IRANIAN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND EDUCATION JOURNAL
Year:2008 | Volume:3 | Issue:2|Papers Count:11

In the arena of progressive knowledge production and increasing competition, periodical appraisal of research centers, in order to come across with problems and obstacles, is an undeniable need. In addition state research centers should respond to programming and financial supports. The study resulted to this paper investigated the role of internal organizational factors such as; work circumstances, autonomy; presenting new initiatives, thoughts and plans; appreciating of outstanding researchers; transferring new ideas into plans; work satisfaction and etc. influenced to the research centers’ activities and performance during the last year of the Ministerial life time. However, it is an applied, post-facto and causal research. The face validity of the instrument was specified by a panel of research centers and university members. Questionnaire reliability was estimated by calculating Cronbach’s alpha. Statistical population included 1139 subjects with the educational levels of ‘M.Sc. and above’ of 50 independent research centers, institutes, and stations of Jihad-e-Sazandegi. Using the Morgan table and proportionate to size selection method, 288 subjects were selected, but only 155 questionnaires were completed. Summing up the researchers’ responses showed that to some extent appropriate circumstances for research and presenting new idea existed but there are insufficient efforts to translate new ideas into plans by the research managers. Somewhat, researchers have autonomy in their job but there is not favorable situation for professional promotion. Measuring relationship between investigated variables and research performance of researchers and regression analysis indicates the essential role of research circumstances on researchers’ output. Therefore, internal circumstances of research centers should be suited for research activities by proper arrangements including structural provisions and organizational culture.

Agricultural products insurance fund has used private insurance brokers and provide appropriate support to farmers as an efficient and effective response to customers' needs since middle of 2002. Currently, there are as many as 5000 agricultural graduates and veterinarians who are acting as private insurance brokers in the country. Research has shown that meeting job expectations not only influences employees' effectiveness, it also affects institutionalization of private agency. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze job expectations of private insurance brokers and its influence on institutionalization of private brokers in Fars province. This census descriptive study was based on institutional theory with emphasis on normative pillar. A survey instrument was developed to collect the data and its reliability and validity was assessed. SPSS was used to analyze the data. Using principal component factor analysis, seven factor solutions were rotated to orthogonal positions using the varimax method. The seven factors produced eigen values greater than 1.0. The seven job expectation factors were labeled by the researcher as: Organizational development, monitoring and evaluating, fundamental needs, appropriate incentives, salary, job legitimize, and training. Based on the results of the study and in order to reinforce private agency institutionalization process these recommendations are given: spontaneous studying of broker's job expectations in present and ideal situation, prioritize activities which were determined based on the previous stage, and special attention to monitoring and evaluation as an applied suggestion.

The availability of highly specialized human resources is one of the most important factors for development process in every sector. The agriculture sector in Iran like many other developing countries is facing the shortage of specialized human resources to help farmers resolving their technical problems. In this regard, the Ministry of Jihad of Agriculture as a part of program of using private sector advisors, has been hiring the university graduates in field of agriculture to work in the WSP. This study aimed to identify factors affecting the performance of advisors in Province of Qazvin. Data was collected from 105 experts. The results indicated that the relationship between the educational level, working experience, number of contact with farmers, number of contact with the agricultural researchers, adaptability of training the extent of meeting the need's of trainees, using educational tools, technical support from “Jihad-e-Keshavarzi” organization as independent variables and performance of advisors in increasing production as dependent variable is significant and positive. The results also showed that the kind of supervisory role had positive correlation with performance of advisors. The regression analysis showed that the technical supportive role of “Jihad-e-Keshavarzi” organization, number of contacts with farmers and the educational level of advisors were entered to regression model.

people participation is the most effective alternative strategy for achieving development objectives and success of economic structural adjustment programs. Hence, this study was conducted to analyze the mechanism for improving participation of farmers in the management of irrigation network of Jarghouyeh district in Isfahan county. The study adopted a descriptive-correlational research design and implemented by survey procedure. About 1810 farmer who were members in the Water User Groups (WUGs) of Jarghouyeh district of Isfahan county consisted the statistical population of the study, out of which 150 farmers were selected as sample using proportionate stratified random sampling technique. A questionnaire was developed for gathering the data and information. The validity of the questionnaire was approved by the judgment of expert panel. Internal consistency of the main scale of the questionnaire was calculated through Cronbach alpha in SPSS software which was equal to 0.75 indicating the reliability of the scale. Factor analysis also indicated that four factors Viz., legal support and provision of facilities by the government, improving farming practices and adopting modern methods, increasing role of GOs and NGOs and provision of necessary education accounted for 57% of variance of the mechanisms for improving farmer's participation in the irrigation networks. The results of prioritizing of the mechanism for improving participation of farmers in the management of irrigation network indicated that by the government facilitation in the allocation of water, the farmers will participate more in the maintenance and exploitation for the irrigation network. In addition, by the government involvement in the provision of sustainable legal support system, farmers' participation will be improved.

