IRANIAN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND EDUCATION JOURNAL
Year:2017 | Volume:12 | Issue:2|Papers Count:17

Maintaining food security at the national and household level is a major priority in most developing countries.However, without irrigation, the rapid increases in agricultural yields and outputs could not have been achieved.Thus, water scarcity leads to food insecurity. Agricultural sector is the largest consumer of water in Iran. Thus, conservation and appropriate use of water by farmers in past and present could have a significant impact on food security of the country. This paper used the theory of planned behavior as the theoretical base, to investigate the intention and water conservation behavior of farmers in Aleshtar county of Lorestan province. Sample of the research was selected based on multistage stratified random sampling (n=360). Findings revealed that, three variables influenced intention toward water conservation: attitude, personal norm, and self-identity. In other hand, water conservation behavior was significantly determined by self-efficacy and intention. The results also showed that, adding two variables, personal norm and self-identity, to Theory of Planned Behavior increase the theory predictive power. Finally, based on the research results, suggestions for better use of water by farmers were provided.

In order to benefit from rural youths’ abilities and capabilities in agricultural and rural development, it is necessary that they choose the rural areas for living. But, the present trend shows that they departure rural areas.This research was performed in order to identify factors influencing migration intention of members and nonmembers of Marvdasht Agricultural Cooperatives to prevent increasing migration. The survey research was used with a structured questionnaire. Population of the research included all rural youths in Marvdasht county. A total number of 370 young were selected using the multi-stage stratified random sampling method. Based on the findings, the average of migration intention of members and non-members of Agricultural Cooperatives is low for the next year but it will high for next 3-5 years. The results indicate a significant relation between migration intention in the next 3-5 years and the other variables including access to extension services, agricultural knowledge, satisfaction of the existing services in rural area, perception of drought impact intensity and social participation. Ultimately, practical advices have been offered in order to reduce migration intention of rural youths.

Despite, rural women play an important role in their families’ economy, they are situated at an inferior place, compared to the men. Based on the different human and natural contextual environments, their acts are variable and strongly related to these environmental differentiations. The present study attempts to identify the role and situation of rural women in the household’s economy and interpretation of its determinants in Simakan district of Jahrom county, as a study area. The statistical population has contained total active rural women of the region.Finally, 260 of them were randomly selected as statistical sample among the nine villages, assigned proportionally. The needed data gathered by two types questionnaires (household village) via field operation.Findings showed, the overall contribution of the women in economical activities is not noticeable, but it was different towards the various kinds of activities. The only significant predictors in variance explanation of dependent variable were the environmental properties and the households’ income situation with positive coefficients. The other independent variables like cultural factors, institutional and supportive factors, training and personal motivations were not statistically significant. In fact, there was no any institutional support for organizing, conducting and actualizing the valuable economical and occupational potential of half of the regions’population.

One of the alternatives for increasing of rice production is usingBacillus thuringiensis rice. Genetically Modified crops are a new phenomenon in the country and its diffusion requiresexperts’ acceptance. Therefore, the main purpose of this research was to identifying the affecting factors on the attitudes of specialists in two sectors of scientific research and education centers and executive institutes in the Khuzestan province which is the third largest rice producer. All specialists related to this issue in these two sectors were considered as statistical population and among them, 108 participants were selected using proportional random sampling method. This is a quantitative and applied research. Data for this study was collected using a researcher-made questionnaire which assessed five perceptional constructs ‘attitude towards genetically modified rice’, ‘perception of benefits’, ‘perception of risks’, ‘trust in individuals and agencies’ and ‘ethics’ using the Likert seven-point scale (from ‘1- fully disagree’ to ‘7- fully agree’). The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were confirmed respectively by a panel of faculty members, and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients(Alpha coefficient was 0.78, 0.86, 0.87, 0.63 and 0.74 respectively). Data was analyzed using SPSS (version 20) and AMOS (version 20). The results showed that the three components of ‘perception of benefits’, ‘trust’ and‘ethics’ were predictors of attitude. Moreover, the findings revealed a positive attitude among the respondents and the lack of association between respondents' attitudes and perceptions of risks of GM rice. In this regard, establishing a joint committee consisted the representatives of two groups of academics and practitioners to monitoring the process of producing genetically modified rice is suggested.

