Effects of Extension Tools and Informational Sources on Participations of Farmers of Golestan Province in Water Users Cooperatives

The purpose of this descriptive–correlation study is to investigate the effects of informational and extension sources on participation of the farmers of Golestan province in water users cooperatives. All of the farmer members of Golestan province water user's cooperatives constitute the statistical population of this research. Based on Cochranformula, a number of 190 individuals are selected randomly, using stratified and cluster random sampling methods. The tool of research was questionnaire and its reliability and validity was confirmed. The study was carried out in 2010 and in order to investigate the relationship between dependent & independent variables Spearman’s correlation testwas used. Also for predicting the changes in a variable by other variables, multivariable regression was used. The findings of prioritizing comments showed that the meetings between farmers and extension agents in agricultural service centers and participating in educationalextension courses are the first two priorities of extension tools variable and also neighbor and progressive farmers’ comments are the first two priorities of informational sources. The study of correlation coefficients revealed that there is a positive and significant relationship between the factors of relations with neighbor farmers, progressive farmers, TV programs, recommendations of local leaders, Rural Islamic Council, participation in educational- extension courses, educational- extension movies, meeting with extension agents in agricultural services centers & farms and visiting successful cooperatives with participation of farmers in water users cooperatives. The findings of step by step regression showed that educational- extension movies, meeting with extension agents in agricultural service centers and recommendations of localleaders constitute 36% of changes in the participation of farmers in water users’ cooperatives.