The economic evaluation of extension activities in forage crops production in Sinai Peninsula, Egypt

Farmers appeared to use more traditional knowledge in Sinai Peninsula; this required a more supportive extension role to help farmers to develop appropriate farming systems. The research was interested to identify the difference in production economics between traditional and improved management practices to reflect the results of extension activities (field days, training courses, and regional farmer field school) in developing the forage crops productivity, knowledge, skills and attitudes of farmers. The research employed surveyed data of 32 selected farmers, and selected farmers were the participated farmers in the project, The analytical tools were used descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis .The results indicated that Several extension activities had been implemented, These activities included field days, training courses, and regional farmer field school. These activities were implemented to introduce improved farm technologies to the farmers as a result of implementing the extension activities. The average net farm income of Egyptian clover, barley, fodder beet, pearl millet and sorghum cultivation under improved practices was 28.3%, 20.07%, 70.2%, 30.01% and 58.02% respectively higher than the cultivation under the traditional practices, and this increment in the net farm income because of all the forage crops productivity cultivation under improved practices was higher than the productivity cultivation under traditional practices.