The Application of Wheat Farmers to Modern Agriculture Technology Related to Improve Crop Production in Thi-Qar
Hakeem, S. Abd. AL.Rekibe
Department of Field Crops, College of Agriculture, Wasit University, Iraqabdulmutalib.raafat@garmian.edu.krd
*Correspondence: hsultan@uowasit.edu.iq
Available from. http://dx.doi.org/10.21931/BJ/2024.01.01.56
ABSTRACT
The research aim is to determine the level of application farmers of Modern Agricultural Technology have in improving wheat crop production in Thi-Qar Province. A multistage sample probability proportionates of size (PPS) was used to conduct this study. The sample number was (75 farmers from the Qalat Sukkar district, 105 farmers from the AL-Rifai district, 45 farmers from the AL-Shatrah district, and 29 farmers from the AL-Nasr district) (15% of the total number of farmers) it was 254 farmers. Questionnaire techniques and interviews with the farmers were adopted to collect the data (March to May 2019). The study has revealed that the highest percentage (62.6 %) belonged to the medium category in applying modern agricultural technology to improve wheat crop production. The application level of modern agricultural technology was significant and positive at a 1% probability level under six variables. Multiple regression analyses have been studied with ten variables: social class, age, Education, Occupation, Farm power, Size of land holding, Family type, Family size, social participation, and source of information utilized. This research has contributed nine independent variables with significant levels of variation to the extent of the application level of modern agricultural technology in improving wheat crop production (R2= 0.759). The importance of farmers using modern agricultural technology with the parts (Soil preparation, Planting and crop service, harvesting processes and marketing) was high according to (72.12, 70.72, and 68.41) respectively. The data were used for analysis: Frequency, percentage, mean, Standard deviation, and multiple regression analysis. According to the result, farmers' application of modern technology in improving wheat crop production was good. Modern agricultural technology will reduce costs, increase productivity, and save soil quality. The importance of farmers with the parts (Soil preparation, Planting, crop service, harvesting processes, and marketing) was high according to (72.12, 70.72, and 68.41) respectively. Because of this, it is necessary to improve the cultivation of wheat crops to achieve high productivity and reduce the problems that happen during agricultural production.
Keywords: Technology, Independent variables, Farmers, Harvesting, Size of land holding
INTRODUCTION
Wheat crop is a key staple cereal for many people worldwide. Wheat is expected to increase strongly soon due to global population growth and dietary changes. So, the major challenge of wheat production is increasing this crop. In the threatening global food security, there has been a global decline in wheat yield growth since the mid-1990s1. Wheat is grown on more land areas than any other commercial crops. It is the most important grain food source for human consumption2. Wheat occupies the largest cultivated area compared with other food crops, as well as the entry of wheat crops in many trade and economic transactions among the countries in the world. Many countries produce this crop, and many countries import it. Also, many countries are interested in ongoing research to improve the productivity of this crop by improving high-yield genotypes suitable for diverse environmental conditions; some of these countries have become the primary source of this crop, which has a competitive ability to produce it. Iraq ranked 31st by production in 2013, 3.3 million tons, while China, India, United States, and Russia ranked first, second, third, and fourth globally for the same year with 121.7, 93.5, 60, and 52 million tons, respectively3. As a staple food for half of the world's population, this plant is essential and, therefore, shall be considered a strategic crop4 In Iraq, most wheat production relies on irrigation water. It is only 39.7% of the in Iraq, and most wheat production depends on irrigation water. Only 39.7% of the wheat cultivation area is rain-fed.
The areas of rain-fed wheat production have been located in the north of Iraq. Climatic conditions favor such requirements because Iraqi wheat is cultivated during November and harvested on May 5. The introduction of suitable wheat varieties and improved cultivation techniques such as fertilizing, pest control, and harvesting are necessary to fill the role. Furthermore, supplemental irrigation techniques need to be introduced so that the limited water resources can be utilized to maximize crop productivity6. New technologies developed by researchers are disseminated among the farmers by the agricultural extension department. In addition, agricultural extension provides farmers with management, decision-making, and organizational skills. It provides feedback and keeps agricultural research abreast of real problems faced by the farmers7.
