Extension approach in agricultural cooperatives: The example of Edirne province, Lalapaşa district

With the thesis study, publication approaches of agricultural cooperatives in Edirne Province though Lalapaşa Distict practise and agricultural producers' information needs and education demands and educational activities of cooperatives were evaluated and inferences were made in terms of agricultural extension. In this study, the development of agricultural extension and communication activities in Lalapaşa the date of 2011-2017 have been mentioned, the duties and powers of cooperatives were analyzed in the conduct of these activities. In our country, while implementing duties in the field of agricultural axtension activities in addition to public institutions and cooperatives, The Ministry of National Education has been responsible for carrying out the training activities. Since the training activities are under the control of the public authority with legal regulation, the extension services of legal enstities such as cooperatives, producers unions and agricultural pesticite limited. Study, based on Lalapaşa District Center and 10% of the total number of active producers registered with ÇKS from each village, a total of 156 producers/cooperative partners were interviewed face to face with their expectations and needs.In addition, training and extension services of cooperatives were evaluated with the data abtained from interviews with managers and Professional employees of active cooperatives. The Agricultural Sales Cooperatives and Agricultural Credit Cooperatives, which have activities in Edirne Lalapaşa, provide services that meet the demands of their partners such as input needs, product marketing etc., although the extension service was not found or rather limited. In addition, it is seen that the Ministry's Training Programs are far from meeting the demands and expectations of the producers. The most effective method for meeting the information demand of the producers is the extension programs offered by the organized structures in which they are involved.