Agent specialization is the core concept and process of EXTENSION specialization. In this context, specialized agent is specializing in a single subject matter area. These specialized agents are highly proficient in their subject area, better servicing to clientele, while reducing workload and frustration of general EXTENSION. The main purpose of this study was to investigate and determine the viewpoints of EXTENSION experts toward EXTENSION specialization in Iran. Casual-correlation research was employed in the study. The population of the research included all EXTENSION experts employed in units of Jehad Keshavarzi ministry at staff level (n=136). The census (enumeration) method was employed to gather data questionnaires and according to the purpose of the study. From a review of literature and related to research objective, a questionnaire consisting of seven separate questions was developed. Validity of the questionnaires was confirmed after assessment by some EXTENSION experts and professors. Coronbach Alpha coefficient was employed to determine the questionnaire's reliability and its value was found within the range of 0.74-0.82, which was favorable. Data analysis was accomplished using SPSS. WIN software. Appropriate statistics was applied to expound the results. Results show that the overall attitude of EXTENSION experts toward EXTENSION specialization is quite positive. There were significant relationships observed between attitudes of EXTENSION experts toward EXTENSION specialization and their job as well a their organizational and personal characteristics (organizational unit, subject matter of specialization, work span of interest, engagement or non-engagement in a second job, filed of study, years in service, provision of EXTENSION papers, participating in educational courses, job satisfaction and in-service education). Also, EXTENSION experts attached ranks to some important progressive factors as well as to the implications of EXTENSION specialization in Iran.

The Purpose of this study was to identify the Competencies required by AGRICULTURAL experts to promote nuclear AGRICULTURAL business in Tehran province. Nuclear technology may well provide the growing population all over the world with improved food security. AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION and the related businesses may thus take advantage of this new technology to push forward the development of agriculture sector.This study is an applied-type research using a descriptive – correlational methodology. Also the data was collected through survey. The statistical society consisted of AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION experts form both private and public sectors in Tehran province (147 persons), out of whom 74 were selected as statistical sample through simple random sampling. The data analysis was carried out by SPSS/Win16 software using spearman – Friedman correlation test and descriptive statistics. Also, diagnosis factor analysis. The highly important training competencies by AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION experts for taking advantage of nuclear AGRICULTURAL practices and the related businesses were determined nuclear AGRICULTURAL practices and the related businesses were determined under three categories 1) Knowledge and skills needed for setting up a business (8 Factors), 2) basic Knowledge and skills needed for AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION (12 Factors) ; and 3) Knowledge and skills needed for nuclear agriculture (11 Factors). The findings indicated that the respondents recognize three factors as the mast important ones in identifying their own training competenices: Knowledge and skills needed for matching the needs of farmers with nuclear crops; knowledge on nuclear organizational linkage, and innovation in business.

This study examines Iranian AGRICULTURAL researchers attitudes regarding collaboration with EXTENSION workers and the variables associated with the researchers attitudes. Data were obtained using a questionnaire developed by AGRICULTURAL Research Centers of Charmahal and Bakhtiari, Isfahan, Safiabad and Khuzestan in 1998. The findings revealed that the researchers attitudes towards collaboration with the EXTENSION workers were generally positive although actual collaboration between researchers and the EXTENSION workers was at a low level. Therefore, it seems that lack of an overall strong relationship of attitudes with current behavior as well as weak collaboration is related to other factors that need to be studied more, for example management of participation or internal factors in each sub-system of EXTENSION or research etc. identified that The following factors/ characteristics of AGRICULTURAL researchers were identified as having a positive correlation/ association with their attitude towards collaborating with EXTENSION workers: higher research experience, greater interaction with EXTENSION workers, a lower scientific position or possessing a higher management position, greater participation in seminars and colloquiums related to EXTENSION, and the influence/thinking of colleagues and managers.

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of privatization of AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION service in Iran, as perceived by EXTENSION specialists in Ministries Of Agriculture and Jahad Sazandegy and faculty members of AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION.The sample was 160 EXTENSION specialists and faculty members. This consists of 40 EXTENSION specialists in Ministry of Agriculture, 40 EXTENSION specialists in Ministry Of Jahad Sazandegy and 40 faculty members of EXTENSION in several universities in Iran. The research design included a survey research, and a questionnaire was developed. The data was collected by interviewing sample population and was analyzed by using regression analysis and spearman ranking methods.The results of the study show that 51 respondents (42.5%) indicated that the public EXTENSION service was not successful in delivering goods and services to farmers. The three factors "weak linkages between research and EXTENSION, weak program planning, and problem of limited numbers of manpower", was found out to be the main reasons for inefficiency and ineffectiveness of EXTENSION service in Iran.The majority of respondents (62 respondents, 51.6%) stated that private sector can improve the current public system of EXTENSION in Iran, but they also indicated that private firms can not substitute for public EXTENSION.The results of the study show that majority of respondents (52.5%) disagreed with using only public resources for EXTENSION service in Iran.The perception of respondents was that the commodity - based and farmer - controlled approach can be the most usefull approaches for EXTENSION service in Iran. The majority of respondents stated that the mixed public and private entities can deliver goods and services effectively to the farmers.

