Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research
Year:2017 | Volume:48 | Issue:2 |Papers Count:14

Due to the increasing global concerns about the increasing social instability in agricultural development projects in rural areas, the main purpose of this study was to evaluate the economic, social and environmental impacts of Tangab dam and irrigation network in Firuzabad. Accordingly, economic criteria and multi-criteria analysis approach was applied for determining non-economic Impacts of the dam. The results demonstrated that for discount rate of 12%, the Net Present Value is 4. 1×108 billion rails, Internal Rate of Return of the project is 25. 42. In addition, Sensitivity analysis for discount rate various, changing benefits and cost and different project age revealed that the project was economically reasonable. Furthermore, the multi-criteria analysis demonstrated that the most significant positive impacts of the project were: improving the agriculture of the region, increasing the level of groundwater, flood control, improving the climate of the region, increasing value of the area, tourism conditions improvement, and developing the water sports. Also, the most important negative impacts of the project were caused by: the dam construction, embankment and excavation, digging tunnels and building new roads, cutting down trees and environmental damage, land acquisition and displacement and resettlement of people. In general, multi-criteria analysis indicated that the positive impacts of the Tangab dam project were more significant than the negative impacts.

This study investigates economic effects of world food and oil price on macroeconomic variables (industrial output growth, inflation, stock price indices, lending rate and real exchange rate) in Iran. To determine the influence of variables, Structural Vector Auto Regressive (SVAR) was used. In this study, three models discussed separately: In the first model, the effect of global food price prices as exogenous variables on the macro variables was measured. The second model examined the effect of oil deals on macroeconomic variables. In addition, the third model investigated the impact of both variables (global food and oil prices) simultaneously. The data required for this study was monthly and the related period was 1380: 01-1390: 12. The results show that oil prices effects inflation and exchange rate, but it has no significant effect on output growth and stock market. Global food price shocks have shown similar effects on macroeconomic variables, and it only affects the inflation and the exchange rate. The study results of shocks in oil prices and global food prices show that in addition to the individual effect of each of these shocks on inflation and exchange rates, the oil shock will have a significant effect on global food prices. The empirical results of this study suggest that oil and food prices should be considered for policy and forecasting purposes. In addition, it is important that with developing non-oil exports and the use of revenue from oil exports in economic infrastructure, minimize the negative effects of oil shocks.

The Caspian Sea is one of the largest sources of Bony fishes in Iran that these fishes accounted for 45 percent of total fishing in the Caspian Sea. Regarding a long history of Pareh-fishing on the coast of the Caspian Sea, the principle aim of this study was the economic analysis of fishery cooperatives in the Mazandaran province. For this purpose, 110 questionnaires were completed from 12 cooperatives in 2014 fishing season. The technical, allocative and economic efficiencies and total factor productivity index for the selected cooperatives calculated In addition, causes of reduced catches and fishermen and cooperatives’ problems were analyzed from the point of view of experts and fishermen. The efficiency results showed that only 16. 7 percent of cooperatives have technical and economic efficiency. More than 80 percent of cooperatives followed increasing returns to scale. According to the results, variable such as fishermen’ s age, education level, Fishing Manager’ s experience and education, as well as level of fishing have positive and significant effect on economic efficiency significantly while variables like cooperative members, the number of stormy days and fishermen's second job have negative and significant effect on cooperatives’ economic efficiency. The productivity results indicated that only two cooperatives have productivity. Therefore, it should focus on appropriate policies in order to improve efficiency and productivity.

In the agricultural sector generally indices such as performance and production are used for assessing and ranking of different regions and products but using these indicators since all dimensions and production costs are not considered, can cause an error in agricultural planning. To resolve the issue in this study data envelopment analysis models including the basic model, cross efficiency method and mixed integer programming was used to rank 27 irrigated crops in agricultural sector of Iran. The required data were obtained from the Ministry of agricultural jihad for crop year 2011-2012 which includes information about the seed, manure, fertilizers, pesticides, labor and water. On output side the gross margin and yield were used as indicators for profitability and production. The results showed that if the goal is to increase profitability in the agriculture sector, then the cultivation of vegetables, industrial crops, cucurbits, beans, forage plants and cereals are top priority, respectively. But if the aim is to increase the total production, in that case the priority must be forage plants, vegetables, industrial crops, cucurbits, cereals and beans. The common finding of different models was that the crops with high consumption of water, summer soybean than spring soybean and short-grain rice than other types of rice had a better rank.

