Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research
Year:2016 | Volume:46-2 | Issue:4 |Papers Count:20

The present study is done to investigate the role of knowledge, attitudes and information resources of Wheat Farmers (Arak County) in the adoption of conservation tillage. This research was a descriptive-correlation study which is done by survey method. The statistical population of this study included wheat farmers of three Service Center of Arak county (Hume arak, Musk Abad and Aybak Abad, (N=263). Among all of them, 155 persons were selected as the statistical sample by using Morgan with symmetrical random sampling method (n=156). Data collection was fulfilled by the use of questionnaire. Content validity of the questionnaire was reviewed by comments of experts and professors of Agricultural Extension and Education, and the reliability was calculated by using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0/75 ≤ á ≤ 0/81). According the results of correlation coefficient, there was a positive and significant correlation between use of information sources, attitudes toward conservation tillage, agricultural land, the amount of income from farming, and the distance between farm and farm service center with the adoption of conservation tillage. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that the income from farming, attitude toward conservation tillage and use of information sources aspects determined 39% of the variations in the adoption. The results of the means comparison showed a significant difference between adoption of conservation tillage and participation or nonparticipation in extension classes and type of machinery ownership at the level of 5percent.

This research aimed to examine determinants of the usage of pest biological control practices (BCP) by farmers in paddy farms of Sari County. A revised Technology acceptance model (TAM), that integrate compatibility, BCP self-efficacy, facilitative conditions with TAM constructs (perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use) was used to conceptualize a research model. Statistical population for this study was rice growers in Sari County. By using Cochran formula 136 farmers selected through a stratified random sampling method in 26 villages. Coronbach Alpha coefficient and confirmatory factor analysis was performed to test the reliability and validity of the measurement model. The structural equation modeling technique was used to evaluate the causal model. The results of causal model estimation provide experimental support for most of hypothesis of theoretical model. These results showed that compatibility, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use significantly affected farmers’ behavioral intention. Facilitative conditions had strong indirect impact on farmers’ behavioral intention through the mediators of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and BCP self-efficacy. Yet, the hypothesis for BCP self-efficacy effect on the perceived usefulness was not supported while on the perceived ease of use was supported. According to the results, some recommendations include: strengthening of extensional and training programs, employing skillful extension agents and improving technical supports are provided.

According to the implementation of targeted subsidies law of energy carriers, the present study was done to examine the socio-economic effects of the law implementation. For this purpose, social accounting matrix of the year 1380 was prepared and general equilibrium model was developed. Since Gasoline and diesel has tow prices, the effects of targeted subsidies law of energy carriers were simulated in two scenarios. The results of two aformentioned scenarios showed that targeted subsidies of energy carriers would reduce demand for primary inputs of production, income of economic-social institutions especially households income. Given that the urban households are the main suppliers of primary inputs of production, their incomes will decrease more than rural households and three other institutions (government, public and private companies).

The main objective of the present study is to investigate the effect of oil price volatility on private investment in the agricultural sector. To do this, the annual data of the period 1961-2011 is used. First, the volatility index of oil prices is estimated through the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model and the interactive correlations of the model variables is determined using vector Error Correction model(VECM). Then the long-run correlations between the variables are specified using Johansson's cointegration method. The results indicate that oil price volatility, which is the main objective of the present study, has a negative impact on private investment in the long term. In the long term, each unit increase in the volatility of oil prices (with the assumption of stability of other explanatory variables of the model)would cause 0. 93units of negative impact on agriculture sector.

The present research was carried out to compare the effects of focus group and lecture teaching methods on the educational performance of undergraduate students of cattle production, in livestock feed processing course. This study is a quasi-experimental study using a pretest-posttest with control group. Statistical population included all students of cattle production major in livestock feed processing methods course in Higher Education Center of Jihad-Agriculture of Khorasan Razavi at first semester academic year 89-88, (47student), The students were homogenized based on the average of technician scores, acceptance quota, age, technician field, pretest scores and previous semester scores average (42 student) and were divided into two experimental and control groups with 21 student in each group. Survey instruments included demographic information form, test questions, lesson plan related to pattern of focus group teaching and Student Feedback (only in the experimental group). Results show that there is significant and positive correlation between student’s GPA and previous semester grade point average and post-test scores. Also, there is significant and position correlation between previous semester grade point average with post-test scores and pre-test scores with post-test scores. The comparison of means between teaching methods score in pre-test and post-test indicated that in the pre-test, there wasn't significant difference between scores mean of focus group between control and experimental groups. But there was a significant difference in post-test. The results of final survey from experimental groups showed that students had more satisfaction from focus group method than lecture method.

