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The purpose of this study was to assess the rural Extension manpower needs and the needs for formal education in Extension in Costa Rica. The study surveyed all current Extension professionals of the Costa Rican Ministry of Agriculture Extension system to determine their educational qualifications, education in Extension, opinions regarding the educational qualifications needed to enter an Extension position and the levels of education appropriate for formal Extension education at time of the study and in 15 years and their perceptions of the current and future needs for Extension manpower in Costa Rica. Findings included: (1) all Extension professionals had a secondary level diploma and 55 percent held university level qualifications; (2) formal education was the most reported type of education in Extension; (3) twenty-five percent had neither formal education nor training in Extension; (4) the education qualifications needed and the levels of education appropriate for formal education in Extension were perceived as shifting upwards during the next 15 years; and (5) a 33 percent current and a 102 percent future increase in Extension manpower was perceived as necessary to meet clientele needs.

The purpose of the study was to assess county extension agents' knowledge of geotextiles; to determine their current level of information and their location on an adoption-diffusion curve; and to determine the agents' attitudes toward the potential use of geotextiles in agriculture, specifically in soil erosion control. A questionnaire was designed to investigate the extension agents' basic knowledge of geotextiles and current uses; and through a self-rating selection, to determine their position on an adoption-diffusion curve. The 30- item questionnaire also incorporated measures determining the agents' attitude toward, and perception of potential for, geotextile use in agricultural practices. The questionnaire was mailed to all 122 county extension agricultural, horticultural, and farm management agents in Oregon and Idaho. A total of 92 usable replies (75.4%) were received and included in the study. Descriptive statistics were employed in the analysis of the individual questions and the chi-square test was used in the analysis of nominal data for all hypotheses. The level of significance was set at .05. The development of a profile of the agents' knowledge of basic geotextile functions showed the agents were most familiar with landscape fabric; they were first introduced to the fabrics through commercial literature and extension agents/specialists; and they were first made aware 2-5 years ago. The most important project which used a geotextile in the agent's county(ies) was most frequently designed and installed by a farmer or rancher, in use less than five years, and increased productivity immediately or within one growing season. A significant relationship was found to exist between the agents' self-rating of their level of knowledge and their area of expertise. The horticultural agents' self-rating of their level of knowledge of agro-textiles was most often cited as "moderate." The crops and combination agents claimed to have "very little" knowledge and the livestock agents said "very little" or "none." Significant relationships could not be established between the agents' self-rating of their level of knowledge and the most prevalent farm or ranch land use in their county; their length of employment; and their attitude toward, or perception of, geotextile use in agricultural practices. No significant relationship could be confirmed between the curve created by the agents' knowledge and Rogers' (1958, p. 351) adoption-diffusion curve. Because agro-textiles are a relatively new product, complete adoption has not yet taken place. Therefore, the agents' curve is not expected to be normal. Results showed the major benefits in using agro-textiles were "increased productivity" and "dollars saved." Other benefits included: the savings of water and time; and the control of frost and increased soil warmth, which led to earlier harvests, longer seasons, and less loss of crops. The real and/or perceived barriers against the use of agro-textiles most cited were "too expensive" and "not cost effective." / Graduation date: 1993

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin, 1957. / Extension Repository Collection. Typescript (carbon copy). eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [166]-168).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin, 1962. / Extension Repository Collection. Typescript (carbon copy). eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 166-168).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin, 1960. / Extension Repository Collection. Typescript (carbon copy). Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 70-71).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Human Sciences. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Despite the abundance of horticultural crops, farmers in the Nusa Tenggara Timur province of Indonesia (NTT) are still living under poverty level. The Indonesian government has identified agricultural extension workers as a 'point of spear' of agricultural development and given them 12 roles. Horticultural agribusiness would certainty be able to increase farmers' standard of living if agricultural extension workers can perform their roles effectively. However, in 1997, the average production of fruits was only 3.8 tonnes per hectare and 1.9 tonnes per hectare of vegetables. Ashraf (1993) has suggested that inefficiency of agricultural extension workers is one of the reasons why agricultural production does not improve to its full capacity. A study investigating the roles of Agricultural extension workers in horticultural agribusiness in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) Indonesia was conducted. Interviews were conducted of 223 farmers, 46 agricultural extension workers and 32 government officers. A literature search suggests this is the first study ever done in Indonesia particularly in NTT which involved farmers, agricultural extension workers and government officers to investigate: 1) what roles were expected of agricultural extension workers by farmers, government officers and agricultural extension workers, 2) the perceptions of these groups about the effectiveness of agricultural extension workers in performing their roles, and 3) factors that impede agricultural extension workers' ability to perform their roles effectively. While the views of the three groups did not coincide, all three expected agricultural extension workers to use examples and demonstrations. All farmers expected agricultural extension workers to deliver extension in the right time. / Both farmers and government officers expected agricultural extension workers to increase farmers' knowledge and skills, empower farmers and their group, and to be a part of farmers' community. Meanwhile, the roles of running activities that only deal with the agricultural activities, to support research recommendation, and to be the bridge between farmers and government were expected by government officers and agricultural extension workers. Farmers and agricultural extension workers have the same expectation for agricultural extension workers to transfer programs that suit. farmers' needs and problems, and to bring the programs as promised. The respondents perceptions about the effectiveness of agricultural extension workers in fulfilling their 12 roles were as follows: 1) farmers were dissatisfied with the roles for running plot demonstrations, program planning, using a brochure and running a field school; 2) agricultural extension workers were dissatisfied with the roles of making a brochure, running a field school, and delivering government projects; and 3) government officers were dissatisfied with the roles to encourage farmers' participation, finding and solving farmers' problems, agricultural extension workers as trainers, and running field schools. A Chi-square test found a significant difference between the groups in their perceptions of agricultural extension workers performance of their roles. The eight main constraints that impede agricultural extension workers' ability to perform their roles were the repeated restructuring of the Agricultural Department, low award or salary, lack of training, lack of transport, unclear job direction geographical conditions, lack of authority , and bureaucratic complexity. / In conclusion, while the results of this study support the hypothesis that agricultural extension workers are not performing their roles effectively there are a number of reasons for this, many of them beyond the responsibility of agricultural extension workers. A key reason appears to be system failure. While the NTT province is supposedly following the Training and Visit model, very little effective training appears to be taking place and agricultural extension workers lack transport and other facilities to conduct effective visits and demonstrations. Another key deficiency is locally relevant research findings.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 1984. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 174-180). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center.