Educational Needs of Corn Farmers Regarding Biological Control Bracon Parasitoid of Corn Caradrina in Dezful Township, Khouzestan Province, Iran

Abstract

The purpose of research was analyzing educational needs of corn farmer's regarding biological control Bracon parasitoid of corn Caradrina in Dezful Township, Khouzestan province, Iran. The method of research was correlative descriptive. A random sample of Dezful township corn farmers of Khouzestan province, Iran (n=350) were selected for participation in the study. A questionnaire was developed to gather information regarding educational needs of corn farmer's regarding biological control Bracon parasitoid of corn Caradrina. The questionnaire was pilot tested in Shoushtar Township. Questionnaire reliability was estimated by Cronbach’s alpha. Reliability was 0.85. Data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The results indicated 53.4% of corn farmers had low and very low knowledge regarding biological control Bracon parasitoid of corn Caradrina. Based on results, farmers need to education regarding all subject area of biological control. Also, there was significant correlation between knowledge of corn farmer's with social participation, level of education, income, technical knowledge and extension activity. The result of regression indicated that 53% of the variances in the knowledge of respondents could be explained by the social participation, level of education, income, technical knowledge and extension activity.