Agricultural extension programs have been one of the primary conduits of addressing rural poverty and food insecurity. This is because it has the means to transfer technology, support rural adult learning, assist farmers in problem-solving, and get farmers actively involved in the agricultural knowledge and information system 8 Agricultural extension programs should provide opportunities for agricultural subject matter knowledge and skill development through a variety of methods, including early field experiences9. To adopt a new Production technology correctly, the farmers should know how to learn and use these techniques correctly in farming systems. The major job of an effective extension worker is to educate the farmers on how to improve their skills, motivate them to use improved agricultural implements, prepare a cropping plan, and adopt the practices evolved through recent scientific research. To apply a new technology successfully, they must be aware of how to learn to incorporate it into their farming systems10. The demand for all foodstuffs grows. At the same time, the supply of natural resources should be expanded or increased gradually. For this result, we are studying the application of modern agricultural technology to improve wheat production to face many problems that may lead to low productivity in the future.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Research Methodology
To achieve the research objectives, the descriptive approach is used, which is one of the methods to obtain adequate and accurate information from social reality and contribute to the analysis of its phenomena.
Research area
The research has been done in Thi-Qar province in southern Iraq. The Thi-Qar province has been selected based on maximum area and production among other provinces in Iraq for wheat production in the national program for wheat development11.
The research population
The research population included the total number of farmers in the year 2019 was 1692 farmers (500 farmers in the Qalat Sukkar district,700 farmers in the AL-Rifai district, 300 farmers in the AL-Shatrah district, and 192 farmers in the AL-Nasr district). The respondents' samples of this study for collecting data have been selected based on probability proportionate to size (PPS). (15% of the total number of farmers was 254). Number of respondents samples for the study were (75 farmers in the Qalat Sukkar district, 105 farmers in the AL-Rifai district, 45 farmers in the AL-Shatrah district, and 29 farmers in the AL-Nasr district). A questionnaire was developed, pre-tested, revised, and used to collect necessary information from the farmers. The data were collected through personal interviews and questionnaires (during two months in 2019).
Data collection
The data have been collected through the questionnaire method and personal interviews. The number of questions in the test was 20 items to measure the application level of modern agricultural technology in improving wheat crop production. The questionnaire is divided into three parts (soil preparation, Planting, crop service and harvesting processes). It is given a weight (1.0). The role of modern agricultural technology was divided into three categories: high, medium, and low, respectively.
Statistical analysis
This research used descriptive statistical measures (mean, averages, frequency, percentages, standard deviation, and multiple regressions) to analyze the data using a statistical analysis program (SPSS).
Face validity
The form has been presented to experts in plant production and agricultural extension areas to ensure the appropriateness of the paragraphs; all observations were recorded and reformulated, and adjustments were made according to their suggestions to improve the study. Seven in agricultural extension exports have been recording the apparent validity of the instrument, such as the type of expressions, the style of writing, the extent of clarity, the accuracy of their measurement, and the way to answer the paragraphs, as some paragraphs were removed from the form according to their suggestion.
Reliability
The reliability content means " The degree of representation of the test of the content of the behavior and objectives," the content has validated this name because it relates to the behavior content to be measured12. Furthermore, whenever the value approaches (100%), this indicates a degree of stability. The result of the Cronbach alpha test for the study scale was (0.95), so the tool can be described as stable, and the data obtained were suitable for measuring varieties and were within a high degree of reliability. On 3/2/2019, a test was recorded for outside the sample in the research.
RESULTS
Table 1: The studied physicochemical parameters.
Table 2: Distribution of respondents as per their level of applying technology in improving wheat crop production (N= 254).
To determine the application level, Modern Agricultural Technology farmers must improve wheat crop production in Thi-Qar Province.
The application of modern agricultural technology in improving wheat crop production was divided into three categories (low, medium, and high) and standard deviation. The result showed that in Table (2), the majority of respondents (62.6 %) are in the second category (medium), followed by high and low categories (20.86% and 16.54 %), respectively. The findings in Table reveal that most farmers belong to the middle category (62.6%). The farmers in Thi-Qar province had a good level of application of modern agricultural technology to improve wheat production. Modern agricultural technology will reduce costs, increase productivity, and save soil quality.
Furthermore, modern agricultural technology can be used in different aspects of agriculture, like applying herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, and improved seeds. Technology has proved to be extremely useful in the agricultural sector. Farmers can grow crops in areas where they thought they could not grow. Furthermore, extension services create a platform for acquiring relevant information that promotes technology adoption. The findings are in tune with the findings of 13,14,15,16.
*Means significant at a 5% probability level ** means significant at a 1% probability Ns= means non-significant.
Table 3: Relationship between the application level of respondents and the selected socio-personal.
To study the relationship between the application farmers' level of Modern Agricultural Technology with the independent variables.
