JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS RESEARCH
Year:2011 | Volume:3 | Issue:3|Papers Count:11

Water is a vital factor in economic and social development of each country. Thus, control and efficient use of available water resources is inevitable. In the present study, in order to determine optimal water allocation of Mahabad Dam reservoir, lexicographic goal programming was used. The data for period 1966-2007 were simulated by the Monte Carlo method. Multiple goals of securing drinking water, agricultural water and electricity production were considered. The results of the study showed that, to maximize objectives of managers, allocation of water to agriculture and drinking could be increased.

The purpose of this study is to assess the performance of shrimp cooperatives and non-cooperatives in Guatr district in Chabahar city of Sistan and Baluchistan province. To achieve the objective of study, profitability and efficiency indices were used.  Data were collected from 25 shrimp farms. Technical efficiency was estimated by BCC and super efficiency models. The results of study revealed that all farms made profit. Moreover, the ranking of super efficiency models showed significant differences among efficiency levels of farms. Low level of efficiency was mainly related to poor management and rate of inputs utilization. Therefore, providing intensive extension services was recommended.

This study aims to apply fuzzy programming to optimize the use of water resources in agricultural regions of Sistan, Data collected by filling up questionnaire from a sample of 118 farmers that were selected using random sampling method. Technical coefficients were calculated based on information provided by Agriculture Department of the region. Current cropping pattern was compared with optimized one with respect to regional constraints. Results showed the possibility of reduction in acreage and water use while attaining high yield and sustainability of water resource use. The results also showed the farmers' objectives were minimizing the use of water, machinery and fertilizer and maximizing production and labor. Considering these objectives, optimum cropping pattern was determined and recommended.

This study aims to determine comparative advantage and global export market structure of saffron during 2004-2008. For this purpose, Revealed Comparative Advantage and Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage indices were applied. In order to determine global market structure of saffron Herfindahl and Concentration Ratio indices were used. Results revealed that among saffron’s export countries only Iran, Spain and Greece had comparative advantage. The results of the comparative advantage index showed Iran comparative advantage was higher relative to other countries but it was declining during the study period. Spain, Italy, France, Sweden, Arabia and India were the biggest commercial partners of Iran. Analysis of world market structure of saffron showed that Iran was considered a large country with 70 percent share in the world market of saffron. Finally, some recommendations are made to improve comparative advantage of Iran in saffron export market.

This study aims to determine the effects of income and price changes on consumption pattern of rice in Shiraz city. To achieve this objective, quadratic almost ideal demand system was used. Different varieties of rice, including Pakistani, Indian, Thai, and domestic rice (Tarom local, Daylamani Tarom, Amol 3, Fajr, Aurora, Kadvs, Caspian) were considered. Findings of the study showed that various varieties of domestic rice were substitutable, and also imported varieties of rice were substitutable, while relationship between domestic and imported rice was complementary. Consumers demand is related to their tastes and purchasing power. Analysis of demand indicated that people with the high income prefer to buy domestic rice, while low income consumers prefer to buy imported rice mainly due to its low price.

The aim of this study was to study Iranian pistachio export market situation. In addition, its comparative advantage among major pistachio exporting countries was studied during 1990-2006 period. Revealed comperative advatage, revealed symmetric comperative advantage, and herfindal indices were utilized to determine comparative advantage. Results of the study indicated that Iran, Germany, Hong Kong, and Netherlands had comparative advantage, while Italy and China did not have comparative advantage in pistachio export market. Iran’s relative comparative advantage in pistachios grew until 1995, and then decreased until the end of period under study. In order to reach a stable state in relative comparative advantage, the government should facilitate its pistachio export by helping exporters and improve package quality. Results of specializing indices in pistachio exports showed that USA, Germany, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Italy, and China were overspecialized and close to world pattern while there is a need for Iran to improve in this respect.

In this study, degree of development of townships in Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad province was determined using fuzzy method. Based on Fuzzy value indices, critical value for development was 57% and all the townships were below that level. Rural areas of Dena township had maximum distance from the critical value and therefore was in worst condition. Rural areas of Gachsaran township had least distance from critical value and Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad townships were in third and second place respectively. Based on the results of the study, it was recommended to reduce the development gap among townships through more appropriate distribution of state budget.

Supporting establishment and development of small and medium enterprises is one of priorities in the economic development plans in most developing countries. However, opponents and proponents have largely discussed the effectiveness of small and medium economic enterprises in Iran. This study aims to evaluate the performance of livestock enterprises which got loans under early return credit program and its impact on macroeconomic variables. Data were collected from a sample of 50 beneficiary and 24 non-beneficiary farms in Babol region in 1386. The matching method was used to safeguard comparison. The results of the study revealed that some of farms stopped their activity after two or three years. In the remaining farms, credit had a positive impact on employment and led to new investment. Finally, some recommendations are made to improve the situation.

Pistachio is a product with wide range of quality. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the relationship between price and quality. In this study, using a sample of 110 farmers and 119 pistachio traders, the relation between pistachio quality and pricing was investigated in Kerman province. Data were collected from a sample of 110 farmers and 119 traders using stratified random sampling method. Hedonic pricing method was used for estimating price model. Also, to measure the effects of socio economic factors on difference between simulated and real selling prices, Pearson correlation and variance analysis methods were used. The results showed that splitted oohadi variety with 30-32 pieces per ounce was the best choice as basic sample for pistachio pricing. Also, Hedonic model showed that among 12 quality factors, only two (percent of splitting and ounce) were significant. Insignificant factors could be divided into three groups. The first group was measurable with high costs. The second was easily measurable but not perfectly recognized by the market. The third group could be measured visually. The results of study showed that selling price received by pistachio producers was relatively low due to weak relationship between price and quality.

The rating is very important for the marketing of agricultural products, but high costs, lack of uniformity and contradictions associated with this rating are caused problems. For this reason, researchers have tried to introduce an automatic way to solve these problems. The main goal of the study was apply fuzzy set based on product rating and compare it with the raisins that were assessed by experts. In order to rate raisins, fuzzy logic was used as decision support system. The qualitative features such as color, size and raisins defects were measured. With the help of experts as well as fuzzy system design, the rating was done. The results of the fuzzy scores were 30-100. The range of scores for the good class was 80-93, for the middle class was, 60-80 and for the lowest quality was 33-60. The results of the study showed that fuzzy scoring was 80 percent close to experts rating. It was concluded that this approach could simplify and automate the raisins rating.