فصلنامه تحقیقات اقتصاد و توسعه کشاورزی ایران
سال چهل و یکم شماره 4 (زمستان 1389)

Information is nowadays the most important asset for any organization, to the point that the significance of Information Technology and its desired results for organizations is continuously on the increase, and developing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Information Technology in the success of educational organizations. The statistical population was a group of 60 persons from the faculty members of the University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran. The main form of gathering data was a questionnaire, and the statistical analysis done by use of SPSS software. According to the obtained results of one-sample t test (value=4), the necessity of using Information Technology can be seen in such areas as student's scientific and professional needs, increased job satisfaction, increased work outcome, management support, effective management decision making, and improving as well as developing new organizational structures. Comparative analysis of the relation between the independent variable and the dependent variables namely the anticipated desired situation and the present situation (the necessary level of Information Technology and the present status of Information Technology) by use of paired-sample's t test, has led to a meaningful relationship.

An Indirect Tarns-log Production Function was employed to estimate the demand functions for such inputs as: fertilizer, seed, pesticide, water recourse and machinery as subject to budget constraint and while using data related to cotton producers in the three provinces of North Khorasan, Khorasane Razavi, and South Khorasan in 2007-8. Lagrange Coefficients with relation to cotton producers in the three provinces are 1.08, 1.13 and 1.23 respectively, indicating that cotton producers are facing budget constraints. Also, results indicate that the economic sizes for these provinces are decreasing and recorded as 0.918, 0.916 and 0.813, respectively.

Macroeconomic policies lead to changes in farming system. These changes are accompanied by some most prominent factors that affect soil erosion. Change in relative prices and its impact on soil erosion, via induced changes in crop patterns and agricultural practices, are related to policies implemented. One of the major goals of the present study is to emphasize on the flow of trade policies in domestic markets, which play as a linkage between upland and lowland areas, in determining an appropriate policy. In this study a general equilibrium approach was taken into account. Results indicate that even though a 10% decrease in industrial import tariff will decrease soil erosion by more than an increase of 10% in the subsidy devoted to horticultural crop's export, nevertheless the latter policy increases the real GNP of the country more than the former policy does.

The augmented gravity model was employed to determine Iran's trading model and agricultural export directions in the case of cross section analysis in 2005 for 64 countries which are considered as Iran's main export market. Besides, another explanatory variable named Trade Conformity Index (TCI) was added to the model. This index was employed to identify Iran's trading model. Also, the role of this index in the impact of export premium on export was analyzed. Accordingly, the countries in question were separated into developing vs. developed ones. The results indicated that Iran's agricultural export was directed towards complementary oriented countries and Iran's trading model followed Heckscher-Ohlins. Also, the results implied that increasing export premium would decrease the impact of this index on agricultural export. So, increasing premium would improve agricultural export to competitive countries.

This survey is carried out with the aim of investigating Iran’s export potentials of agricultural products to member countries of the Organization of Islamic conference (OIC) through use of such appropriate methods as: RCA, HS and Cosine Index. The dates are computed be means of HS data codes in the range of 010000-240000 during 2002-2006. The Islamic countries are divided into 3 groups as based on their trade potential namely: 23 countries with low trade potential (0-2.0) 10 countries with middle trade potentials (2.0-6.0) and 10 countries that are of high trade potentials with Iran (6.0-1). The results as shown by Iran's export Cosine Index to members of OIC indicate that Lebanon (with 0.93), Cameron, Jordan & Morocco are at the highest while Gabon with zero, Algeria & Uganda are at the lowest degree of trade, complementarily, with Iran. With regard to Cosine Index, there is a possibility of increase of Iran's export to Lebanon, Cameron, and Jordan with these agriculture markets deemed as marketing goals for Iran. The results of estimating trade potentials show that a maximum degree of Iran's export potential, based on agricultural products comparative advantage to Islamic countries, is about 4150.4 million dollars, while only about 764.7 million dollars of it, is accessed. In other words, Iran uses only about 18.4% of its agriculture export potential to Islamic countries. Signing trade agreements, with emphasis on products that benefit from comparative advantage along with high export potential perspective are the main steps in making up fot the Islamic trade potential.

