The main objectives of this study were to:
Identify the degree of participation of farmers in seven extension activities, which are office visits, field visits, extension meetings ,demonstration fields, extension printed materials, extension campaigns and participation in the activities of the network communication researches and agricultural extension (vercon).As well as the research aimed at identifying the degree of benefits of extension activities .Also identifying the problems that limit the participation of farmers in some extension activities .
Data were collected from random sample of 274 respondents from Sharkia and Ismailia Governorates by personal interviews using pretested questionnaire during December 2008. Data were tabulated, processed and analyzed by using frequencies and percentages.
The study showed the following results:
1-The participation percentages of the sample farmers in extension activities were: Office visits 56.57%,field visits 78.47%,extension meetings 51.82%,demonstration fields 45.26%,reading extension printed materials 38.32%,extention campaigns 31.02% and participation in the activities of network communication researches and agricultural extension(vercon) 25.55% .
2-The benefit percentages of sample farmers from the participation in the extension activities were: In office visits 37.42%benefited highly, while 8.39%with low degree, in field visits 38.61% benefited highly while 10.23% benefited with low degree, in extension meetings 43.66% benefited highly while 9.16% benefited with low degree, in demonstration fields 50% benefited highly while 14.52% benefited with low degree, in extension campaigns 44.71% benefited highly while 18.82% benefited with low degree , in reading extension printed materials 52.38% benefited highly while 9.52% benefited with low degree and in participation in the activities of the network communication researches and agricultural extension (vercon)42.86% benefited highly while 20 % benefited with low degree.
3- the problems that limit the participation of farmers in some extension activities was: the problem of lack of knowledge of the extension activities 30.66%,then the problem of the large number of responsibilities 28.47% ,then the problem of lack of time 25.91%.