scholarly journals Extension Agents’ Perceptions of the Role of Extension Services in Organic Agriculture: A Case Study from Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 4880
Author(s):  
Bader Alhafi Alotaibi ◽  
Edgar Yoder ◽  
Hazem S. Kassem
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Organic Agriculture ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Organic Farmers

Extension services (ES) play a crucial role in addressing the various needs of organic farmers and little is known about the extension agents’ (EA’s) perceptions of organic agriculture and the role of ES in organic agriculture. This study investigated EA’s perceptions of the role of ES in organic agriculture. Data were collected via a questionnaire, which was sent electronically to all enlisted extension agents in Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia. In total, 69 extension agents completed the questionnaire, representing a 54% response rate. Overall, extension agents had slightly positive attitudes toward organic farming but were unsure about their role and participation in this. Furthermore, their perceptions of the role of ES in organic agriculture significantly varied according to their age, work experience in organic agriculture, and education level. These findings have implications for the design of future training programs for the professional development of extension agents and will enable planners, policy makers, and related ministries to devise viable and workable policies and plans that truly reflect the concerns and challenges of extension agents and consider the skills of extension agents that need to be improved. This research will also have positive implications for the national organic agriculture policy, as it provides research-based information on the actual players in the farming systems of Saudi Arabia.

Language Use and Sustainable Development: Opportunities and Challenges for Policy-Makers and Educators in Northeast Vietnamese Areas

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-130
Author(s):  
Ha Ngan Ngo ◽  
Maya Khemlani David
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Language Shift ◽  
Minority Languages ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
The Status ◽  
Wedding Songs

Vietnam represents a country with 54 ethnic groups; however, the majority (88%) of the population are of Vietnamese heritage. Some of the other ethnic groups such as Tay, Thai, Muong, Hoa, Khmer, and Nung have a population of around 1 million each, while the Brau, Roman, and Odu consist only of a hundred people each. Living in northern Vietnam, close to the Chinese border (see Figure 1), the Tay people speak a language of the    Central    Tai language group called Though, T'o, Tai Tho, Ngan, Phen, Thu Lao, or Pa Di. Tay remains one of 10 ethnic languages used by 1 million speakers (Buoi, 2003). The Tày ethnic group has a rich culture of wedding songs, poems, dance, and music and celebrate various festivals. Wet rice cultivation, canal digging and grain threshing on wooden racks are part of the Tày traditions. Their villages situated near the foothills often bear the names of nearby mountains, rivers, or fields. This study discusses the status and role of the Tày language in Northeast Vietnam. It discusses factors, which have affected the habitual use of the Tay language, the connection between language shift and development and provides a model for the sustainability and promotion of minority languages. It remains fundamentally imperative to strengthen and to foster positive attitudes of the community towards the Tày language. Tày’s young people must be enlightened to the reality their Tày non-usage could render their mother tongue defunct, which means their history stands to be lost.

Pre-school numeracy play as a predictor of children’s attitudes towards mathematics at age 10

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aidan Clerkin ◽  
Katie Gilligan
Keyword(s):  
Building Blocks ◽  
Early Numeracy ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Mathematical Performance ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic ◽  
Attitudes Towards Mathematics ◽  
Mathematics And Science

Numeracy activities in early childhood have been linked to children’s mathematical performance in subsequent years. However, few studies have examined associations between early numeracy play and children’s subsequent attitudes towards mathematics. This study draws on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2011 assessment to provide a retrospective snapshot of pre-school numeracy play reported by the parents of 10-year-old children (N = 4560). Most children were found to have engaged frequently in some form of early numeracy activity. However, children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds had less regular engagement with numeracy play, while spatial play (e.g. building blocks) was less common among girls. The extent to which children engaged in pre-school numeracy play was significantly associated with greater confidence and (for children from higher socioeconomic backgrounds) liking of mathematics at age 10, controlling for other factors. The results highlight socioeconomic and gendered differences in children’s early activities about which policy-makers, educators and parents should be aware. They also suggest the potential role of numeracy play in fostering positive attitudes towards mathematics, which should be considered amid efforts to increase participation in science, technology, engineering and maths domains.

scholarly journals Farmers’ Beliefs and Concerns about Climate Change: An Assessment from Southern Saudi Arabia

Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 253
Author(s):  
Bader Alhafi Alotaibi ◽  
Hazem S. Kassem ◽  
Roshan K. Nayak ◽  
Muhammad Muddassir
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Agricultural Cooperatives ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Natural Change ◽  
Building Activities

Climate change constitutes a major threat to agricultural production, food security, and natural resource management. Saudi Arabia is particularly susceptible to increasing temperatures and extreme climatic events, such as arid weather and drought. The purpose of this study is to assess farmers’ beliefs and concerns as regards climate change. Extensive interviews were conducted with 164 farmers in the Jazan region. Results revealed that 89.6% of the farmers believed that climate change is due to human activities and 93.3% believed that it is because of natural change. Seventy-five percent of the farmers were concerned about insects and 73% about the prevalence of weeds on their farms. Findings of cluster analysis revealed that farmers who are more likely to believe in climate change are more in agreement with the role of extension services in capacity building. Farmers’ beliefs about climate change were significantly influenced by membership of agricultural cooperatives, access to loans, use of extension services, age, farm size, and level of soil fertility. Access to loans was the only significant factor to explain the differences in farmers’ concerns. These results suggest the need for capacity-building activities targeted at improving farmers’ adaptability to manage climate variability.

Economics of organic and conventional hazelnut production in the Terme district of Samsun, Turkey

2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (03) ◽  
pp. 217-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kursat Demiryurek ◽  
Vedat Ceyhan
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Organic Agriculture ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Agricultural Activities ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Marketing Efficiency

AbstractUnderstanding the economics of organic agriculture is crucial to support of organic production by policy-makers and to facilitate producers converting their lands to organic production. The aim of this research was to compare organic and conventional hazelnut producers, in terms of their socio-economic characteristics, production systems and economic performance. The main data were gathered with surveys of 64 randomly selected conventional hazelnut producers and all the organic hazelnut producers (39) living in villages of the Terme district of Samsun, Turkey in 2005. Results revealed that, compared to conventional hazelnut producers, organic hazelnut producers were more educated, had larger hazelnut areas and spent more time on agricultural activities. The current research also used cluster analysis to define relatively similar farmers from both production systems and to compare variables. Organic producers needed more labor, especially hired workers, and used more lime, organic fertilizer and insect traps, while conventional producers used more synthetic inputs. Organic producers had lower costs of production and had higher income. It is recommended that the organic producers be supported financially, and assisted by research and extension services to produce and use their own inputs, rather than purchasing from outside. They should also be encouraged to establish associations to increase their marketing efficiency.

scholarly journals BPP UTILIZATION BY FARMERS TO SUPPORT INDONESIA AS BARNS THE WORLD

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (02) ◽  
pp. 121-126
Author(s):  
Iranita Haryono ◽  
Astrini Padapi ◽  
Ayu Wulandary
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Extension Programs ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Self Sufficiency ◽  
Extension Center

One of the efforts to achieve national food security is by strengthening assistance and counseling to farmers as the main actors. One of the extension links closest to the community and located at the sub-district level is the Peratanian Extension Center (BPP). The function and role of BPP is developed to achieve the desired expectations, namely food self-sufficiency and improvement of farmer welfare. Therefore, there is a need for a special study to be able to determine the level of responsiveness, responsibility and quality of agricultural extension services carried out by the BPP in Sidenreng Rappang Regency. This reserch aims to determine the performance of agricultural extension agents in Sidenreng Rappang Regency in terms of the level of accountability of agricultural extension activities based on indicators of responsiveness, responsibility and quality of extension services. The research was conducted from July to October in Sidenreng Rappang Regency. This research used a survey method. Determination of the sample of this study was carried out purposively on extension workers at the local BPP. Data collected descriptively by cross tabulation. Data analysis used scoring parameters, proportion, maximum, minimum and average values. The results show that the agricultural instructor's Performance Score is 294 which is interpreted into a moderate category score, which means that the ability of the BPP is sufficient to be able to recognize the needs of the assisted farmers, is sufficient to develop extension programs / activities that are in accordance with the wishes / aspirations of local farmers, and sufficient in providing service to farmers.

scholarly journals Perception of organic farmers towards organic agriculture and extension services

