Innovative capabilities of family farmers in Babylon Governorate, Republic of Iraq

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Rural Sociology and Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University

Abstract

The current study aimed to identify the innovative capabilities of family farmers in Babylon governorate, Republic of Iraq,  and determine the factors affecting their capabilities, finally, identifying the problems facing family farmers, to achieve objectives of the study, data were collected during the period of Oct -  Dec 2021 of using the questionnaire from through personal interviews with a random sample of 379 repondents of family farmers in Babylon Governorate (representing 1.8% of the total farmers), data were quantitatively processed using frequencies, percentages, Pearson's simple correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis, Results of the study can be summarized that the average innovative capabilities of family farmers were 41.15 degrees, with a standard deviation of 4.11 degrees, and that 58.1% of family farmers are described as having low innovative capabilities . the study also found that there are significant correlations at the probabilistic level (0.01) between the innovative capabilities of family farmers (Y) and all the independent variables included in the study except for the variables of age, and full-time agricultural work . Finding also showed that the problem of (the high costs of agricultural techniques) ranked first for the respondents with a weighted average of (2.86) degrees, the study recommends preparing extension training programs commensurate with the knowledge and skill needs of family farmers and according to their agricultural activity.    

Keywords

Main Subjects