The main purpose of this study was to assess the agricultural extension system in Iran using a qualitative method. A questionnaire, confirmed by panel of experts and agricultural extension experts was prepared for data collecting. Reliability Index of the questionnaire calculated by Cronbach test was 0.79. The population of the study included all the extension officers (experts having bachelor or masters degree) employed in the Agriculture Extension Office- ministry of agriculture-working in 6 separate departments, (N=242). One hundred and fiftynine participants were chosen as the sample of the study by stratified randomized method and ultimately 147 questionnaires were analyzed (n=147). The findings indicated that "the agricultural extension services" had a better condition regarding extension activities compared with other compilations (organization and execution structure, evaluation and supervision, link between extension and other establishments and programming). It was revealed that this system had the most success in extension activities (instruction and extension coverage, applying effective instructional methods, balance between the content of planning and farmers’ activities) and the least success in programming. The findings also indicated that the more educated the experts the less they were satisfied with extension activities. Independent variables such as years of service, age and job satisfaction could predict only 33.3% of the viewpoint of the agents regarding the condition of agricultural extension system in Iran. Besides, a general assessment of extension system in Iran proved that the majority of the agents (84%) agreed to have a fundamental improvement in extension system in Iran.

Systemically, agricultural research considers as main component of agricultural knowledge and information system (AKIS) and plays importance roles in process of sustainable agricultural development in field of developing knowledge and technology. Considering expected outcomes and impacts, influencing factors, current challenges, and emerging paradigm of research and development (R&D), Iranian agricultural research system needs institutional supporting based on designing and implementing appropriate strengthening mechanisms. Regarding to this comment, this research was done with the aim to identify challenges and explain strengthening mechanisms of agricultural research system in Iran. A survey research and qualitative expert interviewing methodology were applied, a sample consisted of 29 agricultural researchers and agricultural faculty members was selected. After designing interview protocol and gathering data by interviewing, coding process used in order to analyze the interviews. Findings presented in a structural format, including open, axial, selective and subjective categorized codes. Based on integrated interpretation of subjective categorized codes, some conceptual propositions were formulated in field of challenges and systematizing of agricultural research in Iran. Systemic and process-derived conceptualization procedures were used in order to process the findings. As a result, a representative model of agricultural research system was outlined. This model explains different structural and functional aspects of agricultural research system and seems as pattern of emerging paradigm of agricultural research. Finally, using an interpretation-explanation approach, a set of appropriate mechanisms of systematizing and strengthening of agricultural research in Iran were recommended.

The purpose of this research project was to investigate the viewpoints of natural resources NGOs' members towards participation of mentioned organizations in natural resources extension and development activities. This descriptive study was carried out through a survey method. The statistical population includes the active and available members of NGOs, which they are related to natural resources on Tehran environmental NGOs network. A sample of 64 members was selected by use of "random sampling" method. A questionnaire was used to collect data and its face validity was confirmed by a panel of experts. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was measvred to determine the questionnaire reliability which was 0.84. The findings of research showed that in context of empowerment, "cooperation in organizing extension-education classes" has higher priority. Also, the first priority in context of attracting people's participation has allocated on "providing necessary context for membership of people in NGOs" and in the context of green areas development and tree planting, "participating in holding symbolic days such as natural resources week" has first priority. Among contexts of NGOs' participation in natural resources extension and development, "attracting people's participation" has allocated first priority to itself. Therefore, it is recommended that public organizations should provide essential supports and facilities for participating NGOs in natural resources extension and development activities.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate effectiveness of in-service education courses of agricultural bank regarding improvement of bank agricultural specialists' technical knowledge. A survey method was adopted for this study and 100 agricultural specialists of agricultural bank were selected as a sample out of 210 participated agricultural specialists in the in-service education courses attending from 2000 to 2005 all over the country. A questionnaire was developed as the study instrument. Face validity were established by achieving the opinions of agricultural extension specialists at Tarbiat Modarres University and agricultural specialists of agricultural bank. Questionnaire reliability was estimated by using Cronbach’s alpha. The overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the instrument was 0.76. The result showed that there was a negative and significant relationship between age and work experiences of specialists with their technical knowledge, but there was not significant relationship between subject of education and place of work with their technical knowledge.

Today, Information Technology looks as one of the most important tools of life. The purpose of this study was assessing barriers of using information Technology from viewpoint of agricultural graduate students. The research method used was a descriptive-correlation. Survey method was used to gather data. The population of this study included graduate students (in the year 2005-2006) in College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Tehran (N=709) of whom 91 students were selected by applying random sampling method. Validity of the instrument was confirmed by some of faculty members and graduate student. Instrument reliability was estimated by calculating Cronbach’s Alpha. Reliability of the instrument was 0.81 to 0.93. The findings of study showed that from students’ viewpoint, having expenditure for using Internet (Mean=6.50, SD=3.07) gained first priority in economical barrier, lack of English language proficiency (Mean=5.46, SD=3.05) gained first priority in educational barrier, lack of patience for using Internet (Mean=4.19, SD=2.92) was first priority of personal barrier, repeated connection and disconnection to web (Mean=6.10, SD=3.05) was first priority of technical barrier, lack of computer center equipped to Internet tools in educational department (Mean=5.45, SD=3.03) gained first priority of environmental barrier, and highest priority in attitude barrier was lack of confidence about accessing to needed information from Internet (Mean=3.71, SD=2.79).