Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research
Year:2016 | Volume:47-2 | Issue:2 |Papers Count:22

According to the increasing demand for wood products and limited domestic resources, wood and wood products imports, as one of the easily available and widespread ways in international context, is very important. Among the policy on the imported wood market is applying a tariff and non-tariff barriers. Understanding the reaction importers against the change priced is important to be determined and applied or reduction of these barriers. The aim of this paper is an empirical investigation of the QUAIDS for unprocessed, half-processed and processed wood imports and unprocessed domestic wood during 1982-2011. Also, we calculate the compensating variation cause by reduction in tariffs. The results shows a substitution relation between imported woods and substitution relation between domestic and imported unprocessed wood as well as complementary relation between domestic unprocessed wood and imported half-processed wood and processed wood. Also, Compensating Variation index shows by tariff reduction change in Appliers expenditure for half-processed wood is higher than those of two others groups. Due to the use of the excessive harvesting of forests and assist tariff reduction to reduce the pressure on domestic forests, is recommended to reduce the tariffs based on temporal plan. This temporal plan is necessary be considered the possibility of compliance related industries. Also the tariff reduction according to requirements of WTO is important which IRAN is trying to join the organization. Thus, it is proposed that the wood products as a whole to be managed by the same administrative system expecting to take into consideration the whole of wood market.

In regard to both implementation of the second phase of targeted subsidizes and the effect of inflation resulted from first phase of it on economic of country, inflation content estimation on economic of country especially agriculture sector is necessary. In this research, the effects of increasing price of energy carriers on inflation in various reproduction sectors such as agriculture was investigated, based on input– output technique and price models. The results of adjustment price of energy carriers’ price up to Persian Gulf FOB level have been shown that total inflation will increase to 65. 47 percent. In agriculture sector maximum inflation will be 62. 89 percent in fishing sub sector and then forest (30. 38), livestock (30. 28) and agronomy (7. 76) sub sectors were located in respectively. Finally, regarding to the key role of agriculture sector for food production, it is suggested that in the case of implementation of the second phase of targeted subsidies, government must support this sector by proper mechanism.

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) technique was used to analyze the efficiency of farmes, discriminate efficient farms from inefficient ones and to identify wasteful uses of energy for orange producers in Khouzestan region. Data were collected from 125 watermelon producer by using a face-to-face questionnaire. Results revealed that total energy consumption in plastic culture and open-field watermelon production systems was 39. 64 and 38. 92 GJ/ha, respectively. The Highest share of total energy for watermelon production in plastic culture system were plastic with 34%, fertilizer with 22% and diesel fuel with 17%. While the highest share of total energy in watermelon in open-field system were observed for diesel fuel, fertilizer and irrigation water whit 37%, 27% and 14%, respectively. The average of technical efficiency and pure technical efficiency for watermelon production in plastic culture system were 0. 82 and 0. 98. Whereas, the values for watermelon production in open-field system were 0. 76 and 0. 98 respectively. The results also revealed that about 4. 69 and 10. 21 GJ/ha in all inefficient units in plastic culture and open-field watermelon production systems could be saved if the producers follow the input package recommended by the DEA respectively.

Supply of credits to farmers is necessary because of the importance of credits in order to assurance the efficiency of production process. The purpose of this study is identification factors affecting on credits allocation to agricultural activities and factors affecting on probability failure to repay of credits received. In this study, 196 farmers and customers who have received loans from the Agricultural Bank were randomly selected. Statistics and necessary information were collected by questionnaires and investigation of customers file for the years 2010-2013. Factors affecting on credits allocated to the agricultural activities was identified using Tobit model. Based on this model, there was a direct and significant relation at level of confidence 95 percent among variables of age, educational levels, experience, annual income from non-agricultural activities, amount of credits received and credits allocated to agricultural activities. There was an inverse and significant relation among variable of family size and credits allocated to agricultural activities. Also, probability failure to repay of credits received modeling was done using Logit Multinomial model. In this model, there was an inverse and significant relation at level of confidence 95 percent among variables of age, educational levels, value of the assets, monthly income of the applicant and probability failure to repay of credits. Gender had a direct and significant relation with probability failure to repay of credits. Based on the results of this study suggestions were presented.

