Shawkat A. M’Sadeq, Hojeen M. Abdullah, Nabaz I. Mohammed, Fathi A. Omer, Nashwan S. Mizzouri, Amanda J. Dickson, Peter M. Hirst, Mark A. Russell
ABSTRACT. The study examined the different agriculture information channels utilized by farmers in the Nineveh Plains. A total of 308 of information sources were classified based on districts, minority groups, and age categories. A comprehensive questionnaire was prepared and covered several channels, including experienced farmers, farmer groups, extension offices, NGOs, radio, TV, newspapers, and libraries. The results of this study showed that Experienced farmers were the most dependable agriculture information source for farmers in Al-Hamdaniya, Bashiqa, and Telkaif. In Al Hamdaniya, 77.4% considered experienced farmers trustworthy, while in Bashiqa and Telkaif, percentages were 74.7% and 66.3%, respectively. Farmers from various minorities, including Turkmen (79.4%), Shabak (75.3%), Christian, Kaki (74.1%), and Yazidi (69.1%), identified experienced farmers as the predominant and trusted information source. farmers’ groups, and NGOs as source of information were significantly differed among minorities. The majority of kaki farmers (59.3%) depended on the Farmers’ group as source of information. However, 48% of Christian farmers (48.3%) received agriculture information from NGOs. Based on age categories, high percentage of interviewed farmer considered radio, TV, newspapers, libraries, extension offices, farmer groups, and NGOs as not dependable information sources. Instead, more than 68% of famers from all age group considered experienced farmers as the primary and trusted source of information.
Keywords: field crops; information sources; livestock; Nineveh Plains; vegetables; water resources.
