ASSESSMENT OF FARMERS’ EDUCATIONAL NEEDS REGARDING SAFFRON CULTIVATION AND PRODUCTION

The level of farmers’ knowledge, skills, and training in the field of agriculture can contribute significantly to effective production planning and to improving their technical abilities. One of the approaches to empowering farmers and increasing productivity in the agricultural subsectors of the country is the design and implementation of training programs based on farmers’ needs; therefore, identifying their educational needs is essential. This research was conducted in the year 2025 with the aim of examining the educational needs of farmers regarding saffron cultivation and production, as well as the factors influencing these needs. The statistical sample consisted of 60 saffron farmers from Barnabad village in Ghoryan district, who were selected completely randomly and studied accordingly. This study employed an ex-post facto research method. Data collection was carried out using a pre-designed questionnaire, and data analysis was conducted using SPSS statistical software. The results showed that 64.11% of saffron farmers had high to very high levels of educational need. Farmers expressed the greatest need for training in the following areas: identification of saffron varieties, recognition of saffron plant diseases and pests and methods of controlling them, use of agricultural machinery for harvesting saffron, and product marketing. Correlation analysis further showed that the level of education had a significant negative relationship with educational needs; meanwhile, variables such as age, household size, land size, farming experience, and annual income showed weak and statistically insignificant relationships with educational needs. Based on the results, it is recommended that educational programs must be designed and developed in the following order: pest and disease identification and control, marketing and sales, planting, cultivation, harvesting, and post-harvest processes. It is also advised that training programs consider the personal and professional characteristics of saffron farmers.