The Importance of Using Solar Energy in Achieving Sustainable Agricultural Development according to Perspective of Agricultural Extension Workers

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the importance of using solar energy in achieving sustainable agricultural development according to perspective of agricultural extension workers in Ninawa Governorate, across the economic, agricultural, and environmental sectors. The research areas were arranged in descending order according to the average responses of the respondents. The study also determined the correlation between the importance of using solar energy in achieving sustainable agricultural development and some independent variables (age, educational qualifications, period of service, experience, training, and information sources). To achieve the research objectives, a questionnaire was distributed to agricultural extension workers in the Ninawa Agriculture Directorate and its affiliated agricultural divisions. A simple random sampling method was used to select the research sample, the total number of workers in the research community to (313). After excluding (30) employees from the total research community who were included in the stability sample for the research scale, a simple random sample of (60%) was taken, bringing the total number of workers in the research sample to (188). The data were analyzed using the SPSS program. Using statistical methods such as range, class length, frequency, percentage, arithmetic mean, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and Spearman's rank correlation equation,

The results showed that agricultural extension workers' opinions regarding the importance of using solar energy in achieving sustainable agricultural development in the economic and agricultural fields were moderately upward, while their opinions regarding the environmental field were moderately downward. The research results also showed that the correlations between agricultural extension workers' opinions regarding the importance of solar energy and the variables (age, educational qualifications, length of service, experience, and training) were insignificant. However, the correlations were significant with the variable of level of contact with information sources. The research concluded with several recommendations, the most important of which is the need to raise environmental awareness among workers about the importance of using solar energy and its role in achieving sustainable agricultural development. It is also necessary for workers to maintain close contact with various sources of information about solar energy technologies and their use in agriculture.