The aim of the research were to determine knowledge level of
agricultural Extensionists in the field of Biological Control, identify training
methods which preferred by agricultural Extensionists for training in the field
of Biological Control, identify reasons for farmers 'reluctance to apply
Biological Control methods from the point of view of the Extensionists, and
determining the relationship between the studied variables and the knowledge
level of the agricultural Extensionists in the field of Biological Control.
Research was conducted on a random sample of 95 agricultural Extensionists
in Ismailia Governorate. Data were collected by a questionnaire in January
2017, frequency, percentage, weighted average, Pearson's simple correlation
coefficient, Chi square were used to analyse data.
The main findings of the research were as follows:
1. More than three froths of the respondents (76.8%) of the agricultural
Extensionists did not receive training in the field of Biological Control. 8.4%
and 14.7% of them had low and average benefit.
2. about four fifths of the respondents (78.9%) had low knowledge of
Biological Control, compared with 4.3% have high level of knowledge.
3. Agricultural Extensionists prefer the following methods of training in the
field of Biological Control: field visits, practical demonstration, and seminars.
4. Reasons of reluctance of farmers to use the Biological Control from the
point of view of respondents: Lack of knowledge and information of farmers
about the methods of biological control, lack of requirements for the
application of biological control, weak shortage of communication challenges
between research centers and agricultural extension and farmers.
5. The most important problems faced respondents in the field of biological
control were: lack of incentives and rewards, shortage of extension programs
on Biological Control, lack of extension aids.
6. There is a significant relationship between the following variables: age,
academic qualification, academic specialization, length of service in extension
work, training, the degree of job satisfaction, and knowledge level of the
extensionists in the field of Biological Control.