Extension Agents’ Perceptions of Sustainable Agriculture in the Riyadh Region of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Sustainable agriculture extension programs are mandated worldwide to foster the implementation of sustainable agriculture practices. These required sustainable agriculture extension programs are to be conducted by extension agents, therefore understanding extension agents' perceptions toward sustainable agriculture is especially important. This research identified the perceptions toward sustainable agriculture of agricultural extension agents in the Riyadh Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The findings show that extension agents generally had a positive perception toward sustainable agriculture concepts. No significant differences between overall means of agents' perceptions toward sustainable agriculture concepts and their age, rural/urban background, or educational background were found. Extension agents' positive perceptions regarding sustainable agriculture and the perceived need for providing sustainable agricultural extension programs to farmers provide a basis for sustainable agriculture programs development.

Perceptions of agricultural extension educators regarding livestock waste management education in the North Central Region

“…Positive perceptions or beliefs lead to specific intentions and attitudes that foster positive behavior (Knobloch & Martin, 2000). In the Middle East, studies revealed positive perceptions of extension professionals regarding the concept of sustainable agriculture (Chirazi et al, 2001;Al-Subaiee et al, 2005). In Iran, although wheat farmers of the Luresran Province did not perceive sustainable agricultural practices as effective farming practices for wheat production due to risks associated with those farming practices and lack of profitability, extension agents were of an opposite view (Chirazi et al, 2001 (Udoto & Flowers, 2001).…”

SAAONT: Ontological knowledge-based development to support intelligent decision-making systems for Saudi Arabian agriculture

“…Over recent years, Saudi Arabia has experienced a rapid level of development. However, it has also faced the issue of limited natural resources, in particular, water, resulting in a reduction of its agricultural production (Al-Subaiee et al, 2005), with a negative impact on the agricultural sector and limiting the available food supply from local farms. However, a sustainable increase in agricultural production could be achieved by improving the productivity of the land and the use of water resources.…”

Impacts of agricultural policy on irrigation water demand: a case study of Saudi Arabia

“…The KSA government and the academic sector in the country then realized that the self-sufficiency policy was causing serious damage to Saudi Arabia's scarce groundwater resources (Al-Shayaa et al, 2012;Al-Subaiee, Yoder, & Thomson, 2005). The government decided to roll back its policy and in 2008 enacted a new policy that discouraged the cultivation of water-intensive crops such as wheat and encouraged the cultivation of high-value crops such as fruits and vegetables (Alabdulkader, Alamoud, & Awad, 2012;Al-Zahrani, 2010;Al-Zahrani & Baig, 2011;Ouda et al, 2013a).…”

“…Soon after, the country realized that the self-sufficiency strategy that had led to agricultural over-production was taking place at the expense of over-exploiting groundwater resources. The unsustainable practice motivated the country to ban wheat exports and end subsidies to wheat farmers in 1993 (Al-Shayaa et al, 2012;Al-Subaiee et al, 2005;Elhadj, 2004). The ban of wheat exports caused a steep decline in wheat-cultivated area, wheat self-sufficiency and irrigation water demand, whilst the areas cultivated for vegetables, fruits and fodder crops continued to grow at a rate matching the increase of local market demand, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.…”