نشریه تعاون و کشاورزی
سال دوم شماره 6 (تابستان 1392)

Establishing successful Water User Associations (WUAs) requires a deep understanding of social, cultural, economic, desires and attitudes of farmers in each region. This study aimed at analyzing attitude of farmers toward establishment WUAs in Gachsaran Township. Descriptive and correlative method was used to conduct this research. The population consisted of 572 farmers in Gachsaran. Krejcie and Morgan’s Table was used in determining the sample size, 219. Questionnaire was used in collecting data. Content and face validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of experts at the Departments of Agricultural Extension and Education in Tarbiat Modares University and Rural Development in Yasuj University, as well as by specialists of Mahab-e Ghods Advisory Cooperation. A pilot-study was implemented for determining the reliability of the instrument (0.86). Data was analyzed using SPSS software. According to the research findings, 51.6 percent of the farmers had a positive attitude and 48.4 percent had a negative attitude towards membership in the WUAs. Correlation results revealed that there was no significant relationship between the farmer's awareness regarding the principles of cooperatives, Size of farming land, age and level of education with the attitude towards establishment of WUAs. On the other hand, there was a significant positive relationship between the number of household members, number of farming lands, ears of agricultural experience and attitude toward establishment of WUAs.

Identifying the problems of greenhouse crops cooperatives is necessity for development of such businesses. In fact, the pathology of greenhouse cooperatives for determining defects and failures increases their competitiveness capability. The main purpose of this study was to carry out pathology for greenhouse crops cooperatives in Kermanshah Province. The population consisted of managers of greenhouse crops cooperatives (N=50). The main research instrument was a questionnaire. Internal consistency of the instrument was established using Cronbach's alpha. The questionnaire was reviewed for content and face validity by a panel of experts. Based on findings the cooperatives were somewhat vulnerable. Factor analysis revealed the most important problems of greenhouse crops cooperatives as economical-financial, lack of human resources, lack of legislative-policy procedures, administrative- managerial, and lack of team working manner. For resolving these problems, respondents included statements such as improving management of cooperatives, promoting members’ participation, and improved marketing were proposed by respondents.

Based on rapid increase in value of information, equipping the managers with reliable and correct information system can play an important role in suitable decision making process. The purpose of this research was to determine factors influencingManagement Information Systemapplicationby managers of Cooperatives in Ilam province. This was a descriptive-correlative type of research. The population of the study included 245 agricultural cooperatives. Cochran’s formula was used to determine the sample size, 72 managers of agricultural cooperatives in Ilam province were identified. A version of Digital Literacy of Washington University and researcher-made questionnaire were the tools used to collect data. Content and face validity of the questionnaires were determined by the use of a panel of experts. Cronbach’s alpha was used to estimate reliability of the questionnaire (86%). Statistics such as one sample t-test, Pearson correlation, and multiple regressions were performed to analyze data. The findings revealed that the average Management Information System application was (M=2.07), which was quite lower than the middle value. In addition, Management Information System application ion as well as Internet Literacy was the effective factors identified in using this suitable system and explained around 45% of the variance of Management Information System.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitude of agricultural cooperative members towards sustainable agriculture practices in Karaj Township. The population surveyed were the agricultural production cooperatives (N=1120). By entering the standard deviation of the dependent variable (Achieving Sustainable Agriculture) 177 individuals were selected as the sample for the study using the Cochran sampling formula. The main research instrument was a questionnaire. Content and face validity for the questionnaire was established by a panel of experts. The Likert-type scales were pilot-tested for reliability with a group of farmers. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.7. Findings showed that agricultural cooperative member’s attitude towards sustainable agriculture practices was inadequate and application of sustainable agricultural operations is in moderate and low level. Result of correlation analysis also showed that there was a positive and significant relationship between dependent variable (Attitude toward sustainable agriculture) with member’s level of education, awareness of sustainable agriculture practices, participation in training courses, and governmental support for sustainable development. Result of regression analysis also revealed that three factors including attitude toward agricultural practices, awareness of sustainable agriculture and participation in training courses could explain 56.2 percent of applying sustainable agricultural practices.

This study was conducted to identify obstacles hampering the achievement of livestock cooperatives in Khodabandeh Township. This survey- descriptive research was carried out to investigate barriers to the success of livestock cooperatives in this city. A questionnaire was developed by the researchers and used for data collection. The instrument was validated by a panel of experts in the Department of agricultural extension and education at Zanjan University. Its reliability was determined by Cronbach's alpha index. The population consisted of (N= 220) livestock cooperative members. A simple random sampling method was used to select respondents (n= 140). Findings showed that 19 factors associated with obstacles hampering the achievement of livestock cooperatives in the Khodabandeh Township which was divided into four general categories. An Assessment by members’ viewpoint indicated that 6 factors had very high importance, 9 of them had large importance but only 4 factors had low or medium importance. Also factorial analysis results revealed that success barriers of livestock cooperatives divided to 5 categories namely marketing, economic, managerial, organizational and social factors. These factors were able to explained 69.24% of the total variance barriers of cooperatives successful in the livestock sector.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurial spirit and job satisfaction among rural cooperatives managers in Guilan province. Sample population was 200 of rural cooperative managers and board members of these cooperatives. This sample was obtained based on Bartlett et al. (2001) Table for the minimum required sample size for given population. Cluster sampling was used as sampling method. A questionnaire was used to collect data. The questionnaire was reviewed by a panel of experts for face and content validity. Collected data was analyzed using SPSS software. Descriptive and inferential statistic was used in terms of the research objectives. Results indicated that there were significant relationship between entrepreneurial spirit and place of birth, tendency to attend training courses, self-employment, level of education, experience in manager position and job satisfaction. In addition, there were not significant relationship between sex, marital status, place of residence, main job, entrepreneurship courses and entrepreneurship spirit.