IRANIAN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND EDUCATION JOURNAL
Year:2016 | Volume:12 | Issue:1|Papers Count:17

The purpose of this study was identifying and explaining obstacles affecting the development of the agricultural technological innovation system. This research paradigm was mixed method with qualitative to quantitative data connection approach. The statistical sample of the qualitative section, consisted key members of the Nanotechnology and Biotechnology Committees of Ministry of Agriculture Jihad (35 person) which 14 person were interviewed using purposive sampling technique, and researchers and experts of Nanotechnology and Biotechnology Committees of Ministry of Agriculture Jihad comprised the population of quantitative section of research (117 person), which were all enumerated. To achieve the reliability and validity of qualitative section of research, triangulation technique were used. Cronbach's alpha test, opinions of subject experts and goodness of fit indicators were used at the quantitative section. Consequently, 30 subsidiary elements discovered from qualitative section of research using Atlas.ti5.2 software. Finally, at the quantitative section of research by using SPSS and LISREL, the total variance explaining by the identified factors summarized, measured and verified.The results showed that 84.94 percent of the total variance of obstacles affecting the development of agricultural technological innovation system could be explained by seven factors.

Agricultural Land Conversion (ALC) is one of the main challenges of humankind in 21 century which is very important because of its direct relations with the other issues include economic, social and environmental aspects. On the one hand, the trend of such changes is influenced by many intertwined and different causes and on the other hand, consequences have led to challenges toward human life. The problem becomes more acute if we know that the per capita of arable land in the world, from 1970 to 2009, has declined 1.46 percent. This decrease for Iran has been about 2.054 percent. Therefore, determining the causes and effects of these changes and analyzing their relationships are very important and it could help policymakers, planners and decision makers.This is the main object of this study. Structural equation modeling and multiple indicator–multiple cause (MIMIC) models were used as analytical methods. The study group consisted of experts and professionals of agricultural land use. Questionnaire was data collection equipment. The results showed that, the causes of agricultural land use changes could be classified in five (economic, social, environmental, technical and political) and its effects in three (economic, social, environmental) groups. Also, the causes and effects have a significant correlation with each other; they affect each other in both direct and indirect ways. According to experts view, the most effective cause and effect of ALC have been economic and social, respectively. Moreover, in the causes side, technical causes have been the highest average correlation with the other factors, but, in the effects' side, social effects have been the highest average correlation with the other causes and effects.

Considering that home-based businesses are a solution to strengthen rural entrepreneurship, some of the experts look at them as the most important strategies for rural development in the Third World. Investigation of factors influencin entrepreneurship development and its obstacles was the main purpose of this study to present solutions for developing entrepreneurship in home-based businesses. The study was conducted using survey and are searcher-made questionnaire was used for data collecting. The small agricultural business managers who have attempted to establish business by the plans of organizing home-based careers were the population of the study.Totally 106 individuals were chosen using random sampling in three regions (Zarghan, Markazi and Dashte Arjan) According to the research hypothesis, development of entrepreneurship in home-based businesses depends on individual, family and environmental factors. Based on the research findings, business atmosphere, applying knowledge management, background, individual characteristics such as creativity and internal locus of control, government support and management skills are the predictor factors of entrepreneurship development in small home-based businesses. According to the results of factor analysis, informational, economic, marketing, personality and family factors are the main obstacles of entrepreneurship development at home-based businesses.Those factors explained about 71.59 percent of total variance.

