An analytical study of formal and informal agricultural information sources for farmers in Edku District of Beheira Governorate.

摘要

The objectives of this study were: to determine the relationship between a number of socioeconomic characteristics of farmers and their exposure to different formal and informal sources of agricultural information; and to identify the key elements required for the development of sources of agricultural information for more effective extension work. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 143 farm operators in five village communities representing Edku County, Beheira, Egypt. Multiple regression analysis pointed out that fifteen variables could explain 62.3% of the total variance of the interviewees' degree of total exposure to agricultural sources of information. Only five variables (out of the fifteen), namely: participation in developmental activities, farm productivity, level of living, cosmopoliteness, and farm innovativeness, could explain 59.94% of the variance in the interviewees' total exposure to different sources of agricultural information. The findings indicated clearly that the majority of the interviewed farmers were either moderately or lowly exposed to different formal and informal sources of agricultural information. Greater attention should therefore be given to find out practical approaches that allow for increased opportunities for wider exposure of farmers to more effective and appropriate sources of information.