In light of the increasing importance of science and technology in AGRICULTURAL development, this article focuses on the role of EXTENSION in disseminating innovative techniques and knowledge in Iran(s) AGRICULTURAL sector. By constructing a conceptual framework following a review of the literature, it examines Iran(s) AGRICULTURAL development as a function of the performance of the AGRICULTURAL system and its internal elements including EXTENSION. The article utilizes a number of statistical methods to reach the following conclusions: AGRICULTURAL development is a function of a host of factors, among which AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION is one of the most important. AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION influences AGRICULTURAL development by enhancing the farmer(s) knowledge and skills. However, the extent of this influence depends on a few other factors that are referred to as control factors in this article. These include intra-sectoral factors of EXTENSION and the AGRICULTURAL system as well as factors stemming form the natural and social environment. It is necessary to consider these factors in programs focusing on AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION and AGRICULTURAL development.

Planning in the AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION System for its systematic and moderate development in order to achieve food security requires the identification, explanation and presentation of solutions compatible with the internal and external environment of this system. Therefore, the goal of this study was to identify, explain and provide solutions to improve the performance of the EXTENSION system to achieve food security. The statistical population of the study was 130 policy makers and experts on AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION and development in the country who were counted. In order to examine the importance and applicability of each of the solutions mentioned by the experts, the results of their views by the experts of Jihad AGRICULTURAL Centers in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad province was examined. To conduct the research, the desired solutions were identified, studied and refined in three rounds through Delphi method. Then, using the technique and method of content analysis, it was classified into two main categories of macro and local solutions. Macro-solutions fall into three categories: structural, infrastructural, and cultural, and local solutions fall into four sub-categories: structural, infrastructural, research, and cultural. Finally, Nvivio software was used to provide a comprehensive model of strategies to improve the performance of the EXTENSION system to achieve food security. Findings from the software showed that human resources training in the field of food security, attention to the tangible and intangible needs of users, transparency of the functional areas of the EXTENSION system to move in the direction of food security, knowledge promotion and well-being. Providing training in line with global standards of food security is one of the most obvious ways to improve AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION & education to achieve food security.

This study Investigates challenges facing EXTENSION services concerning interaction with other AKIS1 actors from AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION specialists` point of view. The research design for this study employed a survey method. Though Krejcie and Morgan simply size table and 103 specialists were purposive selected as a sample out of 140 AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION specialists in Iran and finally 90 questionnaires was collected. A questionnaire was used to collect data concerning interactive challenges of EXTENSION services with other six AKIS actors namely research sector, education sector, farmers, policy makers, private sector and farmers organization. Specialists` interaction with other related sub-systems was also investigated. Content and face validity of the questionnaire were confirmed by a panel of experts consisting of AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION and education specialists. Questionnaire reliability was estimated by calculating Cronbach’ s alpha. The overall Cronbach’ s alpha coefficient for the instrument was 0. 95. Results of this study revealed that interactive challenges of EXTENSION services were as follow respectively; interaction with policy makers, research centers, farmers, education sector, farmers’ organization and privet sector. Findings showed that major challenges facing EXTENSION services in interaction with other intended actors in this study were; lack of guaranteed sanction by policy-makers in reflection the problems facing farmers through EXTENSION agents, reluctance of researchers and EXTENSION agents to cooperate with each other, disproportion ratio of EXTENSION agents and farmers, and inadequate experiences of private sector in providing EXTENSION services. Findings revealed that there was no significant difference between perceptions of AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION faculty members, ministerial senior managers of deputy of AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION and education and Ph. D. Student regarding interactive challenges of AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION services with other AKIS actors.

The purpose of this study was to assess the process of EXTENSION program development in Iranian AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION System (IAES). The research instrument was a structural questionnaire with close-ended questions which its validity and reliability was confirmed by using expert panel and Cranach’s alpha test, respectively. The target population of this research included all EXTENSION managers who were responsible for doing EXTENSION activities in Iran’s townships (N=334). According to Krejcie and Morgan’s table, a number of 191 persons selected as statistical sample in a stratified sampling method, and finally 198 questionnaires were gathered and analyzed (n=198). Overall, the use of the process of EXTENSION program development in IAES was at less than moderate level. The other results also indicated there was the significantly positive relationship between selected demographic characteristics of EXTENSION managers with their viewpoint on the use of the process of EXTENSION program development in IAES. These results highlight the need for the reform of the process of AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION program development in IAES.