المشكلات التي تواجه عمل المراكز الإرشادية الزراعية في محافظتي لحج وأبين كما يراها المرشدون الزراعيون The Problems Facing the Work of Agricultural Extension Centers in The Governorates of Lahej and Abyan, As Seen by Agricultural Extension Agents.

This research aimed to diagnose and examine the problems and obstacles hindering the performance of agricultural extension centers in the governorates of Lahej and Abyan in the Republic of Yemen. This was achieved through five main axes: (material resources and equipment, extension personnel, the target audience of farmers, relationships with relevant organizations, and areas and activities of extension work).

The study employed a descriptive-analytical approach. Field data was collected in November 2022 through personal interviews using a validated questionnaire. The research sample consisted of 78 extension workers representing the entire population of centers in both governorates (38 from Lahj and 40 from Abyan). The research used the arithmetic mean, standard deviation, and t-test to analyze the data and test the hypotheses. Among the most important findings:

Regarding equipment: The lack of regular building maintenance and the shortage of financial allocations (advances) for providing publications and extension materials were identified as the primary obstacles.  Regarding human resources: The research identified weak material and moral incentives, a decline in the spirit of cooperation, and limited opportunities for career advancement as the most significant obstacles facing extension workers.

Regarding the target audience: The research identified the poor economic situation of farmers and the distance of their fields from extension centers as major obstacles preventing farmers from responding to and engaging with extension activities.

Regarding institutional coordination: The results revealed a clear gap in formal coordination with relevant entities such as irrigation engineering, village banks, and production input providers.

Statistical comparison: The results confirmed that there were no significant differences between the average responses of respondents in Lahj and Abyan regarding all the problems studied, indicating that all centers are subject to the same unified central administrative conditions and policies.

The research recommended the necessity of providing the required material and technical support to extension centers, improving the working conditions of extension workers, and emphasizing the need to establish formal and binding coordination mechanisms with development and research organizations to ensure the effective delivery of services and modern technologies to farmers.