KNOWLEDGE LEVEL OF POTATO FARMERS IN CROP MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND ITS RELATINSHIP TO SOME FACTORS IN AL – HAFRIAH COMMUNITY IN WASIT PROVININCE

Abstract

This research was conducted to study the knowledge level of potato farmers in agricultural practices of crop and considers the key point in preparing and planning of programs and conducting the successfull extension activity in the field of potato crop practices . This field has an important and active effect for increasing the productivity of the crop, The objectives of this study were identify the knowledge level of potato farmers at Al- Hafriah county for agricultural practices and to identify the knowledge level of potato farmers in all aspects of crop management ,represented by (tillage , seeds quantity , time of planting, fertilizers , planting method , irrigation , sequences , crop protection ,harvesting and marketing ), as well as discovering the relationship between the knowledge level and each of the independent factors: age ,educational study , years in planting practice , area planted with potato ,productivity average , contribution of potato cultivation in annual income and sources of in formation .The community of this study included 240 potato farmers a random sample of 60 (25)%farmers were selected to measure the knowledge level of potato farmers which consisted of 66 items divided into10 axis by giving on degree for corrected item and zero for the wrong item .which it means the highest degree was 66 and the lowest degree was zero. The results of the study showed that the knowledge level of potato farmers were below the mid to low level, There was a significant relationship between knowledge level and each of : age, educational study , years in potato planting practice ,area planted ,productivity average and contribution of potato cultivation in annual income and non significant relationship with in formation sources .The conclusion of this study the shortage of the activity given to the farmers had negatively affected the knowledge level of potato farmers , which result in lower productivity as compared with neighbunrhaod countries.The research recommend to intisify the extensional activity, and giving full support to farmers and encouraging the local production .