Extension Challenges and Requirements of Integrated Rice-Fish Farming in Gilan Province, Iran

Abstract

Integrated Rice-Fish Farming requires very little input and provides off season employment to<br />farm labors. It has been observed that combination of rice and fish farming is mutually<br />beneficial. Although, in implementation, it can be faced with several challenges and it demands<br />some requirements. So, this study was conducted to identify challenges and requirements of<br />Integrated Rice-Fish Farming in Gilan. The research population included all the experts in<br />Gilan province (N=272). They include experts who are familiar with integrated Rice-Fish<br />Farming. The initial and follow-up mailing generated 272 useable responses from experts<br />resulting in a response rate of 100%. Using factor analysis, the challenges and requirements<br />have been classified into four factors (Cultural-social, Human, Infrastructure, and Legal) and<br />six factors (Educational methods, Cultural, Facilitating role, participation, Human resource<br />development, and Economic) respectively. Among the variables which build the Cultural-social<br />challenges, operator demographic challenges and farmers' low educational level provides more<br />impact compared to others, while holding field days and establishing demonstration plots<br />provides more impact on the Educational Methods requirements, among other variables.