EXTENSION WORKERS’ PERCEPTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS ON AGRICULTURE AND THE METHODS USED TO AWARE FARMERS ABOUT IT IN THE MIDDLE EUPHRATES GOVERNORATES OF IRAQ

Abstract

The aim of research is to know the extension workers’ perception on social, economic and environmental effects of climate change on agriculture, methods used to aware farmers about it and the probles facing extension workers. The research population involved all extension workers work in extension centers and farms in the middle Euphrates governorats namly: (Babil, Karbla, Najaf and Diawaniyah). Data were collected by questionnaire consisted of three sections according to the purpose and abjectives of the study. The first section included (14) items, the second (18) items and third (32) items. Likert – type scales were used to quantify the responses. The research revealed that extension workers have a perception of climate change effects on farmers as well as the methods that used to aware farmers on climate change effects were weark. The research recommends that increasing extension activities that disseminate climate information and promote measures to mitigate and adapt to the negative effects of climate change among the rural people.