Purpose: Quality evaluation of the provincial centers’ websites affiliated to Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO) based on FAO indices
Methodology: This is an applied research that used a descriptive survey with a webometrics approach to evaluate content and structural factors of 38 websites of the provincial centers affiliated to Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO) by Web Quality Assurance Checklist of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), containing 121 indices under 4 general indices.
Findings: The evaluation showed "average" score in content quality, "good" in accessibility, usability and search engine optimization, "average" in Interface and technical quality, "average" in regular monitoring and review, and "average" in general. None of the centers’ websites could reach to the levels of FAO indices. The major problems were: the lack of attention to using standards in website design portal, lack of scientific citations, lack of second language for scientific communication and exchange with international scientific communities, existence of discrete links and blank pages, template bugs, and lack of inserting copy right.
Conclusion: Average level in general for the websites due to the existence of some essential problems is not desired and need to amend with expert designers, qualified managers and redesign with accredited website design standards.