نشریه تعاون و کشاورزی
سال دوم شماره 8 (زمستان 1392)

This research aimed to identify and analyze the influential factors on member's participation in management of rural co-operatives in Gorgan Township. This descriptive research has been done by survey method. Populationincluded all the members of rural co-operatives in Gorgan Township. Sample size has been determined by Cochranformula (n=140). A researcher-made questionnaire was used in order to collect data. Face and content validity were established by a panel of experts. Reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed according to calculated Cronbach's alpha (r=0.76). The results of correlation coefficient showed that there was a significant relationship between members’ participation rate in public conventions and membership background as well as their interest to participate in conventions. Factor analysis of the "influential factors on members’ participation in management of rural cooperatives", extracted three factors, named "management potency", "cooperative performance" and "mechanism of participative management", explained 60.63% variances of analyzed variables. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that probability of participation in conventionsincreased through "management potency" and "cooperative performance" while increase in years of experience and member's age decreased their participation in various conventions.

The purpose of this survey research was to identify the level of success in Agricultural Production Cooperatives (APC)in Ilam Province. The research instrument was a questionnaire that its validity was established by a panel of experts and reliability was confirmed by filling out 30 questionnaires. Cronbach alpha analysis established a minimum alpha coefficient of 0.84 and a maximum of 0.93 as the reliability of the subsections of the questionnaire. The population for this study included all members and managers of APC in Ilam province (N=782). Cochran’s formula was used in determining the sample size. Stratified sampling technique was chosen (n=254). The result of research indicated that the majority of respondents (77.5%) believed that the generallevel of success in agricultural production cooperatives was appropriate. In assessing the success of cooperatives in different functions findings showed that most respondents, had evaluated the success of cooperativesin preparing agricultural inputs and delivering advisory services functions at high and very high levels (respectively 56.69% and 66.93 % of members) and 74.83% have evaluated the success of cooperativesin delivering educational programs relatively high. Approximately (43%) of the members estimated the success of cooperatives in marketing regulation and financial services at moderate level. However, despite appropriate level of success, public sector participation in creating the economic security for cooperatives such as; providing facilities, credits, insurancefor various cropsas well as guaranteed purchase price could increase success level of cooperatives and help them grow and develop even more.

The main purpose of this study was to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of agricultural student’s cooperatives by using a Delphi Technique in three rounds. The population consisted of experts and experienced people (N=40) regarding student’s cooperatives in Kermanshah Province. Based on results, reducing student’s fear of practical work, increasing learning persistence, strengthen ability to work together, self-confidence, self-esteem and risk taking, and increasing the spirit of cooperation and participation among students are the main strengths of establishing students cooperatives. Lack of credit, lack of appropriate tools and machinery, lack of balance between theory and practice in agricultural courses, official’s unwillingness to provide students the essential tools and machineries, and lack of protective laws for student’s cooperatives, were known as the weaknesses for agricultural student cooperatives. Existence of work and production spirit in society, government efforts for agricultural development and national production, and use of influence in correspondence with other organizations were the most important opportunities and finally inappropriate attitudes toward cooperative in genral and student’s cooperatives particularly, burecracy of administrative conditions, lack of initial capital, disaffiliation between agricultural college and agricultural sector, existence of theoretically oriented thinking among managers, officials and even faculty members, not to belive to student´s capabilities, and lack of support of banks and governmental agencies from such student organizations, were approved as final threats facing the organization and development of agricultural student’s cooperatives.

This study aimed to examine the impact of extensioneducation courses on participation of Stakeholders in conducting rangeland cooperative's projects in Gonband-e-Kavoos Township. The study applied survey research and questionnaire was used for gathering data from the stakeholders who were involved in 13 rangeland management projects. The sample sizeof 234was generated by the use of Krejcie and Morgan Table. Results showed that stakeholders had the most participation in different projects such as renovation plans, volunteer labors, participating in conservation projects, participating in enclosure shrub planting areas and providing water resources for livestock and making watering points. Results from correlation coefficient between extension factors and stakeholders’ participation showed a positive and significant relationship between all factors and participation of stakeholders included participation in the development and modification of pastures, participation in rangeland conservation and participation in contributing to the exploitation of pastures with. 80, 0.75 and 0.63 correlation coefficients respectively. According to the research findings, recommendations are provided such as: Diversification of educational programs, matching the content of extension education courses with operational problems of pastures. Greater use of audio visual aids and field trips due to the low literacy level of most stakeholders were highly recommended.

This study carried out to examine the productivity of private and cooperative broiler farms in Tehran province. The population of this study included all broiler farms in Tehran province.Data were gatheredby using a questionnaire and personal interview with 83 private and 18 cooperative broilers which were selected by simple random sampling as well as census method. Content and face validity were assessed by a panel of experts.Reliability was established by a pilot test. Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was equal to 0.82 Data were treated using the Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences Program. In this regard, partial productivity of labor and feed inputs were calculated. Moreover, estimation of Cobb-Douglas production function method was applied for measurement of total factor productivity for the selected sample. The results showed that the cooperative farms were producing more chicken meat per one kilogram of the utilized feed as compare to private sector. The results also indicated more labor productivity in private farms than cooperative ones. Also, findings showed that the average total factor productivity of cooperative sector in broiler industry was more productive than the private sector.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate strategies to development of strategies to development of entrepreneurship athandicrafts cooperativesin Kurdistan Province. The population for this study was comprised of all members of handicraftscooperativesin Kurdistan (N= 140). Completed survey instrument were received from 129 members. Data was organized in a database setup and analyzed by a Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS-PC) statistics software. The instrument of the study was a questionnaire. A panel of experts was used to establish suitability and content validity of the instrument. A pilot test for reliability was conducted. The reliability score was r= 0.70. Results showed that members did not have enough information about the various functions of cooperatives. Respondents identifiedthe most influential factors in improving cooperative's performance wereeducation–communication, supportand innovation. Factorial analysis identified strategies to development of entrepreneurship athandicrafts cooperativesas principleof cooperation, entrepreneurshiptraining, following up succeededmodelsand research.