Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research
Year:2015 | Volume:46 | Issue:2 |Papers Count:18

From the past cotton has been introduced as one of the basic and strategic goods in Iran. Golestan province, during the past years has provided a large part of the nation's cotton requirement and has become one of the main poles of cultivation of this product. In this paper, the effects of support policies on Golestan's cotton supply has been investigated by using variable of producer support estimate of cotton to competing products and estimating irrigated and dryland acreage response equations through Nerlove's partial adjustment model. The results shows that the positive effect of producer support estimate of cotton to its competing products on cotton acreage has been significant in both irrigated and dryland models. Supply elasticity’ s of this variable in the irrigated model is 0. 12 in short run and 0. 27 in long run. In dryland model, this elasticity is 0. 16 and 0. 26 respectively in short run and long run. According to the results, in addition to increasing the relative profitability of cotton compared to its competitors and reducing non-programing import, rising price and non-price supports of cotton like guaranteed prices in order to motivate farmers to increase the supply of this product is suggested.

Forest resources play an important role in rural livelihoods and wellbeing of hundred millions of people in developing countries. The aim of this study is determining the importance of forest products in rural household’ s income and poverty levels and inequality. Economic-Social data of 160 forest fringe households of Hezar Jabir area of Behshahr city were collected using questionnaires and interviews. According to the rural poverty line in 2010 adjusted for survey year (2013), we measure poverty indices in two stages (with and without forest income). For measuring income inequality, Gini coefficient in two staged (with and without forest income) was used. We found that products from environmental resources represent an important component in rural livelihoods. Our analyses indicate that in the study area, income from forest environmental resources occupies the second largest share (%30) in average total household income. Also, by eliminating forest income, the numbers of poor people were been 1. 8 times and the distance is greater than the poverty line (4. 2 times). Income inequality is 1. 28 times, the welfare of the rural population without forest income decrease to the extent of 323. 2 million Rials. Poverty and inequality analyses show that incorporating forest environmental incomes in household accounts significantly reduces measured rural poverty and income inequality, beside poverty reduction is the background of environmental sustainability.

Reengineering the governmental construction in developing countries for enhancement of government organization power and enhancement of non-government section role in agricultural development causes advent new capacities of entrepreneurship human resources and prudence their position in managing and these evolution. The agricultural higher education system in order to preserve responsible in training these sources should launch by increasing educational planning quality toward training entrepreneur person. By attention to the problems and challenges of higher education system of applied scientific in education in this resources, recognizing the approaches of developing the student’ s entrepreneurial capabilities is necessary. This issue was approved by statistics of graduate’ s entrepreneurship in this higher education centers. Therefore, preserving the efficiency of this system is essential to know developing solution of student entrepreneurial abilities and planning to perform them. The main problem was lack of the related information in the greatest agricultural education center (Imam Khomeini higher education center). With regards the purpose of research, it has been done by survey method. The statistical population was 1595 of agricultural students studying in this center in 2012. The sample population was determined 195 people by the Cochran formula. The measurement instrument was questionnaire. The validity and reliability of questionnaire were confirmed. The results showed that average score the affects methods of entrepreneurial abilities development are more than the middle (3. 53 of 5). In addition, the main factors of “ give consulting services” and “ planning for reform entrepreneurship skills” determine and explain the 20. 48 and 19. 48 percent of changing variance. At the end, results proposed creating professional business consulting corridor in agricultural applied-scientific higher education centers and planning the comprehensive plans for improvement student’ s abilities about business and entrepreneurship via combining entrepreneurship topics in technical and specialized agricultural courses.

This survey research aimed to feasibility assessment of integrated pest management (IPM) of Walnut Zeuzera Pyrina (leopard moth) in Baft county. Statistical population of this research consisted of all the walnut growers in Baft county (N= 5750). According to Cochran formula, size of the sample was determined (n= 300). The respondents were chosen through multi-stage sampling technique. Validity of the questionnaire as research tool was confirmed by an expert group. Cronbach alpha coefficients which calculated among 0. 76 to 0. 89 for several scales of the questionnaire showed that reliability of the questionnaire was suitable. According to the results of Friedman test, the components of IPM of walnut Zeuzera Pyrina were ranked on the subject of feasibility assessment as: knowledge – skills capabilities, chemical operations, mechanical operations, agronomical operations, logistic-extension supporting services, economic ability, and biological operations. Correlation coefficients showed significant positive relationship between number of household members, membership in local organization, sources and channels of information about walnut cultivation, information and technical knowledge regarding walnut, the number of visits to Jihad-e-Keshavarzi office, number of cultivated varieties of walnuts, innovation in walnut cultivation, agronomical activities for controling Zeuzera Pyrina, number of household members employed in walnut growing, total annual income of walnut growing, the average yield of Walnut orchard (as independent variables) and feasibility assessment of IPM of Zeuzera Pyrina (as dependent variable). Also, comparison tests showed a significance differentiation among groups of respondents relating to feasibility assessment of IPM of Zeuzera Pyrina. Finally, using garden school's approach to training walnut growers, supplying biological inputs and advisory services, allocating credits for revitalization of walnut orchards and the use of indigenous knowledge is suggested.

