Agricultural Extension and Education

With the emergence of the Internet, e-learning has increasingly become the promising solution that continues to grow day after day. Considering students' perception toward e-learning is important in successful development of e-learning in higher education, since attitude of user towards application of information technology is one of the most effective factors. This paper examines perception of virtual students' attitudes towards

The Internet as a universal network maybe considered as the most important opportunity for policy makers and planners in agricultural organizations. Now a day's internet is used in various forms at academic centers. The purpose of this study was to determine effective factors in using internet by faculty members of agricultural college. A descriptive survey was used to collect data

The purpose of this research was to study desired characteristics of faculty members and students in E-Learning in higher education of Iran from virtual students' viewpoint. A descriptive-correlation survey approach was used in this study. Respondents filled in a web-based closed questions questionnaire. Based on the results, five most highly ranked items on requirements for students into e-learning in higher education were identified as: responsibility, participation and creativity, IT skills, motivation and virtual ability. Most important attributes on requirements for faculty members was learning management, virtual interactions, student's support, electronic commitment, providing interaction environment and positive attitude to elearning. By factor analysis, factors of e-learning success in higher education were reduced to two main factors, namely as Interactions and supporting factors and Contents and educational tools.

Agricultural professionals play an important role in informing and educating farmers about biofuel through teaching or extension work. One of the questions commonly asked is if they are knowledgeable and possess positive attitude towards renewable energy sources. The aim of this article is to investigate Agricultural professionals' attitude and willingness towards biofuel using a random sample of professionals (n =180) in a survey conducted in Zanjan province in Iran. Structural equation modeling showed that "Outcome efficacy", "problem perception" and "perceived benefits" can significantly predict just about 38% variance of Agricultural professionals' personal norm. In turn, personal norm can predict 35% variance of Agricultural professionals' willingness. The findings yield public policy recommendations for stimulating biofuel extension and deployment among Agricultural professionals.

The purpose of this research was to design a model for e-learning in higher agricultural extension and education in Iran. A descriptive–correlation survey approach was used in this study. Responds filled in a web-based closed questions questionnaire. Reliability and validity of instrument were determined by investigating the attitudes of e-learning and extension specialists. The study population consists of graduate students of agricultural extension and education in Iran. A sample of 86 students was selected by using the stratified random sampling method. Based on the results, the main components for e-learning in higher agricultural extension and education in Iran were: (1) Students, (2) faculty members, (3) Educational interactions (4) Supporting Factors and (5) learning management system. Based on factor analysis, five most highly ranked items on requirements for students into e-learning in higher agricultural extension and education were identified as: responsibility, participa...

The main goal of this study was to identify the information needs of Agricultural Faculty Members in Iran. A descriptive method using a web-based survey was conducted to gather the data. The validity of the tool was verified by a panel of experts, and the pilot test was conducted to assess the reliability of the research tool. About 101 members of the Agriculture faculty participated in the study after three follow up letters. The data was analyzed using the SPSS program. The results showed that the main use of electronic information sources was for research work. About three quarters of faculty members preferred electronic sources to printed ones. Also, the findings showed that the main information needs of faculty members were: research papers published in journals, seminar and symposium announcements, lists of research journals, announcements of research projects, statistics about agricultural and animal products, thesis abstracts, book presentations, conference proceedings, paper indexes, research projects and review papers in magazines. The results also indicated that there was a significant relationship between faculty members' skills in computer and internet surfing and their use of this facility. These findings have implications for Agricultural Higher Education policy makers in developing countries to implement workshops about ICT use and informational databases in agriculture to improve their services to the industry.

Вступ. У статті представлено огляди сучасних літературних даних про біологічно активний пептид – нейропептид Y(NPY), систему його рецепторів, їх роль в організмі людини і досліджень з вивчення їх терапевтичної та профілактичної ефективності. Вивчення ендогенних сполук, що мають біологічну активність, відкриває шлях до створення нових відносно безпечних лікарських засобів для терапії і профілактики різних патологічних станів. Нейропептид Y – біологічно активний пептид, який поширений в організмі людини і виконує різноманітні функції, зокрема регулює стрес, тривогу, когнітивні процеси, харчову поведінку та ін. Він активує 4 власних рецептори в людини, розташовані в головному мозку та різних внутрішніх органах, що зумовлює широкий спектр його біологічної активності. Наведено дослідження, які показують терапевтичний потенціал нейропептиду Y і сполук, що активують його рецептори для корекції ожиріння, лікування алкогольної залежності, терапії депресії, стресу, посттравматичного стресовог...

