Obstacles to Extension Communication from the Point of View of Agricultural Employees in Salah Al-Din Governorate / 1

Abstract The research aimed to identify the size of the obstacles to extension communication from the point of view of agricultural employees in Salah al-Din Governorate, as well as to identify the variation in the respondents’ point of view in determining the size of the obstacles to extension communication according to personal factors, which are (job service, participation in extension activities, orientation towards extension work). A questionnaire form was prepared consisting of two sections. The first section included some independent factors related to employees, while the second section included (54) statements, each of which represents a communication obstacle in the field of extension work. The research community included all agricultural employees in the Salah al-Din Governorate Agriculture Directorate and its affiliated agricultural divisions. A simple random sample of (50%) was selected from the agricultural divisions, bringing the number of divisions included in the final research procedures to (13) agricultural divisions that include (230) employees. A percentage (50%) of the employees of each division was selected, so that the number of respondents became (103) after excluding the employees of the Tomato Agriculture Division, who numbered (31) as a survey sample. The results showed that the size of the obstacles to guidance communication from the point of view of employees in Salah al-Din Governorate is average and tends to rise. It also showed that there is a discrepancy in the views of the respondents regarding the size of the obstacles to guidance communication according to some of the personal factors of the respondents. The researchers concluded that there are major communication obstacles facing agricultural employees when assigned to implement extension activities in the research area. The researchers recommend working to provide the necessary capabilities for the work of employees by the Salah al-Din Governorate Agriculture Directorate, providing the necessary capabilities to carry out their extension activities, and involving new employees with employees who have experience in implementing extension activities in order to give them experience when assigned to extension duties.