VARIANCE IN PARTICIPATION OF RURAL LEADERS IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION ACTIVITIES IN ERBIL PLAIN DISTRICT

The Objective of the study was to determine the level of participation of rural leaders in agricultural extension activities in the Erbil plain district/Erbil governorate and to determine variance in this participation according to a number of variables. The sample consisted of 41 villages. The final number of local rural leaders surveyed was 102 rural leaders. The results showed that 65% of the respondents were involved in the activities of the agricultural extension medium and strong. In addition, there was a difference in the participation of rural leaders in these activities according to the following variables: (exposure to sources of agricultural information, satisfaction with agricultural extension work, and the motives of participation in agricultural extension activities). While there was no variation in the participation of respondents according to the variables of age, educational level, number of years of work in agriculture, social status, and openness to the outside world.