Evaluation of agricultural extension services for date farmers in Anbar Province, Iraq

This study aims to evaluate the level of agricultural extension services provided to date farmers in Anbar Province, focusing on the effectiveness of these services in promoting the adoption of modern agricultural practices. The study relied on a questionnaire to collect data from a sample of 345 farmers distributed across different areas of the province. The results showed significant relationships between age and some agricultural practices such as cultivation methods, number of pollinations, pesticide use, and insect diagnosis time, while no significant relationship was found between age and other techniques such as palm variety selection or pollination method. The results also showed a significant relationship between educational level and the appropriate time for grafting, while no significant relationship was found with the correct method of insect diagnosis or sources of information. As for orchard size, the study revealed a notable deficiency in the provision of agricultural extension services in vital areas such as timely pollination, pollination, fruit thinning, and pest and disease control. The study recommended developing agricultural extension programs, intensifying training courses, and promoting the adoption of modern agricultural practices to ensure the sustainability of date production in the province.