The Impact of Information Sources and Extension Training on Soybean Cultivation Sustainability in Neka, Mazandaran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran.

Abstract

Familiarity of soybean producers with sustainable agriculture is one of the effective factors in the stability of their agricultural system. Soybean cultivation sustainability is a system that includes the usefulness of soybean cultivation through reducing soil erosion and improving its fertility, developing methods for effective use of internal resources of the farm, developing strategies to improve the quality of rural society and using methods with the least impact on environmental destruction. In this regard, this study aimed at investigating the impact of information sources and extension training on soybean cultivation sustainability in Neka County in 2020. The statistical population of study includes soybean farmers of Neka County in Mazandaran Province (N= 940). According to Krejcie and Morgan (1970) table, 275 soybean farmers were selected as a statistical sample. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. The questionnaire was divided into three main sections: information sources, participation in extension training and soybean cultivation sustainability with a Likert scale. The content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by experts' opinions. Also, based on the Average Variance Extracted (0.506>AVE< 0.551) and Composite Reliability (0.858>CR<0.909), the questionnaire had a convergent validity and appropriate reliability. SPSS16 and Smart PLS2 software were used to analyze the data. The results of structural equation modeling showed that participation in extension training and information sources had a positive and significant impact on soybean cultivation sustainability. Participating in extension training and information sources explained about 83 percent of variance of the soybean cultivation stability.

Keywords

References

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