Environmental sustainability is one of the most important issues in current century. In this regard, a lot of researches have focused on reconceptualization of human relationship with nature. But in this context, the environmental aesthetics aspect has been less considered. The purpose of this research is to apply Maslow' s needs theory to analyze rural peoples’ environmental aesthetics attitude. This study is a descriptive, correlation research that was fulfilled using a survey technique as a research method. The population of this study included rural people (N=121149) in Miandoab township. Totally 136 people were selected as sample by Cochran test and stratified random sampling method. Findings reveal that there was a significant association between participants needs and their environmental aesthetics attitude. Also, results of participants stratifying based on different levels of Maslow's needs pyramid show that majority of them are on the esteem level. Non of participants were on the physiologic needs level. The results of Kruskal-Wallis test showed that individuals on various levels of needs pyramid had significantly different environmental aesthetics attitude. Based on the results, some recommendations have been presented.

Experts believe training as the best factor for growth and development of human resources. In recent years, introduction of scientific and practical training has created great hope for creating dynamism in the country' s education system and the growth and prosperity of the country. Since, the analysis of the situation as a first step of planning, it should be done successfully and efficiently, and must pay particular attention to the needs and interests of the target group. In other words, before planning to implement training, needs assessment is necessary. Need assessment of technical and vocational education in agriculture in Bushehr province was the main purpose of this study. Agricultural specialists, experts, managers and planners were the statistical population of the study and a sample of 180 people were selected using stratified random sampling method. Data collection has been done by questionnaire. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were approved by a panel of experts and conductiong a pilot study. Findings have been presented in the shape of ranking 49 scientific-applied fields of study in agricultural sector. The most important fields include the production and processing of palm, palm processing and packaging technology, protection of natural resources and fisheries; Important fields including agricultural machinery, agricultural extension, drainage and soil improvement; Not so important fields including breeding and production of halophytes, management of dairy processing units, compost and canning industries; The least important fields including health and animal products, dairy cattle breeding and management units, range management, veterinary healthcare, administrative affairs. Based on the research findings some applicable recommendations have been presented.

In today's complex and dynamic environment, development of entrepreneurial orientation is an essential condition to survive and stay organizations competitive that meanwhile, organizational learning plays a key role.Given the importance of the issue, this descriptive- correlative research was conducted to study relationship of organizational learning and entrepreneurial orientation in the governmental organizations. The statistical population of the research consisted of 1004 experts of Organization of Agriculture Jihad in West Azerbaijan Province. A sample of 240 experts was selected using a stratified random sampling method. The standard questionnaires (after adjusting the questions with the related context of the research) were used to collect data.The content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of experts and the construct validity as well as the composite reliability of the research instrument was obtained by estimating the measurement model and the required modifications. The results supported the research conceptual model, so that, there was a positive and significant relationship between organizational learning and entrepreneurial orientation and organizational learning explained 52 percent of variances of entrepreneurial orientation. Based on the findings, it could be concluded that increasing the organizational learning directly leads to improvement ofexpertts’ entrepreneurial orientation in the Organization of Agriculture Jihad.

The aim of this study was to investigate the causes of rural underdevelopment in Margoon district of Boyer-Ahmad County. For this purpose, at the first step, developed and underdeveloped villages were identified using Scalogram technique. Then, three villages with high level and three villages with low level of development were chosen. In each selected village, 30 percent of heads of rural households were selected as responding group. Therefore, 225 heads of rural households had participated in this study. A questionnaire was used for gathering data and factor analysis, compare means and discriminant analysis were implemented to analyze the data. In this regard, factor analysis was used to measure internal consistency of the variables. The KMO index and Bartlett's test considered suitable for factor analysis. Factor analysis showed that 10 factors were extracted.Managerial, social, economic, attitude, fundamental, satisfaction, individual, participation, ethical, and financial factors. Factor analysis showed that the 10 factors accounted for 73.21 percent of the total variance. Also, compare means analysis showed that the status of social, financial, participation, fundamental, ethical and individual factors were significantly different between developed and under-developed villages. For determining the importance of each factor in separating two village groups, a discriminant analysis was used. Findings showed the fundamental (with weight of 0.662) and participation (0.471) factors had the most contribution to classify the two village groups.

