Extension Agents’ Perceptions of the Role of Extension Services in Organic Agriculture: A Case Study from Saudi Arabia

Extension services (ES) play a crucial role in addressing the various needs of organic farmers and little is known about the extension agents’ (EA’s) perceptions of organic agriculture and the role of ES in organic agriculture. This study investigated EA’s perceptions of the role of ES in organic ag...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSustainability Vol. 13; no. 9; p. 4880
Main Authors Alotaibi, Bader Alhafi, Yoder, Edgar, Kassem, Hazem S.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.05.2021
Subjects
Agricultural policy
Agriculture
Farming
Organic farming
Perceptions
Professional development
Questionnaires
Soil erosion
Soil fertility
Sustainability
Sustainable agriculture
Saudi Arabia
United States > US
Riyadh Saudi Arabia
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Summary:Extension services (ES) play a crucial role in addressing the various needs of organic farmers and little is known about the extension agents’ (EA’s) perceptions of organic agriculture and the role of ES in organic agriculture. This study investigated EA’s perceptions of the role of ES in organic agriculture. Data were collected via a questionnaire, which was sent electronically to all enlisted extension agents in Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia. In total, 69 extension agents completed the questionnaire, representing a 54% response rate. Overall, extension agents had slightly positive attitudes toward organic farming but were unsure about their role and participation in this. Furthermore, their perceptions of the role of ES in organic agriculture significantly varied according to their age, work experience in organic agriculture, and education level. These findings have implications for the design of future training programs for the professional development of extension agents and will enable planners, policy makers, and related ministries to devise viable and workable policies and plans that truly reflect the concerns and challenges of extension agents and consider the skills of extension agents that need to be improved. This research will also have positive implications for the national organic agriculture policy, as it provides research-based information on the actual players in the farming systems of Saudi Arabia.
ISSN:2071-1050
2071-1050
DOI:10.3390/su13094880