Small scale and fragmented lands are one of the most important obstacles of agricultural development. Perhaps one of the best ways to deal with this problem is empowering the units of collective action. The rural production cooperatives are more accepted rather than the other units due to observing and applying the triple principles namely "ownership", "governorship" and "subjectivity". Nevertheless, these cooperatives with a ten year old, have not yet achieved the appropriate position in the production sector. The aim of this study is to analyze the managerial factors affecting the rural production cooperatives' success. The statistical population of this research included the members of active rural production cooperatives of Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari Province are 3715 Individuals. The sample included 160 individuals who were selected by random sampling method. Data were collected on a sample of 160 members of RPC by using probability proportionate to size sampling method through face-to-face interviews based on a comprehensive structured questionnaire. The success index in this research has measured using the SERVQUAL model that analyzes the gap between members' expectations and perceptions of services quality provided by RPC. The experts' opinions were applied for assessing the content validity of questionnaire, and Cronbach Alpha with a score of 0. 96 was used for measuring the reliability. Based on the results of Wilcoxon Test, the RPC of ChaharMahal and Bakhtiari Province have met the members' expectations merely in the confident dimension. The influential managerial factors on the success of RPC were determined by applying a multivariate regression model. Human and conceptual skills of managers, managers' belief on the importance of members' participation, educational level and managerial experiences of managers has the most impact on the success of RPC.

In recent years, increased public awareness of the detriment of consuming common products, during whose production chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used, on the one hand, and the benefits of organic farming for health and environment, on the other hand, have caused an increase in the demand for organic products. Due to the yield loss in product in organic farming because of the lack of the use of chemicals, the estimation of the consumers' willingness to pay, for surveying the market of these products, and estimating the total economic value of the desired product, seem necessary. In this study, 400 questionnaires were collected from the residents of Dasht-e Marghab County, through random sampling method, in 2015. Results of the estimate logit model show that 70. 25% of consumers are willing to pay more for buying organic tomatoes rather than ordinary tomatoes. Finally, it was determined that consumers are willing to buy each kilogram of organic tomatoes for 34, 700 rials, and the total economic value of organic tomatoes in the region, considering the yield loss in transition from conventional farming to organic farming, due to the yield loss proceeding from the change in farming system, was determined over 487 billion rials. Also, according to the cultivated area, the economic value per hectare of tomatoes (organic) in a hypothetical market, formed from the demand side, was estimated equal to 1. 6 billion rials.

The agriculture sector is the largest water consumer in arid and semi-arid areas. So water scarcity has an important effect on this section. Drought as one of the most important factors in making crisis in Zayanderud river basin (ZRB) has a deep effect on the agriculture sector. This study evaluates the drought effects on irrigation land and farmers profit on the east of ZRB by using SPI and CBA. The required data is collected by questionnaire and face-to-face interview with 140 farmers in the east of ZRB in 2013. At first we determined climatic scenarios by using Esfahan and Chadegan stations and SPI index during 1970-2012. After that the effects of wet, normal and dry scenarios are shown on stream flow and irrigation land. The results show that wheat, rice and safflower that depend highly on river, decrease on land area sequentially in scale of 68%, 92% and 51%. In addition the decrease of profit of these products are sequentially equal to 13858, 520 and 6103 million Tomans, that should use increasing the productivity and irrigation efficiency utilizing ways such as farm tubing-that has lower cost and risk in relation to rain irrigation for farmers.

Most of the environmental threats and resources depletion are direct consequences of human behavior. So altering the behavior could decrease environmental problems. In this regard, identification of the effective factors on behavior would be the first step. Lake Urmia as a public good, needs public contribution to prevent its more deterioration that could have serious impacts on social welfare. Main purpose of this study is identifying effective factors in environmental behavior of Lake Urmia basin inhabitants using factor analysis. According to the results, six selected factors were explaining 75 percent of the environmental behavior of respondents. These factors from most to least importance were named as use and non-use motivations (15. 2 percent), interested decision makers (14. 7 percent), environmental catastrophe (13. 2 percent), ecologists (11. 9 percent), urban environmentalists (10. 5 percent) and human Oriented breaks (9 percent).