The present empirical research aimed to investigate role model effects on entrepreneurial passion. Research method was non-experimental descriptive-correlation method. The statistical population comprised of senior and junior undergraduate students as well as graduate students of the University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Tehran University. 205 students were selected using the Daniel formula through quota sampling method. Research instrument was a questionnaire whose validity and reliability were reviewed and approved. A dominant statistical method was Principle Component Analysis (PCA). The empirical results showed that there is a role model difference in the level of entrepreneurial passion. The research makes an important contribution to the field of entrepreneurial education by concluding that entrepreneurial passion in higher educational context is not a simple matter, but a rather complicated process that is depend on external variables such role model. End of research some implications are provided for agricultural entrepreneurship education.

This research was conducted to investigate relationship between transformational leadership style and academic quality improvement. The statistical population of the study consisted of all faculty members in College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (University of Tehran) (N= 212). Applying stratified proportional random sampling and Cochran formula, 122 faculty members were selected. Questionnaire was used for data collection. MLQ scale (Multi Factor Leadership Questionnaire) and AQIP scale respectively were used for measuring level of transformational leadership and academic quality improvement. According to findings, the highest level of transformational leadership was in level of weak (42. 6% responses). Transformational leadership components (Idealized behavior, Individual Consideration, Intellectual Stimulation and Inspirational Motivation) had positive and significant relationship with academic quality improvement (P<0. 01). Findings also revealed that age, scientific rank and academic experience were not significantly correlated with academic quality improvement. According to regression analysis, among variables entered into analysis, only variable of Inspirational Motivation (Beta= 0. 686) was effective on academic quality improvement.

In recent years organic farming development, in spite of many potentials for growth in Iran, was very slow. This research was done to recognize driving factors of organic sector development in Iranian agriculture. The literature of the research shows that many instruments in policy making, financial support, and extension area are effective in organic development in different countries. In this basis a questionnaire was prepared on the basis of literature review of the research and after investigating reliability and validity of it, was filled by 122 persons of agricultural organization experts in six elected provinces. After doing factor analysis in SPSS software version 19, nine factors of organic farming development driving factors in Iran were extracted from 45 effective variables which they explained 83. 15 percent of whole variance. Results of the research showed that the extracted factors can determine 83. 15 percent of whole variance as follow: to establish structures and infrastructures, to provide the necessity funds, policy and object making, education and advisory for farmers, to identify and analyze the necessary information, advertisement and public informing, organizational coordination, regulations collection and providing, giving distinctions to investments. Thus we suggest that agricultural policy makers extend the organic products by prepare the institutional structures and financial supports on one hand and on the other hand provide proper condition to investment and marketing in this part.

The main purpose of this study was to analyze the barriers of tourism development in Gazarkhan village. Methodologically, the study was a descriptive-survey research. The statistical population of the study consisted of all heads of households in Gazarkhan village (N= 750). According to formula Cochran, a sample size of 115 was selected using the simple random sampling technique (n=115). A questionnaire was used to collect data. A panel of agricultural extension and education experts confirmed the validity of the questionnaire. A pilot study was conducted to establish reliability of the instrument. The Cronbach’ s Alpha coefficient for the questionnaire calculated equal to 0. 81. Collected data was analyzed using the SPSSWin18 software. The finding of factor analysis showed that four factors namely informative-supportive, infrastructural, motivational-cognitive and social-cultural explained 67. 33 percent of total variances of the barriers to tourism development in Gazarkhan village.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the farmers’ satisfaction regarding the performance of agricultural consulting, technical and engineering service corporations in Markazi Province. The research method was descriptive-correlation. The statistical population of the study consisted of all farmers who have benefited from the different services of the agricultural consulting, technical and engineering service ventures in Markazi Province (N= 9450). Using Kerjcie and Morgan’ s (1970) table and proportional stratified random sampling technique 368 farmers selected as research sample. A questionnaire used to collect the data. The content validity of the questionnaire confirmed based on opinions of some of agricultural extension and education academic staffs and experts of Jihad-e-Keshavarzi organization in Tehran and Markazi Provinces. The data was analyzed using SPSSwin16 software. Based on the research results the farmers had less than moderate satisfaction from the agricultural consulting, technical and engineering service ventures. The farmers had tendency toward expert’ s advisories, but were in doubt about using and advising this advisories to the other farmers. Based on the correlation results, there was positive and significant relationship between expert’ s communication skills, increasing of farmer’ s knowledge, and farmer’ s trust to experts and increasing of farmer’ s income with farmer’ s satisfaction. The results of regression analysis showed that 31 of variances of farmer’ s satisfaction explained by the two variables including expert’ s communication skills and role of advisories in increasing of farmer’ s knowledge.

