Surveying on Wheat Farmers’ Access and Confidence to Information and Communication Channels (ICCs) about Controlling Eurygaster integriceps in Hamedan Province-Iran

Today, Generation new and various information and knowledge sources need new information and communication channels. The better selection of information and communication channels (ICCs), the more effectiveness of extension programs in agriculture. Surveying on wheat farmers’ access to sources of information and communication channels as ICCs about controlling Eurygaster integriceps Puton in Hamedan province of Iran is primary purpose in this research study. The research method used was descriptive-analytic survey (correlation, causative and regression). The population consisted of a sample of wheat farmers (N = 203) on Hamedan province in Iran from 2004 through 2005. Descriptive results of this study showed that all of respondents were male ranged in age from 23 to 83 years. The most important educational need of wheat farmers was identifying new varieties of wheat’s resistant to pest. Village extension centers, TV, neighbors/relatives/colleagues, extension agents and radio, were the five important communication channels basis on eligibility to access, respectively. The highest confidence of wheat farmers was toward agricultural research centers, village extension centers, local extension agents, newsletter and TV, respectively.


INTRODUCTION
Today, Generation new and various information and knowledge sources need new information and communication channels. The better selecting information and communication channels or sources, the more effectiveness of extension programs in agriculture [1] . Various studies have conducted about sources of information for farmers [2,4,7,9,11,13] . Rogers [10] defined the message source as an individual or institution that originates the message and others explained that the message source can be different in each country. Ekoja showed that extension agents, neighbors, other farmers, opinion leaders and organized groups can be sources of information for farmers in Nigeria [5] . Nouri interprets that internet and wireless telephone can be as new source of information in Iran [8] .Annerose indicated that mobile, internet and electronic publications can be as new source of information for farmers in Senegal [1] . According to Ekoja all channels of communication are not preferred equally by farmers. Preference depends largely on how farmers have been sensitized to a particular channel [5] . On the other hand Rogers explained that most commonly used channels of communication include mass media (radio and television), print media (pamphlets, brochures, newspapers, labels and magazines) and inter-personal media (seminars, demonstrations, field days, exchange visits and agricultural shows [10] . This study was primarily designed to provide baseline data to extension and other organizations involved in rural development programs for controlling wheat Sunn pest (The Sunn pest Eurygaster integriceps Puton is a very damaging insect pest of wheat and barley in countries of West Asia) in Iran.
Purpose statement: Surveying on wheat farmers' access and confidence toward ICCs about controlling Eurygaster integriceps in Iran is primary purpose in this research study. Some of the secondary objectives accordingly include: • Describe wheat farmers by personal, farming and social characteristics; • Identifying amount of wheat farmers' access to sources of information and communication channels (ICCs); • Specifying a ranking list of sources of information and communication channels (ICCs) basis on farmers' confidence; • Determining relationship between independent variables and wheat farmers' access and confidence toward the ICCs; and • Comparing groups of wheat farmers with their access and confidence toward the ICCs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The research method used was descriptive-analytic survey (correlation, causative and regression). The population statictical consisted of a sample of wheat farmers (N = 203) on Hamedan province in Iran from

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Objective one: Describe wheat farmers by personal, farming and social characteristics. Descriptive results of this study showed that 91% of farmer respondents were married and 100% were male. The mean age of respondents was 46.41 years. Wheat farmers who participated in the study ranged in age from 23 to 83 years. About level of education, 30% of wheat farmers were illiterate, 42.5% had an elementary education, 17% had secondary education, 9% had high school diploma, 1.5% had post high school education. The average size of wheat cultivated land holding was 30.15 hectare (51% rain-fed, 49% irrigated). The average wheat yield per hectare was 7.8 ton. Wheat farmers were asked to report extends of pollution to Sunn pest: 95% had Sunn pest problem.
Wheat farmers were asked to indicate their perception ranged from 1 to 5 about educational needs for Sunn pest control. The most important educational needs were ranked respectively:  Objective tree: Describe wheat farmers' confidence toward the ICCs for Sunn pest control. The third objective of this study was to describe wheat farmers' confidence toward the ICCs for Sunn pest control. Wheat farmers were asked to reveal extent of their perception ranged from 1 to 5 toward the ICCs for Sunn pest control on 16 items. Results of the study  Table 2 illustrates wheat farmers' confidence toward the ICCs for Sunn pest control by valid percent, standard deviation and ranked average.
Objective four: Determine relationship between independent variables and wheat farmers' access and confidence to the ICCs. The relationships between the variables of wheat yield per hectare, size of wheat cultivated land holding, education level, social status were significantly correlative and positively linked both with their access to ICCs and confidence toward the ICCs. Relationship between age and wheat farmers' access and confidence to the ICCs was significantly correlative and negative (Table 3).  Objective five: Compare groups of wheat farmers with their access and confidence to the ICCs. The Mann Whitenny test used for comparing two groups of wheat farmers those who participated on extension courses and those who did not. In this part of the study, the Mann Whiney nonparametric test showed that there was significant difference between the two target wheat farmers concerning both the access to ICCs and the confidence toward the ICCs for Sunn pest control. Among the averages of the variables of education level, social status, wheat farmers' access to the ICCs and farmers' confidence toward the ICCs significant differences are exposed when the groups of wheat farmers are compared with each other (Table 4).

