Farmers' attitudes towards use of mechanized agriculture in Sharkia Governorate

Document Type : Research articles.

Authors

1 Agric. Econ. Dept., Branch of Rural Sociol., Fac. Agric., Zagazig Univ., Egypt

2 Econ. and agric Ext. Dept., Fac.Technol. and Dev., Zagazig Univ., Egypt

Abstract

The research aimed to: Identify level of attitude towards use of mechanized agriculture in Sharkia Governorate, determine significant correlation between attitude level of towards use of mechanized agriculture and independent variables, determine the degree of relative contribution of the independent variables in explaining the total variation in attitude level towards use of mechanized agriculture, determine the significant differences between respondent farmers in attitude towards use of mechanized agriculture and its axes according to location of agricultural mechanization station, identify problems that hinder use of mechanized agriculture, and identify suggtion to solve them. The research was based on the social survey method on a sample of 362 farmers in Shalshalamon and Manzil Hayyan in Sharkia Governorate. Data were collected by a personal interview questionnaire during February to March 2023. Data were analyzed by: frequencies, percentage, relative weight, Cronbach's alpha coefficient, Pearson's correlation coefficient, step wise coefficient, ANOVA, L.S.D. Results showed that more than half of the farmers had a neutral attitude towards use of agricultural mechanization by 56.1%, towards investment in field of agricultural mechanization by 56.9%, and towards use of  mechanization in some agricultural operations by 66%. Results showed that four independent variables contributed significantly together to explain the total variation in farmers' attitude towards use of mechanized agriculture by 18.9%, these variables Were: age by 9.1%, ownership of agricultural machinery by 5.1%, the prepare to risk by 3.5%, ownership of agricultural land by 1.2%. This showed a statistically significant difference between farmers in the attitude towards use of mechanized agriculture and its axes according to location of agricultural mechanization station.

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