Principal Areas of Applying Information and Communication Technologies in the Agricultural Extension System of Iran |
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Authors: | H Shabanali Fami M Falaki H Iravani H M Mohammadi |
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Institution: | Department of Agricultural Extension and Education , University of Tehran , Tehran, Iran |
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Abstract: | This study investigated areas for potential application of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the agricultural extension system of Iran. Two hundred forty-one extension staff (out of 1,145) in the Ministry of Agriculture were selected and studied as a sample through a stratified random sampling technique. The findings revealed that six factors/components containing 32 variables determined about 68.91% of the variations in the areas of application. The six factors were Management of documentation and preparation of extension information (14.88% of variance), Planning and implementation of extension education programs (13.6%), Professional empowerment of extension agents (10.8%), Expansion of intra-organizational relationships (10.27%), Facilitation of organizational processes (9.7%), and Improving communication through e-mail services (9.64%). |
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Keywords: | agricultural extension agricultural information communication technologies information technology Iran |
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