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bader Alhafi Alotaibi ◽  
Edgar Yoder ◽  
Mark A. Brennan ◽  
Hazem S. Kassem
Keyword(s):  
Organic Agriculture ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Organic Farmers

Project-Based MOOC

2017 ◽  
pp. 282-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miri Barak ◽  
Abeer Watted
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Final Project ◽  
Massive Open Online Course ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
The Subject

This chapter describes a project-based massive open online course (MOOC) in nanotechnology and nanosensors that was offered in two languages: English and Arabic. A mixed methods research was conducted to examine the role of project-based learning in the process of knowledge construction and motivation to learn a MOOC. The study compared between three groups of science and engineering students: English MOOCers, Arabic MOOCers, and university students. Findings indicated positive attitudes about learning in a project-based MOOC, especially with relation to gaining work experience. Findings also indicated that in a project-based setting, MOOC participants were mostly driven by a desire to establish connections with peers, whereas university students were mostly motivated by their interest in the subject matter. Arabic MOOCers, who were less successful in solving ill-defined problems, narrowed the gap, and at the end of the course received similar grades in the final project.

Farming on the Margin

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aya Hirata Kimura
Keyword(s):  
Organic Agriculture ◽  
The Us ◽  
Organic Farmers ◽  
Role Of Women ◽  
Hobby Farm

The chapter examines the circumstances of organic agriculture in Hawai‘i. Given the prominent role played by women in organic agriculture in the US, a particular attention is paid to the role of women and the gendered challenges they face. The chapter shows how women organic farmers have to navigate tensions around hobby farm vs. real farm, philosophical commitment to organic agriculture vs. commercial motivations, and intensification of agriculture vs. more community-oriented one.

scholarly journals Youth Culture and EFL Students’ Development of Integrative Motivation

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 377-389
Author(s):  
Ranwa Khorsheed
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Youth Culture ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Significant Implication ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Foreign Language Acquisition ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Integrative Motivation ◽  
Efl Students

The aim of this study is to examine the role of the habitual use of English mediums (English T.V programs and English websites), being informal learning contexts, in Syrian non-English majors university students’ development of integrative motivation. Furthermore, this study aims at highlighting the importance of integrative motivation in foreign language acquisition whether for teachers, learners or language policy makers. Results showed that the students professed positive attitudes towards learning English in general and a good level of integrative motivation. Furthermore, resorting to correlational formula has proven that students’ habitual use of English mediums do have a role in developing integrative motivation especially viewing English T.V programs. It was also noticed that the students’ integrative motivation did have a positive influence on their achievement in the English language course. The most significant implication of this research is that once learners realize that they could use English for self expression, as a desire brought on by the impacts of the international youth culture, they will be more integratively motivated to learn the language.

scholarly journals Factors Affecting Entrepreneurial Capacity Building of Smallholder Coffee Farmers in East Java Province

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudarko Sudarko ◽  
Sumardjo Sumardjo ◽  
Anna Fatchiya ◽  
Prabowo Tjitropranoto
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Environmental Support ◽  
Coffee Farmers ◽  
Extension Support

The income of smallholder coffee farmers can be increased by optimizing the added value of the product through increased entrepreneurial capacity. Coffee farmers need to adopt innovations and new approaches that are more sustainable with organic farming systems. The purposes of this study are; (1) identifying differences in characteristics, support of government extension services, private extension agents, and environmental support for smallholder coffee farmers and (2) analyzing the effect of characteristics, government extension services, private extension agents, and environmental support on the entrepreneurial capacity of smallholder coffee farmers. This study was carried out at Arabica Coffee Center in Bondowoso Regency and Robusta Coffee Center in Malang Regency, East Java from August to October 2019. Data were collected through interviews with questionnaires in a total of 376 smallholder  coffee farmers. Data were analyzed using descriptive (SPSS) and inferential statistics (structural equation model/SEM analysis using Smart PLS). The results of research showed that non formal education and roles of private extension agents were found to be low. Moreover, motivation, government extension support, environmental support, and entrepreneurial capacity of smallholder coffee farmers were categorized as moderate. Factors significantly influenced entrepreneurial capacity of coffee farmers included: characteristics of farmers, government extension support, roles of private extension agents, and environmental support. The role of government to strengthen private extension agents is possible through partnership between coffee farmers, government and exporter or private sectors.

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