The future of agricultural extension services in some new reclamation areas in the Arab Republic of Egypt

Ashry, A. M. A. M. A.; Abdelsalam, M. F. S.; Afify, O. D. H.; Abdelhalim, M. F. I.

doi:10.21608/aasj.2025.469086

The future of agricultural extension services in some new reclamation areas in the Arab Republic of Egypt

Document Type : Research article

Authors

¹ Department of Agricultural Extension & Rural Sociology, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt

² Agricultural Extension and Department of Agricultural Extension & Rural Sociology, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, EgyptRural sociology

10.21608/aasj.2025.469086

Abstract

This research aimed to explore the future of agricultural extension services in some new reclamation. This was achieved through the following sub-objectives: determining the degree of compatibility between agricultural extension services in some new reclamation areas and the requirements of globalization and market liberalization from the respondents' perspective; determining the importance of globalizing extension services; and determining the extent to which these services require future development to align with the requirements of globalization and market liberalization. The research was conducted on a simple random sample of 140 respondents working in the agricultural extension system across four agricultural directorates in three governorates of the Arab Republic of Egypt: the Beheira and Nubaria Directorates of Agriculture in Beheira Governorate, the Minia Governorate Directorate of Agriculture, and the New Valley Governorate Directorate of Agriculture. Data was collected using a questionnaire administered through personal interviews. This research was based on the framework developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for modernizing extension systems worldwide (Qamar, 2005). Data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, and weighted averages, utilizing a suite of software programs (SPSS). The results showed: The majority of respondents tended to agree, to varying degrees, with the items reflecting the compatibility of agricultural extension services with the requirements of globalization and market liberalization. Weighted averages ranged from 3.97 to 4.52, all falling within the "agree" to "strongly agree" category; the majority of respondents considered the items related to the globalization of agricultural extension services to be of high importance. Weighted averages for all items ranged from 4.1 to 4.41; the majority of respondents believed there was a high need to develop agricultural extension services to align with the requirements of globalization and market liberalization. Weighted averages for all items ranged from 3.68 to 4.13; the future of extension services in some newly reclaimed areas is relatively promising, but there is a need for future improvement and development of agricultural extension services to align with the requirements of globalization and market liberalization, and to meet the needs of farmers and the community. The future of the guidance service, according to the three axes, ranged between 21.16 and 27.44 degrees.

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