Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development
Year:2005 | Volume:13 | Issue:1 (49)|Papers Count:8

During last two decades in many developing and developed countries, microfinance institutions have been introduced as an effective means for poverty alleviation, and some countries have been successful in this respect.In the article, first , some notable experiences in leading countries have been explained. Second, the results of the study made in Fars province to find out the possibility of establishing microfinance institutions will be presented. A random sample of 15 villages and 235 farmers were selected for interview. The logit model was employed to find out farmers’ attitude, toward microfinance and factors affecting it. In addition, the farmers’ demand for credit was estimated. The results of the study revealed that low income groups who had higher share of credit from non-institutional money lenders, had more positive attitudes toward microfinance. Finally, some recommendations are made for establishing microfinance institutions as an alternative for informal money lenders and complementary to activities of credit agencies.

In this article, the author tried to answer the question of whether the distribution of income and the ability of saving of Iranian rural households are compatible to the requirements of rural family's development, especially whether security and guarantee of participation of rural family are compatible to the process of rural development. Through statistical data related to expenditures and income of rural families (1999), rural family income classification was investigated. Meanwhile, the amount and type of the expenditures of rural families as well as magnitude of the saving capabilities of different rural income classes were determined. Finally, the study results were analyzed according to integrated and sustainable rural development requirements, especially in relation to villager's participation.

Understanding the status of poverty in a community is considered to be the first step forward to put in line plans to combat against poverty and deprivation and also it would be a gateway to survey the materialization of previous policies and review them respectively. Keeping in mind importance of the issue, we have studied the status of poverty in rural and urban areas within the years 1996 – 2003 .Layout of the chapters is initiated by reviewing definitions and kinds of poverty concept as well as short look at similar previous studies. In continuation, we have taken the note on how the poverty line and its different scales could be calculated. We have also introduced different methods of poverty measuring along the study. As a matter of fact, poverty is examined here from two separate aspects as absolute and relative in both urban and rural areas. Absolute food poverty line of family is measured on the basis of an appropriate regimen and then the aggregate family absolute poverty line has been estimated by three different methods. Ratio of absolute poverty within the families, have been calculated through four different methods using absolute poverty line. Some notable results of the study are as follow:1-Within the timeframe of the study and in both urban and rural areas, quantities of different absolute poverty lines, as well as relative poverty lines, have had an rising  trend according to growing prices (except the year 2000 for rural areas).2-The extent of absolute and relative poverty lines has stood in a higher position in urban areas.3-Absolute poverty of families in rural areas is higher than urban areas.4-Relative poverty of rural areas unexpectedly has been estimated more than urbanareas for the years 1998-2000.

The main purpose of this study is to analyze the short- run and long- run effect of exchange rate fluctuations on the pistachio export price of Iran. For study the relationship between export price and other variable, the Autoregressive Distributed Lag model (ARDL) was used. Data set were obtained from different issues of Central Bank of Iran over 1971-2000.The results show that an exchange rate fluctuation, in short and long- run, is the most important factor affecting pistachio export price. In addition, the exporting amount of pistachio affects pistachio export price. In short-run, the relationship between export price and domestic production is significant and negative.

In this study we concentrated on water economic value, optimal level for usage of inputs, and also the effects of groundwater level changes on social welfare of pistachio producers in  Zarand (Kerman provience, Iran) during 2003-2004. First a production function was estimated and optimal level of inputs by calculating average and marginal productivity were determined. Then by formation of profit or social welfare function, the effect of changes in groundwater lelvel on social welfare of producers was determined. Results indicate that economic value of water in the study is 719.86 Rials per cubic meter. Water and labor were used lower than of optimal level and using of machine is higher than of optimal level. Further more if groundwater level fell down one meter, then 430012 Rials of social welfare for producers will contracted.

Red meat is important from the point of both necessary protein, food security and its share in agriculture sector value added. Red meat price has been affected by direct and indirect  government interventions in production, consumption, marketing and trade process. Production profitability of meat has made some incentives for activity and investment in this sector. Government interventions in market and existing of unreal prices and costs in output and input markets has biased economic evaluation of these products. A market price, revenues and government interventions effects (subsidies and taxes) for meat products (mutton and beef) has been analyzed for 2003 and social profitability for each product has been calculated based on real prices. In addition, the effects of world prices, exchange rate, and feed to livestock weight coefficient on the supportive and comparative advantages indices calculated. Results showed that in 2003, Iran has had comparative advantages in mutton and beef production. Sensitivity analysis showed that beef product is more sensitive than mutton especially with  respect to exchange rate and feed to livestock weight coefficient. For retaining this situation, productivity and production costs must increase and decrease, respectively.

It was believed that the main obstacle for the development of under developed countries is the lack of capital investment, which could lead them into the vicious circle of under development. Therefore, flow of capital from abroad is the only solution for getting free of the vicious circle. Nowadays, the indicated belief quite changed, so that in spite of the necessary role of the capital in development process of countries, but it isn't sufficient factor at all in this respect. So that, some developing countries proved that under condition of limited amount of internal capital, development achievement is possible if using suitable methods and efficient financial systems to mobilize the small but numerous idle capitals available across the country. Because of complimentary role of the microfinancial institutions in mobilization and allocation of financial resources, especially in the rural areas, settling down these institutions has a very high priority in development plans of monetary sector of the country.In this study, by reviewing the performance and successful experiences of Grameen Bank of Bangladesh and the funds of Gharz Al Hasana in Iran, a comparison have been done among the indicated institutions through selected factors such as degree of influence, financial self-sufficiency, the ratio of deposits to loans, value added to given credits, and value added to the number of staff. Also, we tried to find suitable solutions for the problems facing micro finance in the rural sector of Iran. The study shows that the influence indices, self sufficiency and the ratio of value added to credits of the Gharz Al Hasana funds in rural area of Iran are less than similar indices for Grameen Bank of Bangladesh.

This study aims to determine optimum crop pattern in Iran’s Golestan province. Risky (Motad) and common linear programming models were used to determine optimum crop pattern in current situation and also under implementation of agricultural development plans. In addition to determine optimum crop pattern, the effect of price risk control, which is determined by commodity exchange market on paddy lands, was studied.Under current situation along with high levels of risk and low fluctuation of rice price, the paddy cultivation firstly rises, and then with more decrease of price fluctuation, it has dropped. On the other hand, in the low levels of risk, along whit the decrease of price fluctuation, paddy cultivation has increased. Under implementation of agricultural development plan, with decrease of price fluctuation in Motad models (varied risk levels), paddy cultivation has increased. But high decrease of price fluctuation will reduce paddy cultivation, ultimately.The maximum paddy cultivation was different in various risk levels. It shows that farmers react in different ways by considering risk-taking levels, when facing price fluctuation control issue. In order to determine the range of price volatility, it need to consider some important issues like the level of risk-taking, Government policies, self sufficiency rate, farmers' profit and revenue maximization and so on.