Designing an extension model for agricultural knowledge dissemination in Galugah County, Mazandaran province, Iran

Agricultural extension is a type of non-formal education and plays a key role in transferring knowledge to farmers. However, the knowledge diffusion and application rate produced by the farmers in different agricultural sectors are facing problems. Therefore, in this research, it was aimed to design a promotion model for agricultural knowledge dissemination in Galugah County of Mazandaran province. In order to reach this model, the inductive strategy, qualitative approach (based on systematic data collection) and grounded theory were used. Data collection was done through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 14 researchers, experts, agricultural extension agents, and innovator farmers (facilitators) in Galugah County of Mazandaran province. The data were analyzed through open coding, axial coding, and selective coding using ATLAS.ti 7.5 software. The obtained model showed following issues as the main components influencing the agricultural knowledge in Galugah County: 1. Causal conditions (production of appropriate knowledge and availability of produced knowledge). 2. Strategies (support of the government and private sectors, policies of the country's agricultural sector, rural youth, and farming system.3. Intervening conditions (factors preventing/facilitating the application of knowledge). 4. Contextual conditions (infrastructure, some personal, economic, and social characteristics of the users) and 5. Consequences (agricultural development, and county comprehensive development).