Controlling the price of dairy products is very important for policymakers due to the key rule of these products in nutrition and public health. Therefore, the present study was performed to forecast and analyze price of dairy products. Inverse Almost Ideal Demand System (IAIDS) was selected in order to forecast the price of three products of dairy products including milk, cheese and yogurt, for time period 1370-1390, and was estimated by seemingly unrelated regression method. The result showed that milk has the least self amount flexibility (-. 06). Also, a weak substitution relationship was found among dairy products. According to result, the price of milk in comparison with other dairy products is less affected by the amounts of dairy products in market. So, it is suggested that the government reduce monopoly power of dairy companies by establishing the laws, in order to influence milk price from market. Then, with allocating the subsidies to producers, they manage the amount and the price of milk in the market.

Iran is one of the largest producer and exporter of products such as dates, pistachios and raisins in the world, and also it is in a good position in the world market of these products. This study examines the short-run and long-run effects of exchange rate on export prices of Iran’s Dates, using autoregressive distributed lags method. Relevant data were extracted from the data of the Central Bank and the World Food Organization and analyzed by Microfit and Eviews softwares. The results indicated that Short-term changes in exchange rates and the value of exports in the current and prior periods has a negative impact on export prices and world prices and domestic prices has a positive effect on export prices. Also, in long-term changes in exchange rates is a one of the most important factors affecting export prices of dates. So it is suggested that monetary policy by the central bank in such a way that prevent sudden fluctuations in the exchange rate.

Attention to medical plants due to high potential of production in Iran and developing export of this product is very important, in order to export of non-oil products. The purpose of this study is to identify the best export target markets for this product by using numerical taxonomy method. The used data are related to the year 2011. In this study seven indicators of import towards the world have been used: the per capita income, economic growth, distance of countries, import price, trade barriers, and the number of countries that export goods for desired country. The results of the study showed that present destinations of this product have not been choice correctly according to the export target market priorities. According to identified priorities, Hong Kong is the first target market for exporting medical plants and then countries including USA, China, India, Japan, Germany, South Korea, France, Taiwan and Spain will be the next priorities. Therefore, the current export markets of medical plants have significant difference with potential markets. So, the use of export guiding policies toward potential target market has suggested.

Factors affecting success of Small and Medium Agricultural and horticultural Enterprises in Zabol citThe present study is an applied research, used descriptive – Correlation methodology. The aim of this study was to determine factors affecting success of Small and Medium Agricultural and horticultural Enterprises of Zabol city. The statistical population included the managers of 113 enterprises which received enterprises loans, from 2006 until the end of 2010, to establish their enterprises in subsection of the agriculture and horticulture. The sample size was 86 enterprises, using Morgan table. Data gathering was in terms of documentary and survey. In survey section, a questionnaire was applied to collect data from managers of enterprises. Data was analyzed by applying Stepwise regression, using Spss19. Results of the research showed that managers’ experience, members of the household, amount of loan received, literacy level of manager, managers’ age, the number of workforce, the distance to the city and Cultivation rate were significantly affected success of the Enterprises.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between farmers' technical knowledge about feed and fertilizer consumption. The research was a descriptive-correlation analysis. The statistical population consisted of 5500 farmers in Bajestan County and the sample size was determined by using Cochrane formula (n= 140). A questionnaire was used for data collection. Face validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by expert opinion. The results showed that components of technical knowledge have mostly negative and significant correlation with the use of chemical fertilizers and positive and significant correlation with manure used. Also, the level of education has negative and significant correlation with chemical fertilizer consumption and positive and significant correlation with the use of manure fertilizer. Factor analysis was performed for the 21 variables, indicated 5 factors include: Understanding fertilizer management, recognition the results of the inappropriate use of fertilizers, familiarity with organic and chemical fertilizers, understanding the management process before consumption of fertilizers and recognition the biological fertilizers, that could explain 62% of technical knowledge variances.

