. The research method employed was correlative-descriptive. The population consisted of wheat farmers in Shoushtar township Khuzestan Province of Iran. A random sample of wheat farmers (n = 163) was selected. The questionnaire was developed to collect data. Content and face validity were established by a panel of experts. Questionnaire reliability was estimated by calculating Cronbach,’s alpha. Reliability of the overall instrument was estimated at 0.84. Data collected were analyzed using the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS). Appropriate statistical procedures for description (frequencies, percent, means, and standard deviations) were used. Based on the results, 89.56% of respondents had moderate to very high level of perception and 44.79 of farmers had moderate to very high level technical knowledge. Liner regression was used to predict changes in perception and technical knowledge of wheat farmers. Participation in extension courses, rate of using communication channels, level of education, income, social participation, social status, job satisfaction may well explain for 64.9% changes (R2 = 0.649) in perception and technical knowledge of wheat farmers regarding organic farming products. [Azadeh N. Noorivandi. Analyzing Perception and Technical Knowledge of Wheat Farmers Regarding Organic Farming Products. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology in Extension and Education Systems, 2012; 2(4):181-186].

The purpose of this study was analyzing the skill of Khoram Abad township wheat farmers regarding mechanization. This research was applied research and, based on methodology, was descriptive and correlative. Wheat farmers of Khoram Abad township, (N=18597) were considered as statistical population. Based on Krejcie and Morgan table, 377 ones were selected as sample. In this study, cluster random sampling was selected and, after confirming the validity of the study tool by expert panel, alpha Cronbach coefficient was used to determine the reliability of the study tool, and the resulted coefficients for all parts of the questionnaire was calculated upper than 0.7. Based on the results, level of skill regarding mechanization was determined to be average. In addition, stepwise regression indicated that social participation, level of education, participation in extension and educational classes, number of parts, and level of attitude, interactively explained %48 ( R2=0.48) of changes in dependent variable. [Namdar Sayadi. Analysis Mechanization Skill of Wheat Farmers in Khoram Abad Township, Iran. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology in Extension and Education Systems, 2012; 2(4):187-190].

This study is aimed at evaluating and measuring the factors affecting the Dezful wheat farmers` attitude toward the extension of wheat waste reduction. The method of research was correlative- descriptive. The population of this study is all farmers cultivated wheat in Dezful from 2011 to 2012 (n=5291). The Number of samples size was 360 based on Krejcie and Morgan table. Panel of experts and Alpha Cornbach`s coefficient (0.76) were used to determine the validity and the reliability, respectively. Results of correlation showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between the variable of wheat farmers` attitude toward the extension of wheat waste reduction and rate of using communications channel, rate of participation in extension practices, level of the technical knowledge regarding waste management, and attitude toward productivity. Regression analysis results showed that the three variables include the rate of using communication channels, level of the technical knowledge, and participation in extension practices are the most important independent variables affecting the dependent variable and interactively explains 52 percent of the dependent variable`s variance. [Mahdi Attar Roshan. Attitude of Wheat Farmers in Dezful Township Regarding Extension of Waste Reduction in Production Process. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology in Extension and Education Systems, 2012; 2(4):191-194].

The study was conducted in Adamawa State, Nigeria. The major thrust of this study is to assess the adoption rate of technology in Fadama III project, Adamawa State, Nigeria. Fadama III is being implemented in 20 Local Government Areas (LGA) of Adamawa State. In its four years of operation, Fadama III project has realized significant impact on household access to new and proven technologies. The results showed adoption rate of technologies among beneficiaries has increased from 43.75% before the inception of the project to 96.255% after the project intervention. This indicates 50% increase against only 20% increase among the non-beneficiaries. This increase is far above the set target of 20% by Fadama III. Plant spacing (43.75%), improved breeds (40.63%) and improved seeds (38.13%) were the most widely adopted technology for both the beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries. Adoption rate of off-farm technologies (agricultural marketing and financial management) was also large. The adoption rate for the all the technologies was significant at p = 0.05, except for fish feed formulation, Cold storage, marketing and fish smoking. Yields among respondents have increased significantly due to adoption of proven technologies. The increase was higher among crop farmers (59.38%) followed by livestock farmers (48.75%). The increase in yields across all the enterprises has exceeded the set target of 20% increase except for fish production (11.25%) and agro-forestry (6.88%). The increase was more among the beneficiaries compared to non-beneficiaries. It can be concluded that project did not only influence the beneficiaries to adopt technologies for the purpose of improving their socio-economic status but it has also influenced the non-beneficiaries living in Fadama III communities to adopt technologies. The adoption rate for fisheries and agro-forestry technologies were low. This raises the need for sensitization on the importance of these technologies that are germane to their activities. It is also important for Fadama III to strengthen its support for ADP because the latter has limited funding to effectively provide its primary role of transfer of technology. Fadama III needs to harmonize existing approaches and need to use complementary systems rather than conflicting ones. [Umar, Adamu Madu. Assessment of the Adoption Rate of Technologies among Fadama III Farmers in Adamawa State, Nigeria. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology in Extension and Education Systems, 2012; 2(4):195-201].