، ʙ
ﻠʳʺ اﻟ17 دʙ اﻟﻌ، 1 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.35516/jjas.v17i1.66
-27-
* The research was conducted during a sabbatical leave granted by Al Balqa Applied University.
© 2021 DSR Publishers/The University of Jordan. All Rights Reserved.
Training Needs of Agricultural Axtension Workers in Al Balqa Governorate*
Ahmad Nouri Al-shadiadeh
1
Balqa Applied - Technology, Al Department of Plant Production and Protection, Faculty of Agricultural
1
University, Al-Salt (19117), Jordan
Received on 10/2/2020 and Accepted for Publication on 18/3/2021.
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to determine the training needs of agricultural extension agents in Al Balqa governorate
/Jordan. The data were collected by using the rapid research method like a focus group. The group
consisted of thirteen agricultural extension agents and agricultural engineers participating in extension
tasks in the agricultural directorates and centers in the governorate that included (Kasbah of Salt, Ain Al-
Basha, Al Fuhais, and Mahes, and agricultural centers in Al Subaihi and Allan).
The respondents were asked about their training needs and determining their priorities by giving the
training need' a degree that ranged from (1-5) degrees according to of criteria for which relative weights
were specified by participants group.
The findings indicated that the training needs included seventeen subject matters, where rural leadership in
agricultural extension, geographic information systems, and organic agriculture came in the first rank,
communication skills, and integrated management of fruit trees in the second rank , livestock diseases in
the third rank, then farms management of animal production in the fourth rank, irrigation and fertilization
in the fifth rank, plant propagation and tissue culture in the sixth rank, plant protection in the seventh
rank, varieties of fruit trees and vegetables in the eight rank, hydroponics in the ninth rank, ornamental
plants in the tenth rank, the field schools in the eleventh rank, agricultural marketing and post-harvest
techniques in the twelfth rank, agricultural projects management in the thirteenth rank, and food processing
in the fourteenth rank, where the weighted degrees of these Needs (85,85, 85, 80, 80, 72.5, 66.67, 65.83,
43.33,42.5, 30.83, 27.5, 20, 15, 13.33, 11.67, 5.83) respectively.
Finally, the result of this study recommended that the extension must take the extra role for Planning
training programs for workers through preparing scientific and practical plans including training of
extension agents in this study area.
Keywords: agricultural extension, training needs, Al Balqa governorate, focus group