Wheat as a strategic product, in terms of production and cultivation, is the most important crops in worldwide and plays an important role in the political and economic arena. According to this issue it is necessary to adjust market by the producers, consumer and national welfares. This study investigated the effect of government support policies in the wheat market by using the spatial equilibrium model and compared the result with liberalized market. Results revealed that imposing both consumer and producer support policies would be accompanied by 3165 tones excess demand in the base year (2013-2014). In the liberalized market, total quantity demanded and supplied would decrease equal to 13. 9 and 1. 6 percent. Also liberalizing policy would increase consumer price (105. 4 percent) and decrease producer price (9. 9 percent). Therefore, liberalizing wheat market worse off consumer and producer gain would be negligible. Finally, compensation payment as a complementary policy would be pursue in the short run for the consumers.

Annually, a great amount of produced potato in the country is wasted. Assessment of potato growers’ knowledge of waste management is a key factor in reducing waste. This study aimed to assess knowledge of potato growers in Razan County. The population was consisted of 546 farmers, which a sample of 250 potato growers was selected using Stratified random sampling method. The research instrument was a questionnaire which was validated by a panel of faculty members from Tehran and Mohaghegh Ardabili Universities. Cronbach's alpha calculated for attitude (0. 86) and knowledge (0. 79) scales and showed high reliability of the instrument. Result of factor analysis showed that 5 obtained factors, viz. storage, transportation, harvesting, and planting explained 65. 93% of total variance of knowledge of waste management of respondents.

This research aimed to design a process model of commercialization of university agricultural research findings in Iran. Methodologically, this research was performed through a causal-correlation method and analysis of variance-covariance matrix. Statistical population of this research was consisted of all faculty members of the public agricultural faculties under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Scientific, Research and Technology (N=2030). Size of research sample was determined based on Cochran's formula (n=305). The respondents were selected through multi-stage random sampling and proportional allocation procedure. Discriminate validity of the researcher-made questionnaire analyzed using Average Variance Extracted (AVE) and Composite Reliability (CR). Using Structural Equation Model the research hypothesis was tested. As result of this research, according to path analysis, the commercialization process consists of seven stages, including formation of research and technology ideas, assessment of research and technology ideas, formulation of research and technology ideas, implementation of research and technology ideas, preparation for commercialization of research findings, execution and management of commercialization of research findings and maturation and evolution of process of commercialization of research findings.

Agriculture plays a pivotal role for economic growth and rural development through providing food requirement and job opportunities in developed country. Furthermore, the future development of agriculture in each country is based on rural youth. As such, these are not, of course, completely separate or mutually exclusive; in fact, they should go hand in hand for their future survival. The purpose of this study was to investigate rural youth’ intention toward agriculture jobs in Baghmalek Township. To achieving this purpose the present study uses the theory of Social Cognitive Career, as a research framework. The population of interest was rural youth between 15 to 29 years old in Baghmalek Township. The study sample (270) was selected through a multi stage cluster sampling. The reliability and validity of the instruments were examined and approved. Pearson correlation analysis was revealed that intention had a positive and significant relationship with self-efficacy, expected result, understanding behaviors of others, and facilitation. Also, it had negative relationship with barriers. Multiple regression analysis showed that self-efficacy, outcome expectations, understanding behavior of others, interests, and barriers can predict 74% of variances in youth intention toward agriculture jobs.

The main purpose of this research was to identify driving factors toward sustainable development of agricultural production Cooperatives in Naghadeh Township from the perspective of cooperative members. A survey method was used to conduct this study. Data collection tool was a questionnaire and statistical population included members of agricultural production cooperatives of Naghadeh Township (N=778). Krejice and Morgan Table was used to determine the sample size (n=260). A stratified random sampling was implemented to select samples. To determine the validity of the instrument, a panel of faculty members in the department of agricultural extension and education at Tarbiat Modares University was used. Furthermore, in order to gain the reliability of the research tools, Cronbach's Alpha test was used. The value of Cronbach's Alpha test for different parts of the instrument was between 0. 78 and 0. 82. T-test results showed that there was a significant difference between the kind of cooperative (agricultural and livestock) members in terms of sustainable development. As well as, F-test results showed that between sustainable developments of cooperatives in terms of location, there was a significant difference in the level of error 0. 05. Based on the factor analysis results the most important factors affecting the sustainable development of agricultural cooperatives were five factors including "Social-Personality", "Managerial-Extensional", "Economical", "Policy" and "Eenvironmental". The five factors together could explain 54. 04 percent of the variance. Therefore, holding training classes, strong management and adequate efforts to institutionalize partnership between the members and legal and financial support relevant institutions recommendations that could be effective in the sustainability of agricultural production Naghadeh Township Cooperatives.