Agricultural engineering, technical and consultin gcompanies play an important role in agricultural sector. The main purpose of this study was analyize the internal and external barriers in agricultural engineering, technical and consulting companies in Hamedan and Malayer counties. This study was a descriptive survey research and the statistical population of the study were experts of mentioned companies and associated experts involved with thosr companies in institute of Agricultural Jihad and private companies in Hamedan and Malayer counties. Data were collected by census method and 102 experts were interviewed. Data collection was accomplished by using questionnaire. It was validated by panel of experts and its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach’s Alpha test (a=0.74 for external barriers and a=0.83 for internal). The collected data analyzed by SPSS software and factor analysis was used. The results showed that seven factors explained more than 60 percent of variance about external barriers that named as policy making, informational, financial support, problems related to farmers, structural dependency, communicational and farmers insufficient finance barriers. The results of internal barrierrs showed that five factors explained more than 63 percent of variance. Extracted factors were named management, professional, weak of creativity, financial and marketing barriers.

Sustainable natural resources management projects, including rangeland management, can have various impacts on the capacity building of natural resources beneficiaries' households. Whereas it is essential to know the importance of rangeland conservation, use and rehabilitation, it is necessary to understand the impact of rangeland management projects on the rural rangeland users' knowledge and attitudes. The aim of this research was to investigate the rangeland users' views regarding the impact of rangeland management projects on their knowledge about rangeland conservation activities through utilizing a cross-sectional survey. Data were collected through document analysis, focus groups, and semi-structured and structured interviews with 204 rural livestock holders in the Mahneshan Township, located in the Zanjan Province of Iran. Rangeland projects had been implemented or were in the process of implementation. According to therangeland users’ view, these projects have led to increasing their knowledge regarding the importance and conservation methods of rangelands, such as biological techniques and grazing management. Their view towards the impact of the projects on their knowledge is explained directly and indirectly by their participation in rangeland conservation projects, information obtain from interpersonal and mass media, implementing rangeland rehabilitation activities and livelihood diversifying activities by livestock holders, farming land size, membership in community based organizations and age. It is expected to provide facilities and an appropriate environment for learning, knowledge improvement and action of rural rangeland users regarding sustainable rangeland management if the implementation of rangelands projects is integrated with extension services for information intervention through interpersonal and mass media as well as the active participation of rural communities in these projects.

During the recent decades, climate change has impacted the globe and its long lasting outcome onfarmers’ livelihood is expected to increase in the next decades. In Iran, climate change has impacted agricultural sector in general and watershed regions in particular. In order to mitigate the diverse effects of climate change, farmers are motivated to use adaptation strategies. Adaptation is an adjustment in a system’s behavior and characteristics that enhance its ability to cope with external stress. The purpose of this survey was to assess the adaptive capacity of 370 wheat farmers in Sarpolezahab Township towards climate change. A multistage stratified cluster sampling was used to collect data using a structured questionnaire. Individual interview was used to complete the research instrument. The overall score of adaptive capacity of farmers indicated that farmers living in Beshive and Patagh had the highest adaptive capacity compared to Ghaleshahin region with the lowest level of adaptive capacity. Results also revealed that lack of financial resources, lack of water resources, lack of attention on behalf of policy makers, lack of public funds, and limited subsidiaries play an important role in adaptive capacity.

