Abstract
•Most extension agents, cited on the job training as a source of Organic Agriculture experience.•The highest interest topics for receiving training on Organic agriculture were: Organic agriculture in general, marketing of organic production products, and weed and disease management.•The three most useful sources of OA information were: Field days, training at college on organic agriculture, and workshops.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the needs of extension agents for training on organic agriculture (OA) in the Riyadh Region. Fifty-five percent (n = 69) of extension agents were selected to collect data through an electronic survey. Results indicated that extension agents in the Riyadh Region cited on job training as a main source for acquiring knowledge in OA. Agents expressed interest in receiving training in OA in general, OA marketing, and transitioning to OA. The most useful resources were field days at organic farms, OA training sessions at colleges, and attending OA trial plots. There were no differences in the level of interest in training; however, there were significant differences between individuals in terms of their experience in OA, job responsibility for providing information related to OA, and area of specialization in their job. This study recommends developing professional training programs based on the current knowledge of extension agents.