FARMERS' UTILIZATION OF SOME SOCIAL MEDIA APPLICATIONS TO ACCESS INFORMATION RELATED TO GRAIN CROPS CULTIVATION IN BAGHDAD GOVERNORATE

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the preferences of grain crop farmers in Baghdad Governorate regarding the primary websites and electronic applications used to obtain agricultural information. It also sought to determine their preferred means, methods, and sources for verifying this information. Conducted in Baghdad Governorate, the research utilized a simple random sampling method to select 50 respondents, representing 1% of the total target population who met the study's criteria.                       Data were collected through personal interviews using a structured questionnaire designed to achieve the study's objectives.

The results indicated that the most preferred digital platforms for farmers are Facebook (92%), WhatsApp (88%), and YouTube (74%). Regarding inquiries, the preferred formats for discussing agricultural information were video (92%), images (80%), text (68%), and audio (20%). Similarly, the preferred formats for receiving responses were video (98%), images (78%), text (68%), and audio (22%).

Furthermore, approximately 54% of the farmers acknowledged that most information on these platforms requires verification, while 38% noted that only some requires review. Only 22% stated that all information obtained via these platforms strictly demands comprehensive verification. Finally, the logistic regression analysis revealed that the key determinants influencing grain farmers' adoption of electronic applications are technical proficiency, years of experience, age, educational level, and cultural openness.