S. H. Ghorashi Fallah Roudbaneh, M. K. Motamed, S. H. Hosseini Moghaddam, F. Ghorbani Piralidehi,
Volume 26, Issue 6 (11-2024)
Abstract
One of the important innovations in sericulture is utilizing the hybrid silkworm eggs, which, with a clearer view about it, may assist extensional experts in the development of sericulture. This study aimed to explore the agriculturists’ knowledge of and attitude on the silkworm eggs distributed in Guilan Province. This is a quantitative, applied and descriptive-survey research. Due to the expansion of sericulture in Guilan Province, Langaroud and Shaft cities, which had the highest number of sericulturists, were chosen to do the multistage sampling. Then, through simple random sampling, 168 cases from Langaroud and 184 cases from Shaft were selected. Researcher-made questionnaires were filled in five categories (individual-professional characteristics, knowledge, and attitude, satisfaction, and factors contributing to satisfaction). Face and content validity was confirmed through consultations with 10 professors as well as with sericulture specialists and reliability was confirmed using Cronbach’s Alpha. Studies showed no significant difference in seri culturists’ knowledge and performance with regard to different types of distributed eggs. This indicated that seri culturists’ location had no impact on their attitude on the usage of the distributed eggs. However, the type of silkworm egg used affected the farmers’ attitude, resulting in a statistically significant difference. The majority of sericulturists were moderately satisfied with sericulture practices in Guilan Province. Furthermore, individual characteristics as well as access to facilities and financial and moral support most significantly affected their satisfaction. Despite the unique features of each egg type, sericulturists’ similar attitude of hybrid types indicated their poor and limited knowledge of raising the eggs.
