A PROPOSED VISION FOR DEVELOPING AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION CENTERS IN CENTRAL IRAQ

Abstract

The research aimed to prepare a theoretical vision, including a set of proposed standards for developing work in Agricultural Extension Centers in the Central Governorates (Baghdad, Diyala, Babylon, Al-anbar, and Salah al-Din), within seven important guiding areas. Using the descriptive approach to conduct this study, the sample community included all agricultural extension workers working in research centers of central Iraq governorates, totaling 95 respondents. The two-part questionnaire served as a tool for collecting data from the respondents. The first part represented opinions of agricultural extension agents about the extent of application and adoption of suggested standards in the work of agricultural extension centers. Meanwhile, the second part included the respondents’ opinions about the degree of their approval of the proposal to develop the extension centers. The study concluded a large proportion of the respondents believe a weakness existed in the level of application of the recommended standards in the operation of the agricultural extension centers. It is evident in not adopting the principle of decentralization when formulating the goals of the extension centers.