Study of Factors Influencing Orchard Farming  Participants’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Program at DalahooSkills (KASA) in the Integrated Pest Management

Ghorbani Piralidehi,, Fatemeh; Zarafshani, Kumars; Jalilian, Farzad

Study of Factors Influencing Orchard Farming Participants’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Program at DalahooSkills (KASA) in the Integrated Pest Management

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

¹ M.Sc. in Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Razi

² Associate Professor Department of Agricultural Extensi

³ Research Assistant in Pests and Plant Diseases Research Center, Agriculture Research Center of Kermanshah, in Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tarbiat modarres

Abstract

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has been introduced as an appropriate environmental strategy to control pest populations. The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to determine the factors influencing the knowledge, attitude, skills, and aspirations (KASA) among a sample of orchard farmers participating in IPM training at a farmer field school (FFS). From a total of 130 participants, 97 orchard farmers were randomly selected as the sample size. A researcher-made questionnaire was designed using literature review and informal interviews with FFS participants outside the population. A panel of experts approved the content validity of research instrument. An alpha level of 0.86 showed sufficient reliability of the questionnaire. The results of step-wise regression analysis revealed that participating in FFS, farming experience, yield, trust, and social status affected orchard farmers’ IPM knowledge. Moreover, farmers’ attitudes towards IPM were influenced by knowledge diffusion, creativity, and access to horticultural equipment. In addition, knowledge diffusion, yield, membership in farmer cooperatives, and being creative affected orchard farmers’ skills in IPM. Finally, job satisfaction, age, and knowledge diffusion influenced farmers’ aspirations towards IPM. The result of this study has implications for IPM-FFS policy-makers. Developing FFS sites and actors in the province, conducting orientation classes in IPM for contact farmers, and extending financial support to IPM are all recommended.

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