Measuring Agricultural Extension Service Quality in Qalyubia Governorate Using SERVQUALEX Scale

Fahmy, Aya Eisa; A. Mahrous, Samia; Mohamed, Heba Nour El Din; Diab, Ahmed M.

doi:10.21608/asejaiqjsae.2024.394858

Measuring Agricultural Extension Service Quality in Qalyubia Governorate Using SERVQUALEX Scale

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Rural Sociology and Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

² department of rural sociology &agriculture extension faculty of agriculture ain shams university

³ Department of Rural Sociology & Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, New Valley University, Kharga, Egypt

10.21608/asejaiqjsae.2024.394858

Abstract

This research aimed to measure the quality of extension services from the viewpoints of extensionists and farmers in Qalyubia Governorate using SERVQUALEX scale and to investigate the differences between perceptions of the two groups regarding the quality of extension services. The study was conducted on 258 farmers and 30 extensionists in Qalyubia governorate. Data were collected via personal interviews using questionnaire form during the period from February and March 2024. Frequencies, percentages, mean, and t-test were used for data presentation and analysis. Results indicated a revealing comparison between the perceptions of extension specialists and farmers regarding the quality of extension services. While both groups recognize the value of such services, there exists a significant gap in their evaluations. Although 73.3% of extensionists rate the overall quality as high, only 34.1% of farmers agree. Findings also revealed that the overall gap between the actual perception of the extension quality and the maximum score as perceived by the extension personnel (-46.34, -21.55%) is considerable, signifying a substantial discrepancy between the perceived quality and the maximum achievable score. From farmers’ perspectives, the overall gap (-82.7, -38.47%) is the most significant, highlighting a severe disparity in the perceived quality of services. Results of T-test indicated the significant difference in perception of the quality of agricultural extension services between extensionists (Mean = 168.66, SD = 21.77) and farmers (Mean = 132.3, SD = 32.56); t-value = 5.95, p = 0.01. To bridge this gap and improve the overall effectiveness of agricultural extension services some actions were recommended.

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