International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Fouad Mahmoud Zoba’a, Maher Saleh Suleiman and Suad Ibrahim Al-Obeid

abstract
This research aims at identifying the determinants of soybean cultivation adoption from the perspective of farmers in Kirkuk Governorate, Iraq. The descriptive approach was used, depending on a questionnaire distributed to a sample of 361 farmers. The results showed that the majority of farmers (79.78%) saw the determinants facing soybean cultivation as significant, tending towards moderate. The most significant determinants were identified as a lack of trust in government agencies, weak financial and technical support, and difficulties in marketing the crop. Marketing problems and the scarcity of local markets emerged as the most prominent obstacles related to the crop, while limited extension services and weak responsiveness from agricultural extension agents constituted the most significant institutional impediments. The research concluded that it is necessary to develop effective extension programs and provide incentive-based government and marketing support to encourage farmers to adopt soybean cultivation and achieve sustainable agricultural development in the governorate.