Due to the significance of the non-oil exports extension in economical progress and development countries, in the current study the effect of instability of agriculture exports on the production of this sector for the period 1974-2007 and determining the sources of instability in export value of agricultural products from 1974-2011 by Coppack instability index was investigated. According to the findings, the effect of exports instability on the production of agriculture was negative; the effect of export variability, import, investment, and the real exchange rate was positive and significant; and the effect of labor was negative and significant. Also analyzing the sources of instability showed that the sub sectors as horticulture, cultivation, livestock and fishery had the most effect on the volatility of agriculture exports, respectively. In cultivation sub sector, crops like onion, tomato, spices, types of oilseeds, textiles, sugar, in horticulture sub sector, types of almond, citrus, date, hazelnut, pistachios, and in the livestock subsector, types of live animals, leather and wool have a higher rank of competitiveness in world market.

Identifying the skills required in the labor market for graduates and strengthening them will have major role in increasing their access to employment opportunities. The purpose of this study was to measure occupational empowerment of agricultural graduates and mechanisms for strengthening it. Agricultural graduate students in Zanjan University formed the research population (n=101). The validity of the questionnaire was approved by a panel of academic experts. Pre-test and calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficients were used to measure the reliability (0. 87-0. 94). The results showed that the average score of occupational empowerment of respondents was 7. 04 out of 20 indicating weakness of situation. Using exploratory factor analysis, strategies for improving occupational empowerment of agricultural graduates were summarized to seven factors including: increasing government support, increasing relationship between the university and Agricultural Ministry, making structural changes in education, vocational training during study, making changes in educational content, changing in accepting students practices and revising curriculum. 64% of the total variance of strategies for improving occupational empowerment was explained by these seven factors.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the constrain related to production of flowers and ornamental plants in viewpoint of floriculturists in Mahalat county. The statistical population of study consisted of all the floriculturists (N= 420) working in Mahalat county. The sample of 100 floriculturists was selected by using Cochran formula and random sampling technique. A questionnaire was designed and employed to gather the required data. The Cronbachs alpha coefficient of the production part was (α = 0. 85), harvesting part (α = 0. 80) and marketing part was (α = 0. 91). The validity of instrument was approved by faculty members, related experts and experts of research center of flowers and ornamental plants in Mahalat county. The result of factor analysis of constraints in production harvesting and marketing parts were divided in the seven factors including economic, capacity building toward promoting knowledge, Shortage of harvesting and processing equipment, marketing training and etc.

Nowadays, factor of energy besides other factors such as labor and capital plays an important role in agricultural production. Energy is used as a factor for agricultural machines and instruments. Important discussion about this subject is the reaction rate of energy demand to price variations of energy and other factors. So, this study estimates the functions of energy demand in agricultural sector including electricity and diesel, and calculates the price and substitution elasticity (Allen and Morishima) between the used factors. For this purpose, trans-log cost function is used. The results showed that, the relationship between factors such as electricity and diesel, electricity and capital are substituted and the same, for diesel and capital are complemented. In general diesel in comparison with electricity is more sensitive to the variation of price (diesel & electricity). So, regarding that electricity is more cleaner and cheaper than other energy factors, it is recommended that policies encourage electricity demand and reduce diesel consumption; and for this purpose it is better to apply price policies such as diesel directly and consequently electricity to be affected.