The purpose of this research was to assess structural factors and environmental non-governmental organizations performance. It is a descriptive – surveying. Statistical Population was consisted of all members of environmental non-governmental organizations in Khuzestan province (N=359), using Cochran formula, 90 members were chosen and examined through the proportional stratified random sampling method. The instrument validity confirmed by faculty members of university of Tehran and its reliability was measured by Cronbach's Alpha coefficient. Research findings showed that all components including organizational structure, organizational culture, financial resources, organizational learning and leadership had significant positive correlation with organizational performance. Results of regression analysis indicated that variables of organizational culture and financial resources explained 64. 2 percent of variance in organizational performance.

The aim of this study was to identify factors affect ICT adoption among employees using Davis Technology Acceptance Model. Research population included all employees of rural line organizations of Boyer-Ahmad County (N=366) that about 189 ones of them were selected as research sample using Patten random sampling table and stratified random sampling technique. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) via LISREL software was used to evaluate validity and reliability of the research questionnaire, and also to examine goodness of the latent variables and to test research hypothesizes. The results of confirmatory factor analysis verified both "the validity and reliability" of the questionnaire and "the goodness of the latent variables". The results of SEM verified research hypothesizes and approved "goodness of the fit" of the supposed model. Finally, based on the direct and indirect effects of the developed structural model, it was revealed that decision on use has had the most influence on actual use. Also, factors such as Self-Efficacy, attitude towards ICT, perceived usefulness of ICT, perceived ease of usage of ICT and subjective norms were other influencing factors respectively. The results of this research can help managers and policy makers to seek strategies towards better adoption of ICTs among employees.

Concerns regarding the depletion of natural resources in general, and water scarcity in particular, has stimulated the development and implementation of some policies aimed at changing farmers' behavior in terms of conserving water. In this regard, government has recently begun to invest on researches supporting the technical solutions on conserving water in the agricultural sector as the biggest consumer. However, the success of this policy is depending on farmer side in terms of adoption and behavior through a voluntary action. The present study uses the norm activation model (NAM) as a theoretical basis to predict the personal norm and behavior regarding water conservation through a survey on 360 farmers selected using a multistage, stratified random sampling method in Selsele Township. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. After preparing the questionnaire and ensuring its validity by experts, its reliability was confirmed by calculating Cronbach's alpha ​ ​ for the variables investigated through a pilot study. Findings revealed that, two variables influenced on the personal norm toward water conservation namely ascription of responsibility and self-efficacy. Water conservation behavior, also was significantly determined by personal norm. Therefore, it is suggested that by increasing the awareness level coupled with the responsibility of farmers towards water issues, their ethical commitment on performing appropriate conservation behaviors would be strengthened. Also, delegating enough authority to farmers as well as providing facilities for maintenance, repairing and rehabilitation of water distribution networks and irrigation equipment can motivate farmers and encourage them to conserve water resources.

The aim of this study was to analyze the components of social capital among agricultural students with emphasis on entrepreneurship. This survey was descriptive and correlational study. Statistical population consisted of agricultural students in Tarbiat Modares University (n=468) which 181 student was selected by Krejcie and Morgan table. Samples were studied via using simple random sampling method. Content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of experts. The reliability of the questionnaire was determined by pilot test and Cronbach's alpha was calculated 91 percent. The results of exploratory factor analysis showed that in this research social capital consisted of six components including: social cohesion, social, cultural values, social participation, social interaction, social awareness and social recognition and entrepreneurship. These components explained 60 percent variance of social capital. So that social cohesion and entrepreneurship had maximum (13. 41%) and minimum (4. 33%) variance extraction respectively.

The purpose of this study was to identify educational needs concerning processing and marketing of fig growers in Poldokhtar Township. The population included all fresh fig producers (N= 2000). Based on Kerjice and Morgan’ s Table and stratified proportional random sampling technique, 322 fig growers from eight villages were selected as sample. A questionnaire was developed by the researcher and used for data collection which its face and content validity was confirmed by a panel of experts and its reliability was gained by calculating Cronbach alpha test for processing (0. 87) and marketing ) 0. 94). Ultimately, from 322 distributed questionnaires, 274 questionnaires were collected. Results of mean comparison test showed that there were significant differences between the training needs mean of fig producers with different gender, educational levels, occupations, type of ownerships and participating in educational short courses. In addition, there were negative relationship between work experiences, income levels and communication with information sources, and training needs of fig producers. Finally, informal discussion, questioning and problem solving approach in marketing educational courses and demonstration methods in processing are highly recommended.