Technological change is one of the most important sources of the output growth not only on the supply side but also on the demand side of the economy. Because technological change in each economic sector causes input substitution among production inputs and this can influence growth of output in other sectors through the backward linkages. In the present study, the impact of technological changes of economic sectors on the production growth of four agricultural subsectors, from demand perspective, has been analyzed over 1986-2001 periods. To this end, structural decomposition analysis methodology has been utilized using input-output tables of the years 1986, 1991, and 2001. Following this approach and as a first step, output growth has been decomposed into three main components including, changes in final demand, import substitution, and technological change. Technological change effect has further been decomposed into individual coefficients and technological change effects in each economic sector on the growth of output in agricultural subsectors were calculated. Results indicate that growth of agricultural products is highly influenced by technological change in food industries which has been relatively livestock and poultry using and the other agricultural products saving. This result emphasizes the necessity of developing food industries for processing cropping, horticulture and fisheries products together with the development of livestock and poultry processing industry.

Employability development and intention to entrepreneurial startup behavior are known as two approaches to management of graduate’s employment crisis. The aim of this research was to predict the intention of business startup according to the dimension of employability. The statistical population comprised of 1154 senior and junior undergraduate students as well as graduate students of the University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran. 205 students were selected through quota sampling method. Research instrument was a questionnaire which its face validity and reliability (Cronbach’s Alpha) were approved. Dominant statistical method of this study was discriminant analysis. The results showed that interpersonal and leadership skills as two dimensions of employability were more dominant in students with high level of intention to entrepreneurship. While management and systems thinking skills were more dominant in students with lower level of intention to entrepreneurship. Critical skills had no significant role. The results of the study demonstrated that employability skills as an individual's quality could play explanatory role for students’ entrepreneurial intention. Thus it is evident that the employability concept is beyond of “hired” and it is a personal preference in employment.

Rangeland conservation and rehabilitation projects have been implemented to protect and revive rangelands in Iran for over three decades. It is essential to evaluate these projects due to the environmental importance of these resources, high dependency of rural households’ livelihoods on them, and government investment for implementing these projects. This research is to examine the impact of rangeland management projects on rural household livelihoods' outcomes using a survey. The data were collected using a structured interview technique and questionnaire from 204 out of 1280 rural livestock holders depended on rangelands, using a multi stage sampling technique in the Mahneshan Township of the Zanjan Province, located in the North West of Iran. The rural areas were divided in two groups based on the implemented or implementing rangeland management projects. The questionnaire was validated in terms of its content validity using the experts' views and construct validity based on convergence validity. The reliability analysis was tested through a pilot study and examining the Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient (0. 75-0. 95). Implementing these projects has to some extent led to not only increased incomes through selling dry fruits and home-made products, non-agricultural labouring and handicraft making, but improving livestock based assets directly and farming based assets indirectly.

Population growth and increasing the demand for tourism was led to increase the pollution of Caspian Sea. Considering the importance of Caspian Sea on natural ecosystems of its nearby region and its impact on the regional countries and even the world, few studies have been done on financial contribution of individuals for its protection. This study determined the effect of interest rates on the amount of visitors’ willingness to pay, using a single bounded dichotomous choice questionnaire contingent valuation method. Results showed that willingness to pay for conservation of Caspian Sea had a significant negative relationship with interest rates. So with raising interest rates, tend to pay decreases and vice versa. The results showed that the mean willingness to pay for protection of Caspian Sea was 51, 215 Rials per annum and the conservation value per household (2. 6 persons) was 133, 200 Rials per year, for protection of the sea. Therefore, this study provides the necessary reasons for NGOs to provide loans with low interest rates in order to protecting Caspian Sea.

Organic foods with their specific health benefits can offer a new way of thinking about the relationships between food, health and nature in life. So, it is important to understand consumer decision-making with respect to organically produced foods and to seek strategies about how consumption of these foods can be promoted. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate students’ behavioral intentions toward consuming organic food. To achieve this goal the theory of planned behavior and health beliefs model were used. The questionnaire’s face validity was confirmed by a panel of faculty members of Ramin University and its reliability was investigated using coefficient (Cronbach’s) alpha. All scales indicated a good-toexcellent reliability, generally 0. 6 to 0. 9. Structural Equation modeling showed that in the theory of planned behavior, moral norm, attitudes, selfidentity could predict 65% variances of student’ willingness to use organic food. According to health beliefs model, variables such as benefits and general health orientation could predict about 37% of variance of student’ willingness to use organic foods. The results of this study revealed that although both theory had a valuable potential to predict students’ intention however, the predict power of the theory of planned behavior had higher than health beliefs model. From the policy making view, the present study provides a justification for using constructs of these models in policy and decision making, that intend to encourage students to consume organic foods.