Digital libraries have become an inevitable part of higher education and research institutions. Though the exorbitant costs are spent on access and utilization of them, research findings indicates potential users may still be ignoring them. This study assesses influencing factors on acceptance and intention of academic staff of agricultural higher education and research institutions in using of digital library based on original model designed by Venkatesh et al. (2003); a model called “ The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology” (UTAUT). The model has four independent constructs of performance expectance, effort expectance, social influence and facilitating conditions; four moderator variables of gender, age, experience and voluntariness of use and together influence the dependent constructs of behavioral intentions, usage behavior. In this regard a descriptive survey for studding 85 faculty members of agricultural educational and research institutes, who were selected by disproportional stratified sampling method, was used. The validity of the questionnaire was approved by experts’ opinion. The estimated reliability, using Cronbach’ s Alpha, was 0. 78, which was an acceptable reliability. The collected data were analyzed using statistical, Partial squares least technique, SPSS and SPLS software tools. The results showed that effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions variables are effective factors on use of digital library.

The main purpose of this mixed method research was to identify and prioritize the entrepreneurial motivations of agricultural students in Razi University. This research was carried out in tow phase. In qualitative phase the research population consisted of agricultural students experienced in startup an entrepreneurial business. Statistical population for second phase consisted of all agricultural fourth-year undergraduate students (N=186), that 164 of them were selected using random simple sampling method. The main instrument of this study in qualitative phase was interview and in quantitative phase was questionnaire. Findings revealed that agricultural students have the positive entrepreneurial motivations. The results of mean comparison showed that students’ entrepreneurial motivations were different based on gender, entrepreneurship training courses, entrepreneurship model, study field, entrepreneurial self-efficacy and attitude towards entrepreneurship. Based on multidimensional scaling, students’ entrepreneurial motivation was classified in two dimensions including "economic entrepreneurial motivations" and "psychological entrepreneurial motivations". Results have applications for planners of higher agricultural education system in order to improving the agricultural student's entrepreneurial motivations.

Raisin is one of the most important agricultural products in Iran. Iran after the Turkey and America countries is the third largest exporter of raisin in world. Using the indices of export advantage, import advantage, concentration ratios and the Herfindahl-Hirschman, have been analyzed to check the state trade and market structure of export and import of raisin product in the world during 2001-2011. Results indicate that the structure of export markets have been Monopoly Multilateral Closed in the period, but it has become more competitive in 2011 than in 2001. Import market structure has been with fluctuation, so that in some years it opens multilateral monopoly and has become more competitive. Based on the results obtained observed Iran's raisin has export advantage in this period. Another noteworthy is the negative growth of Iran's export advantage (-6. 8%), while America and Chile have positive growth. Correlation results in Iran's export advantage to competitors show that there is no correlation between Iran and rival nations. The correlation results of export advantage of Iran and competitors with import advantage of the top superior importers showed that with enhancement of Canada's import advantage increases Iran's export advantage. It is noteworthy, raisins export advantage of Turkey and America has positive correlation with import advantage of Canada that is serious rivals for Iran in market development in Canada. Also, Iran with Russia and Belgium has negative correlation that indicative weaken the Iran competitive power is in the markets these countries. According to results of this study, it is suggested, Iran with use of agents marketing and appropriate policies of price and trade, his export share kept in target markets and follow to find new markets to development export share of Iran’ s raisins in world.

Agriculture sector has had a significant grow thing role in the Iran, but growth and development in this sector is not possible without a suitable risk management. This study has tried to predict and measure the risk from changing weather condition on agriculture products of Gorgan County using Mont Carlo Stimulation as one of the powerful tools on risk analysis. The results showed that the highest level of production risk is for the crop such as barley, soya and wheat and the least level of the risk is for the crops such as bean, clover and pea, respectively. To sum up, the research results indicated a significant effect of production risk in this area and therefore managers and policy makers need to notice it.

Urban parks have important resorts values for spending people’ s leisure time. Fateh Park located in Alborz province and considered such as a level of qualitative services to public although the economic valuation of these services by normal measures has been very difficult; so mostly estimating economic value has been done by considering some indexes. In this study in order to achieve the mentioned goal, valuation, survey and analysis of the region has been done by completing 300 Clawson questionnaires at the maximum resorts time (June-July 2012) in terms of travel cost method (TCM). Results indicated that resorts value of Fateh Park by estimating demand of recreational place and calculating surplus consumer’ s welfare is equivalent to 138, 750, 000 Rails which in turn has been noted by policy and decision makers to support the urban parks.