Considering the importance of extension agent as the mediator between farmers and experts, and their effective role in the transfer of knowledge and technology to farmers with the aim of achieving a sustainable agriculture system, the main purpose of this research was to analyze affecting factors on performance improvement of extension agent from the farmers’ viewpoint in Zahak township. This study conducted through descriptive method. Total famers in central county of Zahak township (N=357) was considered as statistical population of this study, among them, using Krejcie and Morgan sampling’ s Table, 174 farmers were selected by simple random sampling method. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire which its validity has been approved by faculty members of Ramin University. A pilot study was conducted to confirm reliability of the instrument. Cronbach Alpha, s coefficient for the scale of affecting factors on improvement of performance of extension agent was equal to 0. 95. Data was analyzed by SPSS20 software. The results of factor analysis revealed that affecting factors on performance improvement of extension agents from the farmers’ viewpoint were three factors including: consulting and support, infrastructural-technological and educational-communicational which explained 62. 855% of total variances of affecting factors on performance improvement of extension agent.

Agribusinesses, especially agricultural industries play an important role as driving force for agricultural growth. However, these industries have not experienced appropriate growth and have not derived agricultural development, particularly through providing more remunerative markets for small farmers. The main purpose of this qualitative study was to achieve a deep understanding about obstacles and solutions for poor development of agricultural industries in Iran. Using semi-structured interview, 18 experts in the field were interviewed. The validity and reliability of findings was tested using triangulation and obtaining feedback from the participants in the interview. Coding of the interviews revealed that “ lack of specific planning for developing agricultural industries based on the capabilities, needs, priorities, and requirements of farming sector and in interaction with farmers” recognized as axial issue, which has prevented synergies between agricultural industries, farming sector and livelihood of local community. Regarding to the challenges of Iranian agricultural industries, the study provided some solutions for pro poor and endogenous development of these industries. To necessitate establishing agro-industries enterprises in rural industrial areas and nearby agricultural production poles, develop direct purchase of agricultural products from farmers through sub-contracting and allocate some stocks of agro-industries enterprises to rural people are examples of the solutions.

The evidence from experiences and projects have revealed that favorable policy environment, resource conserving technologies, enabling external institutions, and local institutions and groups are the components and the preconditions needed for the successful implementation of sustainable agriculture. In this context, the mission of government is providing an appropriate institutional environment for the development and enforcement mechanisms of sustainable agriculture. Accordingly, in the present article, agricultural stockholders’ viewpoints including official experts, scientists, researchers, and business about strategies as a set of rules and devices within a mechanism for sustainable agricultural development have been explored. Stratified random sampling was used to identify 95 respondents. Content validity and reliability of research instrument were examined using a panel of experts and Cronbach's alpha, respectively. Factor analysis was employed to determine the strategies of sustainable agricultural development. Overall, results showed that strategies in the three categories including: enabling – e. g. supportive and extension practices, developing social capital, and encouraging institutional trust; and enforcing – e. g. establishing regulations and programs, agri-environmental scheme and labeling and information, and encouraging – e. g. providing non-agricultural knowledge services such as financial incentives key means for encouraging sustainable agriculture development in Iran.

Changes in the interests of young people toward communicating in cyberspace, using mobile phone and SMS communications is a threat in the some critics’ point of view, which can be an opportunity to learn anytime, anywhere. Mobile learning is an approach to targeted nourishing of curious minds of technology generation in the wireless communication world. Thus, this study toward establishing the grounds of mobile learning application conducted, aiming to evaluate the effectiveness of mobile learning in higher education of agriculture. Quasi-experimental study was conducted with random assignment of experimental (n = 25) and control (n = 19) groups and intervention technique of using mobile learning as a teaching aid in first semester of the academic year 2014-15 at Zanjan center of Payame Noor University. Investigation of mobile learning effectiveness was performed by comparing the mean score of pre-test with post-test and monitoring-test using t-test statistics and the results showed that compared to control group who received only routine training, mobile learning including training in the usual way along with educational messages through mobile phone, is able to significantly enhance experimental group learning. In this context, the use of mobile phone that has penetration rate of one hundred percent among the students is suggested as a tool for mobile learning in higher education of agriculture.

