干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Due to its arid climate, scarce water resources and sandy soils, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is not an ideal state to practice mass-scale agriculture. The regions of Al-Qassim and Al-Kharj, however, show significant suitability for agriculture. Due to several constraints that prompted this study, neither region has realized potential agricultural yields. Speculative in the development of agriculture in the Al-Qassim and Al-Kharj regions is the role of Agricultural Extension Service (AES). This study estimates the degree of benefit farmers have received and how much AES has contributed to a decision making environment for them. Data were collected through well-structured and pre-tested questionnaires given by experienced interviewers. Some 51.6% of farmers reported the degree of benefit received through extension services was low; whereas about 13.2% of farmers considered the benefit of extension advice high. Although the degree of benefit from the Agricultural Extension Service for veterinary issues attained the highest mean, as high as 66.1% believe the benefit was low. Respondents suggested an increase in the number of Agricultural Extension professionals, subject specialists, officers and field staff. The study will help extension service planners and the policy-makers make improvements and tailor their programs to accommodate farmers’ needs.