THE ROLE OF AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS FOR MEETING FARMERS REQUIREMENTS AND THEIR MOTIVES FOR PRESENCE "A CASE STUDY" ON THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL ALEXANDRIAN EXHIBITION, AGRO- ALEX, BORG EL ARAB, ALEXANDRIA

The purpose of the present research was to identify the main motives of the farmers to attend the Second International Agricultural Alexandrian Exhibition, Agro-Alex, and the actual role of this exhibition for meeting visitor/farmers motivations in order to supply them with the latest modern agricultural technologies for the Alexandrian 2 nd International Agricultural Exhibition in Borg ElArab, Alexandria, in addition to farmers ́ suggestions to develop the benefit concerning this agricultural exhibition in the next years. A questionnaire form with individual interviews was used to collect data from a purposive sample of 140 farmers from the exhibition visitors, who were interviewed during the period of the second Agro-Alex exhibition in November, 2018. Data were analyzed using percentages, frequencies, mean, and standard deviation; additionally the qualitative analysis method was used. The main results included the following: 1The majority of the respondents (82.1%) stated that activities and services offered by the exhibition were medium and high. 2The reason / motives for the participants to attend Alexandrian International Agricultural Exhibition were 14 reasons, as 78.5% of the respondents cited attendance for more than five reasons. 3The results also showed that t he majority of the respondents (92.8%) achieved their actual needs with a medium and high degree. 4Most of respondents (85%) indicated that "collecting information on agricultural products or services offered" topped the first order in achieving their motives, which were considered the most motivated for them. 5That 87 of the respondents (60%) mentioned a set of suggestions (16 suggestions) that could increase the effectiveness of the studied exhibition as an extension, educational and communicational method for improving their knowledge regarding the different agricultural field; such as field of animal and poultry production, presenting new species of improved breeds for export and fish production and requirements of fishery farms, respectively.