This descriptive and survey study aimed to identify educational needs of Fig growers in optimal water storage management on drought conditions. The statistical population of the study consisted all of the 4440 Fig growers in Estahban County. Using systematic randomized sampling method and Cochran formula, 350 Fig growers were selected as research samples. Data gathered through a questionnaire and its face validity was confirmed by research committee and researchers of Fig research center of Estahban. Reliability was determined by conducting a pilot study project and Cronbach''s alpha coefficient for the main part of the questionnaire namely educational needs of Fig growers in optimal water storage management was 0. 77. Data were analyzed using SPSS/Win19 software. The results showed that educational needs of Fig growers in optimal water storage management were soil texture amendment using sandy-clay soils, proper method of pruning and proper pruning time and determine the volume of any irrigation cycle. Also the correlation results showed that there were significant correlation between variables such as: education, participation in social activities, number refer to the Agricultural Service Center, attendance in extension classes, relationships with friends and neighbors and model farmers, Fig cultivation area, number meet with extension worker, the number of hours reading general newspapers during the day, the average age of the Fig trees, Fig garden distance to Agricultural Service Center, number of hours listening to the radio during the day and optimal water storage management. Also, the mean comparison results showed that there was significant difference between Fig grower’ s information about optimal water storage management in terms of gender and main job. This study recommended continuing holding educational classes and attention to the provision of the necessary measures to more communicate and interact between Fig growers and experts and their benefit from expert advice with the centrality of optimal water storage management issue.

Satisfaction of rural business owners is an important factor in sustainability and development as well as economic prosperity and development of rural businesses. This study aimed to analyze the satisfaction of rural business owners regarding the services offered to them in Malekan County, East Azerbaijan Province. The statistical population consisted of 120 rural business owners of Malekan County. This study was an applied research and was done with quantitative and exploratory approach. A questionnaire was used to collect data that its validity and reliability were confirmed by experts’ panel and Cronbach's alpha coefficient, respectively. To analyze data SPSS v. 24 and exploratory factor analysis technique were applied. This technique summarized the variables of satisfaction of rural businesses in six factors including: insurance and facilitate from government and non-governmental Institutions (20. 41%), decrease in production cost (11. 62%), supporting the local community and profitability (11. 08%), sustainability and research and development (10. 49%), road and transportation (9. 09%), investment and Production equipment (8. 68%). The identified factors explained 71. 57 % of the variance of satisfaction of rural business owners from services offered to them in Malekan County.

The aim of this research is to identify the differences of the communication styles including emotional intelligence, aggressiveness, and passiveness within three urban, rural-urban, and rural societies. In the survey, a number of 312 individuals were selected by random sampling in three zones of Torbat Hedariyeh Township. A combined questionnaire (Baron, Shrink, Boss and Perry) was used to gather data (validity = 0. 72 and reliability =0. 84). The average EQ, aggression and passivity of the three zones were significantly different. But the average of the passive style of communication was not meaningful. Moreover, there was correlation between educational level and the living zone of the sample society. According to findings, the prediction of aggressive style for the three zones was rejected. Regarding the positive relationship between educational level and EQ, and negative relationship between educational level and aggressiveness and passiveness, upgrading of education in the society will be a promising issue.

Water is one of the obstacles for production throughout the world. Special strategies for water consumption must be employed for coping with water shortage. Management transfer is one of these strategies. The aim of the present study was to introduce some applied solutions of irrigation management transfer to farmers in Ghale-Chay irrigation and drainage network in Ajabshir town of East Azerbaijan province. This study was applied and descriptive in terms of data collection. The population of the study consisted 5129 farmers in three irrigation zones. The sample (N=204) was selected using multistage stratified sampling method, by an appropriate assignment, and Cochran's formula. Two academic staffs and three experts of Ajabshir County Water Bureau were asked to give their opinions on measurement of the content validity of the questionnaire. The value of Cronbach's alpha coefficient for different parts of the questionnaire was between 0. 75-0. 92. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software. Results of path analysis showed that the most direct effect of variables on participation is related to the status of irrigation water (0. 335). Three solutions were suggested for entering to management transfer process: the formation of “ co-water groups” , “ adjacent groups” and “ co-culture groups” .