JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND EDUCATION RESEARCH
Year:2010 | Volume:3 | Issue:2|Papers Count:10

The object of this study was to assess the application of precision agriculture as an appropriate technology as perceived by agricultural specialists in the Fars province. A proportional sampling method was used to select 270 agricultural specialists out of a total population of 750 respondents. Data were collected using a questionnaire, which was validated by panel of experts, and the reliability index was established by a Cronbach's coefficient (86 percent). The dependent variable was the feasibility of application of precision agriculture. The results of this study indicated that the most important priority from precision agriculture technologies (variable rate technologies, soil sampling technologies, yield monitoring technologies, sensors, and the other technologies) were usage; variable rate insecticides , weeds’ sensors , topography and pendant and depth of soil mapping ,yield mapping , global positioning systems - aerial pictures. Multiple regression showed that 29 percent (R2=0.29) of the variance in the feasibility of applying precision agriculture could be explained by variable rate technologies and applying sensors.

The present research has been done with the purpose of identifying risks and strategies to combating risk in heavy livestock's units Golestan province. This study is a survey kind with a population of 38621 livestock units in Golestan province, have been worked in heavy livestock’s units during 2008-2009. From this population, 380 livestock unit were selected by using stratified sampling method with proportionate scale and studied. We used questionnaire forms and interview with stockmen to obtain information. It’s Face and content validity was approved by Cronbach,s Alpha coefficient. The results of the research showed that most threatening natural risks of according to their priority include heat and cold stress, drought, floods, lightning and accidents and road transport. Between the dependent variable (view of stockmen in relation with role of risk management) with variables economic, technical, educational, health and policy making factors a significant positive correlation was obtained. Also, there is no significant correlation among the variables of age, employment and view of stockmen in relation with role of risk management.

A considerable part of lands cultivated with agricultural crops has allocated to rain-fed wheat production. But investigation of production trend and performance of this crop in different years shows the reduction in production and low performance and this requires the special attention of policymakers about difference in various areas of country in cultivation of this product. In this study, technical efficiency of 25 provinces of Iran where produce rain-fed wheat, has been estimated by using stochastic frontier production function and the data of 2004-08. The results of study show that efficiency of rain-fed wheat in Iran depends on time and technical efficiency. On the other hand, the average of technical efficiency of different regions in regard to rain-fed wheat has been estimated 50 percent.

The purpose of this research was to identify effective factors on rural youth attitude regarding agricultural occupation, in Kohgiluye and Boyerahmad, Iran. It is a causal/Correlative survey. Rural youth people between 15-24 years in Kohgiluye and Boyerahmad was population of study. The sampling number based on Kerjesi and morgan is 310 and cluster sampling is the method of gathering data.   The tool of data collection is questionnaire. The panel of experts was used to gain assurance of the validity of the questionnaire .Corenbach Alpha method was used to gain assurance of the reliability of the questionnaire (a=0/79). Based on the results of study between the amounts of land, social participation, agricultural income, the amount of familiarity with organization and attitudes toward employment in agriculture, there was a meaningful correlation. The results of multivariate regression showed that farming system, acquaintance with correspondent organizations, participation in extension and education classes and income of rural youth determines 49 percent of variation in dependent variable.

The purpose of this correlation research was to investigate factors influencing on adoption of risk management by commercial cattlemen in Tehran province. Population of this study included commercial cattlemen in commercial animal husbandries in Tehran province (N=320). A cluster sampling technique was used to select sample in the study (n=175). Data was gathered by using questionnaire. Validity of the instrument was established by using a panel of experts. A reliability analysis was conducted; Cronbach's alpha value reported from 0.78 to 0.94. Finding in the study indicated that the rate of adoption of risk management among majority (49 percent) of the commercial cattlemen was considered to be at "moderate" level. These results showed the main methods for risk management among commercial cattlemen included: consulting with experts and specialists, and using veterinarians. There was a statistical significant positive relationship between distance between animal husbandry and residence of cattlemen, the amount of awareness of risk factors, size of capital, annual income, number of livestock in animal husbandry, and the use of information channels with the amount of risk management among cattlemen. The results of the multivariate regression revealed that 50.90 percent of variability in risk management stems from size of capital, annual income, and the amount of awareness of risk factors.

The purpose of this study was to determine the affective factors on water sustainability knowledge of farmers in Ahwaz Township. The research design was a descriptive and correlation surveying method and factor and pathway analysis technique. Wheat farmers in Ahwaz Township were the target population for this study. A random Sample of wheat farmers selected (N=1370, n= 110). The main result of the study revealed that there existed correlation between the level of education, participation in extension course, rate of using communication channel, rate of farm demonstration visit, social participation, mechanization level, rate of extension agent visit with knowledge about sustainable management of on-farm water resources were significantly positive. An examination of the items and their factor loadings was used to understand the nature of the six factors. To reduce subjectivity, items with factor loading equal to or greater than 0.5 were considered most important when factors were labeled. The six factors were labeled: Extension and education activities, Economic characteristics, government support, Communication channels, Information and Knowledge and Social activities. The results obtained from the factors analysis revealed that these six factors explained 69% of the variation of the knowledge of farmers regarding sustainable management of on-farm water resources in the Ahwaz Township.

The present study investigated the effect of water price on cultivation pattern at Shushtar Township during 2006-2007, using restricted profit function. The results show that beside the affect of some production inputs, price of water is not effective on farmers’ decisions about crop selection. This shows that only using this policy, by itself cannot have effect on decreasing water demand in agriculture sector of this county. The present study suggested applying complementary policies such as dissemination of modern irrigation methods, using participatory management and determining optimum cultivation pattern according to water necessity in each region.

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors affecting farmers' knowledge about sampling concepts from farming soil. The research instrument was structured questionnaire with close-ended questions, which its validity and reliability was confirmed. The target population was included all farmers in Shahreza township of Isfahan Province (N=9,825) that among of them, 215 persons was chosen by using Cochran formula through stratified sampling as statistical sample and finally 195 questionnaires was analyzed (Response Rate: 90%). Descriptive results of research showed that the knowledge of a majority of the respondents about sampling concepts from farming soil were at the good level. There was a statistically significant relationship between farmers' knowledge about sampling concepts from farming soil with their some farming and educational characteristics. The results of the bivariate regression revealed that 24.4 percent of variability in sampling concepts from farming soil stems from the amount of extension contacts, the use amount of information resources, and size of farming land owned.