EFFECT OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES ON THE ENHANCEMENT OF SOCIAL CAPITAL IN SOME VILLAGES IN FAYOUM GOVERNORATE

Document Type : Research articles.

Abstract

The objectives of the study were to: identify some socio- economic characteristics
of farmers, describe the rural social capital levels in the studied area, identify the extent
to which farmers benefited from some Extension services and activities to Enhance the
Social capital, and identification of differences in the degree of social capital between
both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of extension services. Fayoum destrict was
chosen from Fayoum governorate in terms of the number of farmers holding. Three
villages were randomly selected: Demo, Sakran and Manachi Al-Khatib. A random
sample of 10% of the total number of farmers in the three villages was selected. The
sample consisted of 243 farmers, of which 91 were beneficiaries of agricultural
extension services and activities, and 152 were non-beneficiaries of these The main findings of the study were: The most important sources of agricultural information
were: personal experience, parents, relatives, friends and neighbours, for both
beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of agricultural extension services and activities.
More than three quarters (77.4%) Indicated that their degree of exposure to these
sources was either moderate (46.1%) or high (31.3%). Three quarters (75.7%)
indicated that their confidence in those sources was either moderate (43% (32.5%), and
78.7% of them reported that they were either moderately (43.6%) or low (35%).
The results indicate that the relative degree of social capital for sample as a
hole was relatively low, as (77%) of the total social capital was moderate or low. The
percentage was 49.5% for the beneficiares, compared with 49.4% for the same
categories for not beneficiares Finding also indicated that the most important of
extension services and, which benefited farmers concerning, Enhancement of social
capital, in the field of incresing agricultural production, were: the delivery of
knowledge in agricultural production (2.49) raising farmers' skills new about
applications (1.8). In the field of marketing, and distribution, the most important
activities were: harvest and post harvest treatments; and by-productrecycling in the
field of development and conservation of natural resources it were: Identify appropriate
crops for different types of soil (2.39) and rational use of irrigation water (2.36)
The most important activities and extension services in farm management,
it were: training on activities that increase family income (1.59), the best of farm
management (1.33) and Training the rural youth to hold small interprices (1.65) and
stimulate youth to participate in the development programs of their rural communities
(1.1) were the most important extension activities in the field of rural youth
development. The main activities in the field of contribution to public affairs and
development of rural community were: get attention to education aspects (1.22) and
stimulate them to participate in agricultural projects to get use of the available
resources (1.19). The most important activities in the field of local rural leadership < br />development were: 1. the discovery and development of local leadership (1.17)
increase efforts to help their families in the local community (1.15). The strengthening
of personal relations between the extension officer and the target population (1.52),
helping farmers' organizations to identify their problems and finding alternatives to
solutions (1.37) were the most important activities that benefited the respondents in the
field of the forming and developing of agricultural organizations Results showed
significant differences in the rural social capital aspects between beneficiaries and nonbeneficiaries of extension services related to: social relations, trust capital, membership < br />of organizations, leadership degree, degree of informal social participation and total
degree of social capital. The results showed also that there were no significant
differences in the level of participation in development projects and the degree of
political participation between beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of extension services
and activities



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