CONCLUSION
Based on the finding of this study, the following conclusion was drawn; In describing features of wheat farmers, it was found that the majority of wheat farmers were marital and 100% were male. Wheat farmers who involved in the study were no young. About level of education among farmers respondents' majority of them had low level of education (elementary or secondary education) or illiterate. The average size of wheat cultivated land holding was 30.15 hectare. Nearly, all wheat farmers had problem for Sunn pest control in their farms. The most important educational need of wheat farmers was identifying new varieties of wheat's resistant to Sunn pest. After that awareness of how to use chemical poisons, mechanical methods for controlling the pest, IPM information about Sunn pest and wheat's cultivation appropriate methods were ranked respectively.
Village extension centers, TV, neighbors, friends and relatives, extension agents and radio were the five important ICCs basis on eligibility to access respectively. On the other hand, internet, computer and extension houses were ranked the lowest ICCs basis on eligibility to access.
The most confidence of wheat farmers was toward agricultural research centers, village extension centers, local extension agents, newsletter and TV, respectively. The less confidence of wheat farmers was toward rural libraries, telephone and computer, respectively.
About awareness of deadline for Sunn pest control by spraying poison, TV and radio programs hadn't any information for wheat farmers about Sunn pest control in the area of this study. Regardless high access and confidence of wheat farmers toward TV programs and village extension centers the recommendation can be made that Agriculture Organization of Hamedan in Iran can provide new television programs for controlling Sunn pest and show at agricultural extension centers. Moreover, agricultural planners can make newsletter for wheat farmers for Sunn pest control by help of agriculture researchers, extension agents and other confident sources.
In determining relationships between independent variables and wheat farmers' access to ICCs for Sunn pest control, a significant relationship were found between the wheat farmers which were younger, had higher size of wheat cultivated land holding, were more educated, had higher yield per hectare and had higher social status. Therefore, the recommendation can be made that the Extension Organizations of Iran can use this information in order to conduct new activities and programs for other wheat farmers about Sunn pest control.
In addition, a significant relationship were found between the wheat farmers' confidence toward the ICCs and the wheat farmers which were younger, were more educated ,had higher social status, had higher size of wheat cultivated land holding and had higher wheat yield. Therefore, it is recommended for future plans about Sunn pest control in the wheat farmers' characteristics include age, education level, social status, size of cultivated land holding and wheat yield per hectare should be taken in to consideration.
In comparing the two groups of farmers (involved and not involved in extension courses), it was found that there was significant difference between these groups of farmers and two dependent variables, both wheat farmers' access to ICCs and wheat farmers' confidence toward ICCs for Sunn pest control. Therefore, Agricultural Training Centers and the Ministry of Agriculture should develop and deliver programs to encourage more farmers involve extension courses.
Results of other means comparing indicated that the means of the variables education level and social status there were significant difference between these groups of farmers and two dependent variables, both wheat farmers' access to ICCs and wheat farmers' confidence toward ICCs for puton control.
In educational importance, the findings of the study may be used to improve Agricultural extension programs offered for controlling Sunn pest in Iran. Extension programming and approaches and linkage activities may be guided by the findings of the study. Preparation of wheat farmers in village extension centers or related institutions may be adapted based on suggestions compiled. In turn, over time, this research can provide baseline data for extension and other organizations involved in dissemination of recommended programs and practices of pest management and controlling Wheat Sunn pest in order to increase wheat productivity.