Organic farming is one of strategies for sustainable agriculture. It is based on natural methods of the control of agricultural pests and diseases and any application of chemical pesticides and herbicides, chemical fertilizers, hormones and antibiotics is prohibited, as it is possible. The purpose of this study was to assess the problems and obstacles to production of organic crops and the factors influencing it.The population consisted of the experts of Jihad Agriculture Organization and agricultural development services companies in Zanjan province. The questionnaire was used for data collection in this study. Sample size was estimated using Cochrane formula was selected with random sampling method (n=118). Reliability and content validity has been confirmed using Cronbach's coefficient alpha (0.81 to 0.90), and surveys of specialists and professors associated with the issue. Data analysis has been made by using SPSS software. Results showed that the main obstacles to the prod...

Organic farming is one of strategies for sustainable agriculture. It is based on natural methods of the control of agricultural pests and diseases and any application of chemical pesticides and herbicides, chemical fertilizers, hormones and antibiotics is prohibited, as it is possible. The purpose of this study was to assess the problems and obstacles to production of organic crops and the factors influencing it.The population consisted of the experts of Jihad Agriculture Organization and agricultural development services companies in Zanjan province. The questionnaire was used for data collection in this study. Sample size was estimated using Cochrane formula was selected with random sampling method (n=118). Reliability and content validity has been confirmed using Cronbach's coefficient alpha (0.81 to 0.90), and surveys of specialists and professors associated with the issue. Data analysis has been made by using SPSS software. Results showed that the main obstacles to the prod...

The aim of the current study is to consider farmers' perceptions regarding the impacts of climate change on water resources and their intention toward adaptation in southwestern Iran. To this end, this study applied the theory of reasoned action and the norm activation model as well as these two models in combination. A descriptive quantitative research study was designed and conducted using cross-sectional survey methods among 250 farmers in Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran, selected through multistage sampling methods. Research data were collected through a structured questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by a panel of experts; scale reliability of the questionnaire was approved through a pilot study. Structural equation modeling analysis revealed that the norm activation model, the theory of reasoned action, and a model integrating the two can predict 32, 42, and 47%, respectively, of changes in farmers' intention toward performing climate-change adaptation activities. In the combined model, personal norm, subjective norm, and attitude were able to influence the farmers' intention to perform adaptive behaviors. Attitude towards adaptation is the most powerful predictor in explaining intention to adaptation. Subjective norm is the most important predictors of moral norms which is the logical confirmation behind the combination of the two models. In addition, the combined model has better predicting powerful that each model separately. The research findings hold valuable implications for policymakers seeking to increase the intention of farmers to implement adaptation activities against a background of harsh climate change and water scarcity in this region of Iran. There is strong scientific proof, backed by a plethora of studies, to support the existence of climate change. A grave challenge with negative effects on humans and the natural environment 1 , this phenomenon is already posing numerous challenges to economic, social, and environmental sectors globally 2. The effects of climate change on the agricultural sector are unique, and the leading cause of economic and physical suffering in developing countries 2,3 which have weaker economies and inadequate economic, physical, and social infrastructure 4. The most significant aspect of this crisis has been the reduction in farm production, and the most important factor in this regard-along with other variables such as decreased soil quality and increased disease and pests-is the changes caused by climate change in the quantity and quality of water resources 5. Climate variability is expected to disrupt the reliability and sustainability of the agricultural sector 6 , with changes expected to intensify in the future. By 2050 an estimated two-thirds of the world's population could face water stress due to climate change 7. Climate change affects the hydrological cycle in a number of ways that may overshadow long-term and short-term access to water resources in many areas 6,8. Climate variability affects the quantity, quality, and spatio-temporal distribution of existing water resources, and has probable negative impacts in three categories: water supply, flooding, and pollution 9. Climate change disrupts hydrological systems by influencing the amount and pattern of rainfall and the melting of snow and ice, thus affecting water resources both quantitatively and qualitatively. Climate change is also having a negative impact on runoff and surface water and on groundwater resources due to rising temperatures and their impact on glaciers 10. In agriculture, rising temperatures can affect cropping seasons, increase evapotranspiration, alter irrigation requirements, and cause heat stress 11. In this regard Schewe et al 12 used statistical models to estimate that for every one-degree increase in temperature, 7% of the world's

This study had been conducted with the aim to investigate the role of managerial, technical and structural factors on the success and stability of plant clinics from the perspective of farmers in southern county of Tehran province. The population of study was the farmers in south of Tehran province (N = 13222). The sample size of 209 was chosen by Bartlett et al., (2001) that among the collected questionnaire 191 of them were useable. The data analysis was performed using SPSS20 and AMOS20 software's. The descriptive result indicated that 73.3% and 50.3% of respondents respectively had assessed stability and success of plant clinic at moderate level. The result of investigate the factors influencing the success and stability of plant clinics by using structural model showed that the effect of all three managerial, technical and structural and institutional factors were significant on the level of success and stability of plant clinics. These factors explained 60% of the variance of plant clinics level of success in stability agricultural activities as well as 47% of the variance of plant clinics in their stability level among the respondents.