Since the difference in productivity growth rates in different provinces is a result of regional inequality, efficiency criteria in the development of regional-scale agricultural activities is beneficial. Therefore it is important that long-term movements in the provinces to identify differences in productivity levels to take effective measures such as investment more in infrastructure, research and development. Be done. In this study, total factor productivity of paddy production and its related factors in major rice-producing provinces using Nonparametric Malmquist review and analysis was. The data used in this study Type of panel data and related System Costs Production paddy in three provinces (Mazandaran, Gilan and Golestan). The results showed, the average annual growth of total factor productivity in paddy production in total agricultural 86-1369 Volume positive but low (1/5 percent per year) was. This figure is different provinces, so that Gilan the highest rate of 6/7% in the year and province Golestan and Mazandaran are next in rank. Study share factors productivity growth (changes in scale efficiency, pure technical efficiency and technology) that the scale efficiency of paddy production in Golestan province of only two in any other role in increasing efficiency. The Mazandaran and Gilan, effect of technology more than two have any other increase productivity. With Note To The results in this study, the formation Bank Needs Research Interest Productivity In Map Institutions related to agricultural sector, in Priority Insert Province That Of Comment growth advantage Productivity In Status Good The Are not policy Development countries, interest Making Technology Find New With With Education And Services Consultancy Complementary and more attention to training and advice farmers on proper use of resources, is recommended.

The aim of the study was to determine the farmer's behavior in adoption of IPM technologies in rice growing fields. A questionnaire was employed as the tool of survey. Population of the study consisted of the farmers taking apart in IPM/FFS participant groups in Gilan and Mazandaran provinces each with 3 years of experience in IPM. From among them, 305 were selected as the research sample. Findings revealed that, 57.5 % of adopters practiced the technologies of IPM through an execution of biological control practices, however, adaptors were in a better state in terms of knowledge, attitude, planning horizon, area under cultivation, and free from a need for off-farm income sources in comparison with non-adaptors, adaptors who were of an older age group. Results of regression logistic analysis revealed that among variable appearing in the equation, knowledge, attitude, planning horizon, accesses to inputs, membership in local group as well as soil quality significantly and positively affect the adoption behavior, while land tenure impact significantly and negatively the adoption behavior. Finally results indicated that the variables in equation are able to predict the behavior of farmers in either of the adoption, or non-adoption to an extent of more than 87% and correctly. Development of the farmer's individual and institutional capacity to create proper context for adopting sustainable agriculture technologies along with the spreading of soil-fertility technologies, as well as a focus on smallholders by extension sectors, were finally recommended.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of farmer field school project on improving date grower's information regarding integrated pest management in Abadan County. The research was done through a descriptive survey by the use of quantitative paradigm. The statistical population consisted of two independent groups. The first: date growers who had been trained through IPM/FFS project and the second: their counterparts who had been simultaneously trained about date farm's IPM and through teacher-based courses. A sample of 66 farmers from the first group, and a sample of 106 farmers from the second group were randomly chosen. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of some faculty members of Iranian Date and Tropical Fruits Research Institute and some experts of Jihade Agriculture Organization of Abadan County. The reliability too, of the questionnaire was confirmed through an assessment of Coronbach' Alpha Coefficient (?=0.78). Findings revealed significant differences between the two groups in terms of IPM information. Also, the results of multiple regression indicated that the variable of presence in any of the IPM/FFS sections had the greatest share in a determination of dependent variable's variance (farmer's information regarding IPM).

The main purpose of this research was to analyze Agricultural Water Management Problems (AWMP) in three contexts of: water source, water conveyance and at the farm level, in Zarrindasht County, Fars Province. The research was carried out based on a survey method with a questionnaire compiled for collection of data. Questionnaire's reliability was confirmed through a computation of Cronbach's Alpha Coefficient which was respectively obtained as 0.86, 0.80, and 0.74 in the areas of irrigation source, water conveyance and at the farm level. Face validity of the questionnaire was confirmed through participation of three groups including a group of Tehran University Agricultural Extension and Education Department scientific board members, Zarrindasht County's Agricultural Jihad Management Experts, and Darab County Water Organization Experts. The study's statistical population and sample included 4648 and 150 farmers respectively by use of Cochran's formula. Sampling was carried out through proportional stratified sampling method. It was revealed highly priority AWMP were included: fall of underground water level, curved canals and the prevalence of mostly rough irrigated lands. The results of means comparison revealed that farmers with no access to credits, those with pumps equipped with diesel engines, and those having to transfer water through earth canals, were faced with more AWMP. Also, according to results of factor analysis, AWMP variables were classified into 5, 3 and 4 factors in the areas of irrigation source, water transmission and at the farm level, respectively.