Climate is changing and various scenarios indicate accelerated climate change in the future. If farmers and rural residents’ capacities do not enhance to adapt to the impacts of climate change, the impacts will overwhelm on agriculture and rural communities. Extension systems can play an important role in agricultural adaptation to climate change. The aim of this research was to explore the challenges of agricultural extension systems in climate change adaptation. The paper also identified the required competencies of extension agents in adaptation to climate change. A combination of exploratory and focus groups interview was used to gather data from 40 extension experts of Fars Province. Changing precipitation and temperature, increasing GHG emissions, reducing agricultural water resources, decreasing concentration of organic nutrients in the upper layers of the soil, increasing inter-annual variability of crop yields, and knowledge gaps were the main challenges of extension systems in adapting climate change. However, human and structural factors had limited the extension system’ s capacity to adapt to climate change. This study verifies that professional supporting extension agents with appropriate knowledge and information, communication, social and psychological, and research related skills can promote adaptation to climate change.

This purpose of this research was to recognizing effective factors on using production risk management among wheat farmers in Ilam province. The study was done in the general framework of survey research. Statistical population of the study consists of all wheat farmers in Ilam province (N= 55000), which the sample was determine 380 people by using Krejcie and Morgan Table. In order to determining questionnaire reliability Alpha Cronbach method was used (0. 82<α <0. 90). Questionnaire content validity was confirmed by panel of expert. Data processing was done with SPSS20. The multiple regressions showed that variables including: insured area under cultivation, agricultural extension agents, economic factors, family income and education determined 4. 46 percent of variance of dependent variable. Also, the results of the path analysis showed that the variables with the largest variances in the use of risk management strategies among the farmers were social factors, agricultural extension agents, and insured area under cultivation.

This study has investigated Smallholder Farmers’ Household Food Security Level in Mazandaran Province during the two times i. e pre-harvest period and post-harvest period. Using Krejcie and Morgan’ s Detrmining Sample table, 384 farmers selected as a sample. A Multi-Stage Sampling Technique was used to select preciously subjects. Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was the main tool for collecting data on food security status. Face and content validity of scale was justified during the several steps with using an expert’ s panel. The value of cronbach’ s α (0. 93) indicated high internal consistency of the scale. The Results showed that during the pre-harvest period about 35% of households classified into secure category, but during the post-harvest period about 50% of Households classified into secure category. Also, results indicated that Household Food Security Level has been more improved during the post-harvest period rather than pre-harvest period. In other word, seasonal changes has affected on household food security level.

Opportunity recognition is a key focal point of research in the entrepreneurship domain in recent years. The purpose of this study was to incorporate individual and environmental factors into a research model in order to investigate the moderating effect of entrepreneurial environment on the relationships between creativity, entrepreneurial experience and entrepreneurial role models and opportunity recognition. Data were collected on 300 students from four public universities in western Iran. The results of structural equation modeling indicated that all three individual factors were significantly related to opportunity recognition while creativity had the strongest relationship. The results of Moderated regression analysis showed the entrepreneurial environment to moderate the relationship between creativity and opportunity recognition, such that the positive relationship was stronger when the environment was conducive to entrepreneurship. This research contributes both to the opportunity identification literature and to theories of institutional environment and personality traits by showing empirically the entrepreneurial environment moderates.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of competencies and environmental factors on the success of rural entrepreneurs in Kermanshah Township. The statistical population consisted of 110 rural entrepreneurs, which with using Kerjci and Morgan table, a sample size of 86 people were selected by random sampling technique. To collect the data, questionnaire was used. Correlation and multiple regressions were conducted for data analysis. The results show that the organization and leadership, opportunities and relationships competencies are the most important competencies affecting success. From the perspective of rural entrepreneurs, the business environment is dynamic and hostile that in such an environment, the entrepreneur to be successful requires flexibility and the survival of the business; the greater the profitability is valuable. Results of multiple regression shows that environment plays a moderating role in the relationship between competences and the success of rural entrepreneurs. Therefore, in a dynamic and hostile environment, entrepreneurs with a high level of competence are better to act than entrepreneurs with low-level competence.