Farmers’ knowledge of technical recommendations related to tomato crop production in Baghdad Governorate/Abu Ghraib district

The research aimed to identify the level of tomato growers’ knowledge of the technical recommendations related to the production and marketing of the tomato crop in Baghdad Governorate/Abu Ghraib District, through the areas of research, as well as identifying the most important problems facing tomato growers. This research was conducted in the Baghdad Governorate/Abu Ghraib District. As it is one of the important districts that is famous for growing the tomato crop, which includes (568) farmers, a sample of 25% of the farmers was chosen, thus the number of farmers studied became 137 farmers, the questionnaire was used as a tool to conduct the research, which consisted of 34 items covering the technical practices related to tomato cultivation. The questionnaire tool was presented to several experts to determine the validity and reliability of the form to achieve the objectives of the research. The Cronbach's alpha equation was used, which had a value of 0.96, and 20 respondents were tested to measure Reliability from outside the sample within the community, and then the data of the respondents was analyzed using the SPSS program and some statistical methods such as frequencies, percentages, and the range law in April 2024. The results of the research showed that the level of knowledge of the respondents about the technical recommendations related to the production of the tomato crop in Baghdad Governorate/Abu Ghraib District is average and tends to decline. It is concluded from this that this weakness in the level of knowledge in farmers incorrectly practicing the technical recommendations and relying on backward agricultural traditions and customs in growing the tomato crop. It is not based on valid scientific recommendations, and it is also concluded that the performance of the extension organization is not at the required level. The research recommends the need for farmers to monitor the tomato crop and shed light on this important segment of farmers Because the tomato crop is one of the important crops that is included in many foods that are important to the daily Iraqi table, as well as the necessity of paying attention to the tomato crop growers by the agricultural extension organization and publishing what is important, especially the modern agricultural technical recommendations and delivering them to the farmer, distributing guidance bulletins and intensifying seminars for this purpose.