Iranian Agricultural Extension and Education Journal

Iranian Agricultural Extension and Education Journal

Elucidating the Network of Institutional Interactions within the Context of Planning for the Agricultural Extension System

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Erfan Alimirzaei 1
Mahmoud Hoseini 2
1 Assistant Professor of Agricultural Education and Extension Institut; Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran
2 Professor of Agricultural Extension and Education Department, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/iaeej.2025.489371.1832
Abstract
The objective of this study is to elucidate the extent of professional interactions among institutional actors involved in the planning of extension programs within the pluralistic agricultural extension system. This research is categorized as a decision-oriented applied study that addresses a problematic scenario in the macro-management of the agricultural extension system through a non-experimental, cross-sectional approach, employing a mixed-methods strategy. The study's methodology incorporates open and semi-structured interviews during the qualitative phase, alongside a researcher-developed questionnaire for the quantitative phase. The data gathered was analyzed qualitatively using content analysis techniques and quantitatively through social network analysis, utilizing UCINET 6 software. In the qualitative phase, various service procurement actors related to the agricultural extension system were identified across 21 distinct institutional categories. The quantitative analysis revealed a significant deficiency in the professional connections among institutional actors engaged in the planning of promotional programs. Out of a potential 421 professional links within the network, only 99 were established in the functional area of planning. The results indicate that the highest level of centrality within the network of extension actors in the planning domain is attributed to the "government extension agencies of the agricultural jihad sub-category."
Keywords
Agricultural extension and education
Planning
Pluralistic extension
Social network analysis
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Iranian Agricultural Extension and Education Journal
Volume 21, Issue 1
September 2025
Pages 81-95