Theoretical Model for Extension Education to Decrease Agricultural Waste to Secure Agricultural Development in Mazandaran Province, Iran

This research was conducted with the aim of designing a strategic extension-education theoretical model for agricultural waste management to sustain agricultural development in Mazandaran Province. The statistical population of this study included experts, gardeners, and farmers in Mazandaran Province, among whom 30 people were selected using the purposeful sampling method and snowball technique. A semi-structured interview was conducted to collect research data. The data collection process continued until the theoretical saturation level. A qualitative data analysis was performed using MAXQDA12 software. Analyzing this model showed that factors affecting agricultural waste generation consisted of five categories as, respectively, farming practice, market and transportation, processing procedures, agricultural and natural and support policies, based on their impact factors. In addition, 12 factors within these categories affected the establishment of agricultural waste management extension education were identified. Based on their impact factors in the model, these categories included class participation, food processing industry development and expansion, general knowledge and information about agricultural waste, appropriate farming practice education, educational workshop participation, farm visits, farmers and gardeners education, listening to the radio and TV educational programs, group discussion participation, transfer of new applied waste management technologies, and contact with agricultural extension agents, respectively. Therefore, it is highly recommended to put in action the theoretical model provided in this research for the sake of agricultural development in Mazandaran, Iran.