Abstract:

Objective: In this study, the adoption of innovations, which is the main performance indicator in extension organizations examined with the help of data collected from 966 extension workers in the Aegean Region. The main purpose of the study was to determine the effective factors in the adoption of innovations in agricultural extension. Material and Methods: The research was data collected from public, private companies, extension workers working in farmers' organizations, and dealers by using a survey in eight provinces in the Aegean Region. In the interpretation of data, descriptive statistics such as percentages, and averages, and Kruskal Wallis, chi-square, T, reliability tests and factor, correlation, and logistic regression analyses were employed for interpret the data. Results: An extension worker in the region averagely serves 1559 farmers. Although one-fourth of the extension workers in the region are women, the levels of benefiting of services by women farmers are low. The rate of extension activities in working hours (26.4%) and farmers' adoption rates of innovations/suggestions (56%) are low. Extension workers give 1.5 suggestions/innovations per year to farmers in the region. The adoption levels of innovations are high for fruits and vegetables production. Conclusions: The age of extension workers, their occupational satisfaction, extension share in the working hours, and the number of days devoted to farmers' visits, the number of farmers reached, the farmers' education levels, attending in-service training, as information sources to utilize the market mechanisms, and giving the place for economic, social, and environmental dimensions besides technical increase the adoption rates of the farmers to innovations in the region.

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