JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND EDUCATION RESEARCH
Year:2016 | Volume:9 | Issue:2 (34)|Papers Count:8

The purpose of this research was to investigate the role of self-directed learning model on entrepreneurship development. This is a descriptive and correlation research method. To collect the data a questionnaire was developed. Total population for this study was 390 educators in applied science centers in Western Azerbaijan province that random stratified used to collect 128 of them. To analyze the data SPSS software was used. The results of the correlation between research and entrepreneurship development suggests that age, continuity and stability of employment, motivation, creativity and job creation have a significant relationship with the development of entrepreneurship. Based on the results of the research, the collective effect of independent variables on the dependent variable of the regression suggests that the variables of employment and creativity have a positive impact on the development of entrepreneurship. According to the results of prioritizing in increase self-confidence, educators can decrease graduate's concern about starting a business failure with the correct training and they are confident in the launch business action.

With respect to the importance of Food security and irreparable damages resulting from overuse of agricultural chemicals on the environment and human health, the purpose of the research was to evaluate the Organic Farming's capabilities in Food Security. This is an applied research with quantitative, deductive, longitudinal retrospective, analytical, non-experimental and correlation and regression methodology. Statistical population for the research was agricultural experts in agriculture organization in Tehran province (N=61), and due to the limited statistical population, the sampling method was census. Dependent variable of the research is Food Security that measured by five parameters: food availability, accessibility, utilization, stability and safety and independent variable is Organic Farming. After data extraction, statistical analysis was carried out by SPSS-19 and Amos-5. The results showed that the majority of respondents (58.3%) believe that the situation of Food Security in Tehran is on average level. Also, the Organic Farming's capabilities on food availability, accessibility, utilization, stability and safety in Food Security situation could explain 95.9 percent of Food Security variance.

The purpose of present research was to analyze the influence of information and communication technology on Agricultural supply products chain. In this regard, About 220 Farmers of the central district of Falavarjan County were selected as research sample by using Cochran sampling technique. After confirming the face validity of the questionnaire by faculty members of the Rural Development, its reliability was assessed using Cronbach>s Alpha from 0.82 to 0.94. The results showed that there were significant differences in the use of agricultural supply chain among different groups of farmers based on their age, income and education. Also, according to the results, there were positive and significant relationships between farmers> income and educational level as independent variables and adoption of ICT as dependent variable. Moreover, there was a negative and significant relationship between respondents> age and dependent variable. On the other hand, the results of multiple regression analysis showed that variables such as educational level and adoption of ICT had positive and significant effects on agricultural supply chain as these variables could explain 34.6 percent of the variances of the supposed dependent variable.

Increasing of producers' knowledge in any field requires a correct understanding of that field. The purpose of this descriptive correlation study was to identifying of these factors. The statistical population consist all 2462 grape growers in Takestan Township which 240 of them were selected based on Cochran sampling formula and applying randomized stratified sampling method. The validity of research tool was verified by a panel of related experts. A pilot study was conducted and calculated Cronbach alpha coefficient was at the appropriate level (higher than 0.7 for different composite indexes). The finding revealed that respondents had a mediocre and lower knowledge (M=0.49).they had good knowledge of before planting grapes (M=0.72) and had the least knowledge about the packaging and storage of raisins (M=0.38). The attitude of grape growers toward production and packaging of raisin was relatively neutral (M=3.02). The extent of using of extension and education services was moderate (M=2.51) and among 13 information resources which they were using, the expert grape grower of village ranked as first. There was a positive meaningful correlation between grape growers> knowledge and their work experience, the extent of using extension and education services and the extent of information channels.

Farmer field school (FFS) is an effective education and extension approach for increasing farmers' potential to use modern technology which is expected to help food security. This approach has been implemented in the Boushehr province since 2008. Accordingly, determining the effectiveness of these schools can help to improve the performance of them. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the FFS approach that was implemented for tomato farmers of Kaki district in Boushehr province. For this purpose, a survey methodology was employed in to a sample of 80 FFS members. The Kirkpatrick model was used to evaluate the program. Questionnaires based on the model were administered face to face to all the 80 FFS members. Face validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by panel of experts, and the questionnaire was subjected to reliability testing by using data collection in the pilot study with Cronbach's Alpha value of 0.72 to 0.86. The research found out that the FFS course offered was effective in the areas assessed, learning, behavior, reaction and result. It also found out that the most significant variables in terms of learning dimension involves cultivation, the arable land and production. The regression model explained 38% of the variance of the dependent variable (learning). This is despite the fact that these variables for skill dimension include level of education, experience and production. The regression model explained 31% of variance of the skill dimension. Finally, according to research findings presented proposals to improve the effectiveness of FFS approach.

The main purpose of this survey research was to analyze factors affecting entrepreneurship development in rural production cooperatives in Isfahan city. This is a descriptive research methods. Out of 15 rural production cooperative, 75 members consisting of CEO and the board members were selected as samples. In order to measure the reliability of questionnaire, Cronbach Alpha coefficient was calculated (a=0.872). Validity of the questionnaire was approved by a panel of experts. Data were collected using a questionnaire developed for the study. Data were analyzed by applying SPSS win16 and LISREL. The results showed that the mean score of entrepreneurship within our samples was 2.585 with most of the cases (62.8 percent) classified as very poor or poor. Also, based on the results of one sample T-test, the level of entrepreneurship development in rural production cooperatives was much lower than average at the 95% significant level. In addition, in order to investigate the factors affecting rural production cooperative development, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equations modeling were applied.Results showed that factors affecting of entrepreneurship development in rural production cooperatives in Isfahan city were to be formed in seven distinctive factors including: Economic, social, managerial, marketing, promotion and education, psychological and cultural factors.