Research Article Open Access

Policies Affect the Application of Information and Communication Technologies by Agricultural Extension Service

Seyed Jamal F. Hosseini, Mehrdad Niknami and Gholamreza H. Hosseini Nejad

Abstract

Problem statement: The majority of rural population in Iran has limited access to agricultural information. However, bridging the digital divide between urban and rural areas has been a major challenge for authorities in Iran. Agricultural extension by its nature can have an important role in this regard. Approach: This study aimed at examining the perception of extension specialists in Iran about appropriate policies that can affect the application of ICTs by extension service. A questionnaire was developed and data was collected from 182 extension specialists. Regression analysis was used to analyze the data. The stepwise method was used in the regression analysis. Results: Results showed 80% of the variance in the policies which affect the application of ICTs by extension service could be explained by three variables, advocating the participation of rural population in ICTs project planning, open source system and the integration of conventional information delivery system with new ICTs. Conclusion and Recommendations: Results showed that in order to deploy ICTS as an appropriate technology for extension service in Iran, financial, social, human and organizational sustainability should be achieved over time. Policies that provide affordable access to information need to be carefully identified and examined. Agricultural extension in Iran needs to address the policy and regulatory issues that impact on the use of the ICTs. The issue is not to replace the existing technologies, but the extension service should integrate the conventional information delivery system with new ICTs.

American Journal of Applied Sciences
Volume 6 No. 8, 2009, 1478-1483

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2009.1478.1483

Submitted On: 8 December 2009 Published On: 31 August 2009

How to Cite: Hosseini, S. J. F., Niknami, M. & Nejad, G. H. H. (2009). Policies Affect the Application of Information and Communication Technologies by Agricultural Extension Service . American Journal of Applied Sciences, 6(8), 1478-1483. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2009.1478.1483

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Keywords

  • Agricultural extension
  • Iran
  • ICTs
  • policy
  • rural population
  • extension specialists
  • conventional information delivery system
  • open source system