Implementation degree of agricultural decisions at the Egyptian farm level and the expected role to the agricultural extension: A comparison with Japan

Abstract

This research has an attempt to determine the implementation degree of farm managers to the extent in which agricultural decisions are made at the farm level (ADI) in Egyptian farms with a comparison with Japan. Also, this research investigates the existing agricultural service centers that benefits farmers in Egypt. Besides it determines the environmental barriers which are facing Egyptian sample while implementing to their decisions. Data collection was carried out with 195 Egyptian farm managers in the form of interview with questionnaire. Then, the same set of questionnaire was translated in Japanese version, and 550 copies were sent out to Japanese farmers by mail. However, only 36 copies were returned. The results from the surveys show that the agricultural cooperatives and agricultural shopping & companies are important services centers for Egyptian and Japanese farmers, and most of interviewees had benefited from contact with these centers. Also, about 83% of Egyptian sample (E.S) and 39% of Japanese sample (J.S) had degree ranging between low and moderate of agricultural decisions implementation (ADI). Finally, the significant barriers to E.S were absence of agricultural extension role in the new areas, lack of the industry system in the farm, lack awareness of farmers of the organic-agriculture, agricultural intensification, agricultural industrialization, agricultural pre-marketing processes and the proximity of training centers that is too far from the farmer's villages.