An effort has been made to analyze the relationship between the application of modern agricultural technology and independent variables to Improve wheat crop production. As shown in Table (3), the nine variables studied are significantly related to the application of Modern Agricultural Technology in improving Wheat Crop Production. Table (3) shows that only nine variables are significantly associated with the application of modern agricultural technology in improving Wheat Crop Production. According to Table 3, the results showed that younger farmers were likely to use modern agricultural technology more than older ones. Some operations need to increase education levels and independent variables that influence the adoption of modern agricultural technology to improve wheat crop production.
*significant at 5% level of probability ** significant at 1% level of probability Ns=non-significant R2= 0.759 F value=6.77 ** d.f (13, 80) Intercept constant (a)=25.22
Table 4: Distribution of multiple regression analysis is independent variables with application level of Modern Agricultural Technology in the Improve of Wheat Crop Production.
Multiple regressions
The technique of multiple regression was used to predict critical, independent variables. The technique has been used to determine the impact of the independent variables on the dependent variable, namely the application level of modern agricultural technology in improving wheat crop production. Only nine independent variables have been fitted with the farmers' application in the multiple regression equation. The findings have been combined in Table 4.
Table (4) showed that nine variables explained the variation in application to the extent of 0.759 percent of the use of modern agricultural technology. The respective "F" value (significant at 0.01 percent) at (13.80) degrees of freedom given in parenthesis was 6.77. Therefore, the results showed that only nine independent variables would account for highly significant variation in farmers' application levels. From the coefficients of regression (b-value), nine variables are substantial with the application level of farmers. Therefore, these variables have a definite role in affecting the application of modern agricultural technology in improving Wheat Crop Production. The finding is in line with findings17 18,
Table 5: Distribution of respondents according to satisfactory application of improved wheat production technology.
To study farmers' satisfaction level with the application of modern agricultural technology to improve wheat crop production.
An effort has been made to determine respondents' satisfaction with the application level of improved wheat crop production. The result is presented in Table 4.
The above Table ( 5) depicts that (30.71 percent), of the respondents were fully satisfied with Land leveling in the soil preparation. The farmers think this process is fundamental to creating good conditions for plants. (28.74 percent) of the respondents were satisfied with the planting and crop service fertilization process. Because so many farmers think this is a critical process to save the plant from other conditions. (27.95 percent) of the respondents were not satisfied with harvesting processes in the harvesting processes and marketing.
Table 6: arrangement of aspects according to the importance of farmers.
Arranging the study aspects according to importance for the respondents
It was divided into three main elements, in descending order, according to the level of importance that each aspect obtained.
Table 6 depicts (72.12%) of the high percentage with soil preparation axis because they think this process is critical to preparing the field for wheat crop planting and solving many problems facing the crop during the first growth stages. The Planting and crop service was taking (70.72%) because they thought this was a process to help them control the production conditions.
DISCUSSION
According to the result, farmers' application of modern technology in improving wheat crop production was good. Most think modern agricultural technology will reduce costs, increase productivity, and save soil quality. The importance of farmers with the parts (Soil preparation, Planting, crop service, harvesting processes, and marketing) was high according to (72.12, 70.72, and 68.41) respectively. Because of this, it is essential to improve the cultivation of wheat crops to achieve high productivity and reduce the problems that may happen during agricultural production. The agrarian extension is the basis for developing the agricultural sector, and with agricultural extension, it has benefited from modern farming techniques and information. Agricultural Extension is responsible for the transfer of agricultural technologies to farmers. According to this result, the level of application of modern agricultural technology in improving wheat crop production is that most farmers belong to the middle category (62.6%). The farmers in Thi-Qar province had a good level of application of modern agricultural technology to improve wheat production.
CONCLUSIONS
Accordingly, the researcher recommended that the competent authorities (directorates of agriculture in the Thi-Qar province, the Department of Agricultural Extension and Training) should adopt the proposal of the requirements of developing the farmer's capacities in the field of application of modern technology in the improvement of wheat crop Production. Supporting the farmers in getting modern agricultural technology
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Received: October 9th 2023/ Accepted: January 15th 2024 / Published:15 February 2024
Citation: Hakeem, S. A. A. The Application of Wheat Farmers to Modern Agriculture Technology Related to Improve Crop Production in Thi-Qar. Revis Bionatura 2024; 1 (1) 56. http://dx.doi.org/10.21931/BJ/2024.01.01.56
Additional information Correspondence should be addressed to hsultan@uowasit.edu.iq
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