Community based ecotourism should be considered regarding the unique natural and cultural capacities of Mazandaran province. Community based ecotourism directly involves local people to protect the natural landscapes and their cultural resource and provides a sustainable livelihood for them. Community based ecotourism requires rural people's participation, interaction and trust which are dimensions of social capital. The purpose of this research, which was conducted by survey technique, was to investigate the role of social capital in community based ecotourism development from the viewpoints of rural people in Mazandaran province.This applied research was fulfilled using descriptive correlation method. The research tool included a questionnaire which its validity was confirmed by a panel of experts in the field of Agricultural Extension and Education and some experts in Organization of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism. Its items reliability was approved using Cronbach's alpha test (0.60£a£0.93). Statistical population included all villagers in the rural areas which are considered as ecotourism objective in Mazandaran province (N=19345). Totally 207 people were selected as a sample by using Cochran's formula and stratified random sampling method. Inferential statistics results revealed there was a positive and significant relationship at one percent statistical error level between respondents’ view point toward social capital and their opinion about community based ecotourism development feasibility (r=0.783). Also, the results of regression analysis showed social capital can explain 65 percent of rural people's perspective regarding to community based ecotourism development feasibility variation.Finally, based on the findings, some recommendations have been presented.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of emotional intelligence in developing entrepreneurial intentions. The Theory of Planned Behavior provides a relevant conceptual and methodological framework for determining how emotional intelligence influences the entrepreneurial intentions of students. Therefore, emotional intelligence was incorporated into the Theory of Planned Behavior. The statistical population of this research consisted of 1450 senior agricultural students at four public universities in the west of Iran (N=1450).According to a table developed by Bartlett et al., a sample of 300 students was chosen through random stratified sampling method. Data was collected using a questionnaire by survey. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of experts and its reliability was determined using Cronbach's Alpha test (a=0.74-0.80).The results of structural equation modeling indicate that emotional intelligence positively relates to attitudes toward entrepreneurship and perceived behavioral control. The results also showed that the attitudes toward entrepreneurship and perceived behavioral control mediate the relationships between emotional intelligence and the intention to become an entrepreneur. The research findings can contribute in the entrepreneurship literature and have implications for design and delivery of entrepreneurship education programs.

The purpose of this study was to explain the components of rooftop farming business using exploratory qualitative methodology. Explanation of the intended components can help policy development for improving urban landscape and agricultural enterprises. Because of the highly diversified types of enterprises involved in urban agricultural activities, one of the activities, namely "rooftop farming" was selected as the case for this study. Attempts were thus made to identify the factors involved in the business model practiced by these enterprises. For the purpose of multilateralism, three instruments, namely semi structured in-depth interviews, documentary review and website– search (as the visual media) were used for data gathering. The data gathered was then analyzed through theme analysis. The samples for this multilateral case study consisted of those agricultural enterprises that have at least carried out one of various green rooftop systems, including “roof-top greenhouse", "intensive green roof", “extensive green roof", “planter box green roof" or “green wall". The research findings could well explain the business components related to the products, customers, management of infrastructures and financial aspects, most of which compatible with Osterwalder model.

Production and consumption of genetically modified plants have been known as one of the new outcomes of biotechnology. These crops through economic benefits for farmers, pest and weed management, and reducing greenhouse gases, supplying enough food for the growing world population, and conserving the environment. It have significantly can lead to sustainable development. Whereas, agricultural experts have key role toward informing farmers as well as spreading and developing such crops, understanding their attitude about genetically modified crops is quite important. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the attitude of Khuzestan Province Organization of Agriculture Jihad experts towards genetically modified crops. A sample of 216 persons was selected through simple random sampling method. The results showed that, the attitude towards genetically modified crops, trust and perception directly affected the intention of agricultural experts to use those crops.Whereas, the perceived benefits, perceived risks and knowledge indirectly had effects on their intention. The variables of attitude towards genetically modified crops, trust, perception, perceived benefits, perceived risks and knowledge could predict 45 percent of variations of experts’ tendency towards those crops.

The purpose of this descriptive- correlational study was to investigate factors affecting pesticide consumption behavior of greenhouse owners (three dimensions of consumption extent, consumption method and precautionary actions). The validity of questionnaire was verified by a panel of experts and to obtain its reliability, alpha Cronbach's coefficient calculated and it was higher than 0.7 for different parts of questionnaire.The statistical population consisted all greenhouse owners in Zanjan province (N=80) and based on Krejcsi and Morgan sampling Table and using randomized sampling method 66 greenhouse owners were selected. The result showed that 88.7 percent had medium and higher level of knowledge regarding pesticide. About 89.5 percent, used of pesticides more than normal. Using level of precautionary actions by 82.5 percent was high.There were positive meaningful correlation among pesticide consumption with age, job experience and income from greenhouse, but correlation with knowledge, mass media using and number of attended educational classes was negative. Also, precautionary actions had a positive meaningful correlation with knowledge, work hours, job satisfaction and greenhouse size. Multiple regression analysis revealed that job satisfaction, greenhouse size and knowledge were explained 33.5 percent of precautionary action. Also, age, mass media using and income from greenhouse were explained 57.9 percent of pesticide consumption.