The purpose of this study was to identify mechanisms of critical thinking skills development and investigate the role of each of higher education pillars in improving students’ critical thinking skills. The research was a kind of descriptive-correlation and ex-post facto used survey technique for collecting data. The research population consisted of all students in different levels in agricultural colleges of public universities. By using Krejcie and Morgan’s Table and proportional stratified random sampling method 386 students were selected as sample group. California standard critical thinking questionnaire (form B), and a researcher made questionnaire were the main tools for data collecting. Content and face validity of the questionnaire were confirmed by a panel of agricultural extension and education specialists and its reliability was confirmed by calculating Cronbach’s alpha. Findings showed that students are in low level of critical thinking and there were significant difference among agricultural colleges regarding students’ critical skills score. Based on another part of research results, implementation of critical thinking mechanisms were in low level in agricultural colleges. In comparison with different pillars of higher education system, instructors and environment have high and low roles in implementation of critical thinking mechanisms, respectively.

Understanding of land use changes over time would provide policy makers with necessary information on which to base their decisions. It could help them to propose intelligent policies that reflect local conditions and consistent with the economic, social and environmental objectives of sustainable rural development. Therefore, it is essential to design and implement sustainable land conversion system. The main purpose of this study was to compare different land conversion systems in Shiraz and Sarvestan counties of Fars province. Sixty villages were selected by stratified random sampling and data was collected using two questionnaires. Face validity was confirmed by a panel of specialists and the reliability was assessed through a pilot study using Cronbach`s alpha with the range of 0.73 to 0.95 for the research scales. The results indicated that the area of agricultural lands in the villages studied increased significantly in the period under study. Differences were noted between two types of land conversion systems (increasing and decreasing agricultural strategies) due to the land slope, land tenure, agricultural and non-agricultural income. Sustainability of land management, which was almost equal in these two systems, was assessed to be low. Average temperature of the village, land quality, agricultural income and population growth were entered into the logistic regression model as the main determinants of land conversion systems. Finally, implementing sustainable land management and an appropriate land conversion system based on the special situation of each region were recommended.

Nowadays, water crisis as one of the most challenges of agricultural development in Iran and especially in areas such as Kouhdasht county in the Lorestan province, have created the necessity for attention to integrated water resources planning and more studies in this field. Therefore, the main purpose of this survey research was to investigate factors affecting the sustainable management of water resources. Statistical population includes irrigated wheat growers in Kouhdasht county (N=2500) that 237 of them were determined as a statistical sample by using Cochran formula. Sampling was conducted byproportional stratified method. Questionnaire' s reliability and validity was confirmed respectively through computing Cronbach's alpha coefficient (more than 0.7) and content validity. Data analyzed by SPSS software. According to correlation test results, there is a positive and significant relationship between sustainable water resources management and following variables: annual income of the agricultural sector; total area of wheat farm; training given to farmers and the perception of farmers about crisis water. The results of path analysis show that based on direct and indirect effects, five variables: 1) Training given to farmers 2) Technical characteristics of the farm 3) The perception of farmers about crisis water 4) The system of water management of resources to farm, and 5) Farmers’ demographic, economic and social characteristics have the highest effect on sustainable water management practices by irrigated wheat growers in Kouhdasht county.

Nowadays, agricultural extension as a non-formal education system that attempts to improve the rural life has faced important challenges such as rural poverty. The perquisite of directing the activities toward reducing poverty is to enhance the extension staff’s attitude and the use of appropriate approach. This research was consisted of two qualitative and quantitative segments. The objective of quantitative part was to examine the necessity of poverty-oriented agricultural extension based on extension staff’s attitude and the purpose of qualitative part was to validate the pro-poor agricultural extension model. Based on a random proportional stratified sampling, 192 of agricultural extension staff in Fars province were selected and the quantitative data were collected according to survey method and using a questionnaire. The research findings revealed that about 55 percent of extension staff had positive attitude toward poverty-oriented agricultural extension. After determining the extension staff’s attitude, the pro-poor agricultural extension model has been examined and validated in a formal meeting of 33 attended extension staff. Finally, based on research findings, some applicable recommendations have been presented.