Specific problems in agriculture most in need of research solutions as perceived by west virginia vocational agriculture teachers and county extension agents

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dc.contributor.authorChalamira, Lucas Ralph
dc.date.accessioned2025-09-24T12:31:16Z
dc.date.available2025-09-24T12:31:16Z
dc.date.issued1982
dc.descriptionMaster's Theses
dc.description.abstractObjective The primary objective of the study was to identify specific prob- lems in agriculture which are most in need of research solutions as perceived by West Virginia vocational agriculture teachers and county extension agents. Methods and Procedures Data for the study were obtained from the study population conĀ­ sisting of 106 vocational agriculture teachers and 48 county extension agents.The Delphi technique consisting of two types of questionnaires was used.The first phase questionnaires asked participants to list five specific agricultural problems in their communities which, in their opinion, were most in need of research solutions. Responses were then used by the Q-sort committee to formulate 136 rateable state- ments which formed the second phase questionnaire. were sent to the same study population. The questionnaires The response was 75 percent. Data were analyzed using West Virginia University computer facilities. Means and standard deviation were determined for each statement by category, position and region. Findings Information derived from the study reveals that there are many agricultural problems in West Virginia which seriously need research attention. Problems identified by the respondent groups cut across all the major areas of the agricultural industry: field crop production; livestock production; horticulture; farm management; plant pests/ diseases; pasture management; agricultural marketing and processing; farm machinery and structures; soil/water conservation; agricultural energy; and rural development and extension/education. Of the 136 problems identified by participants, 19 were rated as "very important". Considered particularly serious were: multiflora rose eradication; coping with high production costs and interest rates; and improving state level funding for extension and vocational agriĀ­ culture programs. The study also showed that vocational agriculture teachers and county extension agents had similar perceptions of many of the problems identi fied. However, problems connected with vocational agriculture programs were rated higher by vocational agriculture teachers than by county extension agents. The degree of importance of the problems varied from region to region. These regional variations may be due to the fact that different parts of the state have different geophysical and climatic conditions. However, problems associated with livestock (and particularly beef/ dairy) and pasture production were similar in all the six regions of the state. It was recommended that research institutions in West Virginia study the problems identified and take them into consideration when evaluating/developing research programs. also be taken into account. Regional variations should
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/7048
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherWest Virginia University
dc.subjectAgricultural production
dc.subjectResearch solutions
dc.subjectWest virginia vocational agriculture teachers
dc.subjectCounty extension agents
dc.titleSpecific problems in agriculture most in need of research solutions as perceived by west virginia vocational agriculture teachers and county extension agents
dc.typeThesis

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