The mediating effect of farmer’s knowledge on the relationship between agricultural services, skills acquisition and food security

Abstract Enhancing productivity, income, and food security requires agricultural services and skill development, especially in vulnerable areas like the Gaza Strip where farmers constantly confront obstacles. With an emphasis on the mediating function of farmers' knowledge, this study investigates the connections among household food security, skill development, and agricultural services. 379 farmers in the Gaza Strip were surveyed using a quantitative methodology. In order to examine the direct and indirect effects of agricultural services and skills on food security outcomes, data were gathered using structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS software. The findings show that farmers' knowledge and levels of food security are greatly and favorably impacted by agricultural services. It was discovered that having access to financial support, technical help, and agricultural inputs improved farmers' ability to provide food for their families. Additionally, learning agricultural skills helped farmers become more knowledgeable, which enhanced the results of food security. These results demonstrate how knowledge acts as a mediator in converting training and services into noticeable increases in livelihoods. The study comes to the conclusion that two important ways to improve food security in the Gaza Strip are to invest in skill development and to boost agricultural services. To optimize the impact on household resilience and food security, policymakers and development practitioners are urged to create interventions that include technical assistance, input provision, and capacity-building initiatives.