Nowadays, according to the economic and social conditions of the country, fostering creative ideas and entrepreneurs which can coordinate and consistent themselves with the modern world, is necessary. This descriptive correlational study conducted with aimed to investigate factors influencing entrepreneurial capabilities and emphasis on the mediation role of self-esteem among agricultural students. The population of the study was including 390 senior bachelor agricultural students of Zanjan University in the academic year 1392-1393. According to the table of Krejcie and Morgan, 200 of them were selected through proportional stratified sampling (by gender). A questionnaire was used to collect data. Validity of the questionnaire was approved based on the opinions of faculty members at Zanjan University. A pilot study was conducted to determine the reliability of the instrument, which the Cronbach's alpha values for the main scales of the questionnaire, was at the appropriate level (in the range of 0.80 to 0.89). The collected data was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling Multivariate technique. The results showed that there is a significant positive relationship between academic action of students, environmental factors, effort attribution, and attitudes towards self with their entrepreneurial capabilities. Also, the results of testing the mediation effects of self-esteem according to "Bootstrap" method indicated that the total indirect effect of the academic action, effort attribution, and attitudes towards self with their entrepreneurial capabilities was significant.

Preserving and developing agriculture and natural resources depend on a number of factors, including agricultural and environmental ethics. In evaluating ethical behavior, programs, and initiatives in the agricultural sector, various theories have been proposed of them the following three theories for their ability to communicate and applicability among users have been the most recognized: Utilitarianism, Virtue theory, and the theory of Right task-oriented. According to Islamic teachings and ethical recommendations towards natural resources and agriculture a need for developing a definition of a culturally based theory, was felt and in this regard, this study was designed. The Islamic scholars and thinkers’ viewpoints as well as scientific resources and ideas were reviewed, and based on the findings an ethical theory: “Human Liability towards Agriculture" was defined. The research methodologies were: comparative studies, archival research, and the Delphi technique. The participants in the three-round Delphi implementation were theologists and ethics experts as well as some agriculture faculty members familiar with the concepts of environmental ethics and moral principles. The results set up a list of 40 criteria to assess the environmental moral theories mentioned. The study also showed that each of the aforementioned theories of special abilities, butin other aspects of weak or no opinion, but the theory of “human liability” in most measures, enjoys a high rating.Statistical comparison between the four orbital theories shows that Human Liability Theory is the most significantly powerful to assess ethical behaviors toward agriculture and the environment. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the orbital theory of human liability to be used in the preparation of cultural attachment projects for agricultural development and environmental programs, and by experts and planners in the development of moral and judicial courts.

Education and especially higher education has significant role in society development in various dimensions.Indubitably, faculty members are important determinant of success and effectiveness of higher education system and universities. Continuous evaluation of faculty members’ work quality causes to maintain motivation and obviates defections. This study was conducted to investigate factors affecting teaching quality of faculty members in Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University from students’ and graduates’ perspective, from 2009 to 2013. This study was a descriptive-correlational research and survey research was used for data gathering. The whole 109 faculty members in this time period included in this study. Data gathering instruments were standard questionnaires of University Evaluation Department which its validity and reliability already have been confirmed. Longitude analysis using repeated measure ANOVA revealed that there was significant difference between teaching quality of faculty members from students’ perspective in ten semesters, and in overall, changes had upward trend. Also, based on regression result, scientific grade, total written articles, and age had the greatest effect on predicting students’ evaluation scores. Moreover; variables such as scientific grade, courses taught and work experience had the main role in predicting graduates’ evaluation scores.

The main purpose of this study was to analyze the factors affecting entrepreneurial spirit of agricultural post-graduate students. The statistical population of the study was the students of agricultural extension and education field from both Bu-Ali Sina and Razi Universities (N=180). Totally 120 samples were selected by the Kerjcie and Morgan formula, randomly. The data gathering tool was a questionnaire which its face validity was approved by a group of experts. For assessing reliability of the questionnaire, the questionnaire was first given to 30 students, then a Cronbach's Alpha test used and it was from 0.68 to 0.89 for different parts of the questions.Results from factor analysis method among 19 factors indicated that these factors can be grouped into five major components that they can determine 73 percent of the students' entrepreneurial spirit. These factors include: importance and value of entrepreneurship within society and university, using practical experiences and modern methods for entrepreneurship education, developing entrepreneurship course at universities, government supports, and relevant entrepreneurship issues compatible to needs of the labor market. Finally, results which were emerged using LISREL software, the mentioned factors were tested and verified in order to draw a model.