In this paper two techniques of definitive analytical hierarchy process and Fuzzy analytical hierarchy process are compared. By this means a practical instance of fuzzy and definitive analytical hierarchy process is proposed for defining the priority of production of crops in farms of Babolsar County. In a definitive approach‚ by the use of Eigen vector and the expert choice software‚ the final weights are calculated for each matrix. In the fuzzy approach‚ by the use of young changes extend analysis method‚ in which the used Triangular numbers are fuzzy, the final weights are calculated. The purpose is to define priority of producing rice‚ wheat and canola‚ with considering two quantitative criterions of benefit and efficiency per hectare plus two qualitative criterions of expertise and buying guaranty from the view point of agriculture sector reporters. Results indicate that in both approaches of fuzzy and definitive analytical hierarchy process‚ the importance of rice is more than canola and wheat. But fuzzy analytical hierarchy process makes the decision maker reach a more trusted final priority appointment (because of more difference in the weights).

Although the great dams built have a lot of social advantages and very expensive, But these dams might have some disadvantages that it cannot compensation. The main purpose of this case study was to explore the impacts of Shohada dam formation at Jobkabod olia rural in Sonqhor & Kuliaie County, Using approach qualitative and content analyses. A total of 12 farmers who lived in Jobkabod olia rural were selected by Purposive sampling method. Data collected using semi-instructed interviews, observation and field records and data collected continued until theoretical saturation. Also, two steps coding (axial and open coding) were used. The results showed that some negative impacts are: removing the road, product damaged by tourism, loss of agricultural land and no change in agricultural land. Also the advantages are: make sure that water is available in summer and of Prevent floods.

The rural development could be achieved by empowered people who are educated, informed, motivated and have a healthy physical condition for doing agricultural activities. Recently, rural youth unwillingness for agricultural activities has caused of aging of farmers in this sector. The purpose of this descriptive-survey study was to investigate the reasons and causes of the low willingness of rural youth for agricultural employment in Bouinzahra Township. The target population consisted of all rural youth of 15-24 ages who live in rural areas. Based on Randomized multistage sampling method, 270 rural youth by using Cochran formula were selected for the study. The research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire which its validity was verified by a panel of experts. The reliability of the questionnaire was obtained by calculating alpha Cronbach coefficient equals of 0. 80. The analysis of data by SPSS18 revealed that difficulty of agricultural activities in comparison with other activities, low income of agricultural jobs in comparison with other jobs and low considerable support of rural sector by policymakers were ranked respectively very important. Factor analysis of Data revealed that four factors named as economic, attitudinal, social and educational explained 48. 74% of youth unwillingness to employ in the agricultural sector.

The purpose of this study was to investigate developing wheat sustainable cultivation methods from wheat advisor engineers' perception. Statistical population for this study consisted of all wheat advisor engineers in Kermanshah county (N=128). In this study the data were collected by a questionnaire. The validity of questionnaire confirmed by a panel of experts in this field such as experts of agricultural jihad and wheat advisor engineers. The questionnaire reliability measured through Cronbach's alpha coefficient (. 89). The results of this study showed that there was a positive and significant relationship between the variable of developing sustainable cultivation methods of wheat and the variable of level of present knowledge, educational level, working experience, rate of contact with agricultural researchers, educational lectures, group teaching techniques, visiting farmers' farm, and using workshop. The result of multiple regression indicated that present knowledge, educational level, educational lecture, work experience and contact with agricultural researchers, could predict about 57 percent of the changes in variance rate of dependent variable.

In the recent decades, people’s participation considered as a missing element of rural development and special attention paid on improving both the quality and quantity of their participation in developing rural areas. This study aims to analysis factors affecting the level of people’s participation in Rural Hadi Plan in Hamedan County. The studied population consisted of 483 rural (men) in Sangestan village, that 150 persons were selected using Cochran formula. In addition to a deep documentary review, necessary data and information were gathered using observation a survey from the field. The main instrument was a questionnaire in which its validity was approved by the opinions of faculty members of Bu-Ali Sina University and relevant official experts. Also, the reliability of the questionnaire was examined using a pre-test by Completion of 30 questionnaires from studied population via "Cronbach Alpha” formula (=0. 91). The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software. Finding showed that there was a significant connection between the variables of the villagers’ literacy level, domestic income supply (source), tendency to durability in village, and their motivation to participate in the development plan. The result of the regression analysis recognized that independent variable predict86. 9 percent of dependent variable (participation). According to the results, some suggestions were stated to improve people’s participation in rural development programs.