Role of Agricultural Extension Training in Developing Farmers' Awareness of Agricultural Practices to Achieve Food Security in Al-Hamdaniya District, Nineveh Governorate

• Tahseen Hasan Al-Salami1, and Asst. Prof. Zahraa Mayasar Sultan2

  Author

Agricultural extension training serves as a fundamental educational pillar that empowers farmers with modern techniques, bridging the knowledge gap to achieve sustainable agricultural development and food security. This study aimed to identify the role of agricultural extension training in developing farmers' awareness of agricultural practices to achieve food security in Al-Hamdaniya District, Nineveh Governorate. The research population comprised 587 vegetable crop farmers in 17 villages. A multi-stage cluster sample of approximately 50% was selected (294 farmers). Data were collected between November 27, 2025, and January 27, 2026, using face-to-face interviews via a structured questionnaire. The extension role was measured using 20 items distributed across four food security domains on a 4-point scale. Similarly, farmers' awareness was measured using 20 items on a 4-point cognitive scale. The overall mean score for the perceived role of extension training was 65.238, reflecting a moderate-to-high role. The overall level of farmers' actual awareness reached a mean score of 49.863. A highly significant positive correlation (r = 0.785) was observed between the role of extension training and farmers' awareness. The study recommends directing targeted, practical field schools specifically toward the 37% of farmers in the low-awareness category, focusing on climate-smart practices to bridge the application gap.

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