OBSTACLES FACING AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORKERS TO ENHANCE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THE LOCAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT OF VEGETABLES IN BAGHDAD PROVINCE

The research aims to identify the obstacles facing agricultural extension workers to enhance the competitiveness of the local agricultural product of vegetables in Baghdad province. The research community included all workers in the Department of Agricultural Extension and Agricultural Training, and the Directorate of Agriculture of Baghdad\ Karkh and their number (114) workers. To achieve the research aims, a questionnaire was prepared consisting of (34) items as obstacles distributed over three areas (obstacles related to the agricultural extension aspect, obstacles related to the local agricultural product, and obstacles related to vegetable farmers). To measure these obstacles, a four-graded scale was used, consisting of four levels according to the degree of importance of the handicap to the respondent (a major handicap, a moderate handicap, a slight handicap, and an unimportant handicap), and weights were assigned to them (4, 3, 2, 1), respectively. Data was collected in October and November 2023, and the data was analyzed using the statistical program (SPSS). The results of the research showed that the obstacles suffered by the respondents were of high importance, as they obtained weighted means that ranged from (3.256 - 3.719) and these scores are much higher than the hypothetical mean of (2.5) degrees, and with a percentage weight that ranged from (81.35 - 92.97%). This means that agricultural extension workers suffer from many obstacles that hinder them from performing their work properly.