The main objective of this descriptive research was to determinate the components related to an expansion of marketing of flowers and ornamental plants. The statistical population of the study consisted of all floriculturists (4920) in Tehran, Markazi, Gilan, Khozestan, and Razavi-Khorasan provinces as well as extension experts. A sample of 234 floriculturists was selected by use of “Cluster Proportional Sampling” technique from which 69 experts were selected through census method. The research instrument consisted of two different questionnaires. According to the results obtained through factor analysis, such factors as: facilitating relations among individuals involved in marketing, empowering floriculturists, enhancement of the activity of floriculturists in the market, necessity of advertisements, strengthening and equipping floriculturists, administering production and sale, improving floriculturist's realization of marketing, managing private opportunities along with marketing information management were mentioned by floriculturists as marketing expansion components. On the other hand extension experts pinpointed the following components of: supporting floriculturists, facilitating the transmission of marketing information, promoting the capacity of floriculturist's influence in market, enhancing floriculturists practical realization of marketing, ability of perform exploratory-adapting studies, knowing trustful marketing information sources, helping of making strategic decisions and help in promoting scientific capacity regarding marketing.

Many new technologies have been employed to improve welfare conditions and to provide an optimum utilization of the existing resources in agriculture sector. Laser leveling technology is one of the most progressed in maintenance of soil and water resources which itself has an important role in sustainable development. The purpose of this study was to realize the specifications of adopters vs. non-adpters and also to present an adoption model for laser applied land leveling in Fars province. A survey method along with questionnaire, the validity and reliability of which were confirmed were employed. The population of the study included all the farmers in 17 Shahrestans (counties) of the Fars province. Stratified Random Sampling was employed to collect data from 100 adopters and 240 non-adopters. Results obtained from the study show that the main difference between adopters and non-adopters of laser land leveling is participation such that the interpersonal communication among adopters is more than that among non-adopters. So a creation of motivation of participation among farmers as well as communication is important factors in a spread of land laser leveling among farmers. There is a significant relationship observed between the tow groups regarding economic variables. The results also indicated that composed model would desirably classify the adopters from non-adopters of laser leveling technology. Main variables in classification of adopters vs. non-adopters in this model are communication variables (change agent actively attending) and farmer's social participation.

The purpose of this research was to investigate promoter factors in nanotechnology development as related to Iranian agriculture sector. The method of the research was applied survey. The target population of the study was researchers of national research centers/institutes (N=187) of whom 123 individuals were selected for the study. A questionnaire was developed and its validity evaluated through a panel consisting of the experts in the Nanotechnology committee of the ministry of agriculture, Iran and as well of the faculty members of Tarbiat Modares University. Cronbach Alpha Coefficient was found for the promoter variables appearing in the questionnaire (?=0.92). Factor analysis limited promoter variables to 4 factors namely: information and culture development, research and study facilitation, development of human resources, investment and financial support; covering about 74.3 percent of variances of promoter variables.

This research used a survey method to investigate wheat growers’ beliefs and perceptions regarding the use of weather information in farming decisions in Fars province. A multi-stratified random sample with six strata was used to collect data. The sample consisted of 314 wheat growers divided into six strata based on their climatic zones. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire the validity of which was confirmed by a panel of experts. The reliability of different scales used in the study was assessed through Cronbach’s Alpha which ranged from 0.64 to 0.82. Findings revealed that, farmers’ use of weather information in farm management was low, especially the use of long-term forecasts. Although farmers perceived the application of weather information to be easy, they believed weather information ws not of any practical use. Also, results showed that lack of appropriate agricultural equipment, a lack of understanding of weather information, and inapplicability of weather information for their geographical regions were perceived to be the major obstacles to weather information use. Based on the findings, recommendations were offered to increase farmer's knowledge as well as motivation and leading to a promotion of agricultural weather information use among wheat growers in Fars province.

The economic and social impact of public participation in Hableh Roud Project has been assessed in the current study. This is a Practical-operational research implemented as based upon descriptive method. The study population included 187 individual residents in 8 villages within the Hableh Roud catchment basin in Tehran Province. Random sampling was utilized and the recommendations of experts from the Natural Resource Advancement Team and as well, of the experts and managers of the Watershed, and Rangelands Forests Organization were incorporated in the development of the questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was verified through Coronbakh's Alpha Coefficient in which a value of 89 percent was obtained. The data was gathered through field visits and filling in of the questionnaires. The results were analyzed through SPSS software. The Spearman Correlation Coefficient results indicate that there is a meaningful and positive correlation between the public participation variable in various stages of the Hableh Roud Project and the other such parameters as: socio-economic improvements as a result of the project implementation, better public awareness of the project's objectives, the level of project acceptance, the establishment of social groups, increase in accountability, increase in household income, production increase, access to new credits, increase in the possibility of water extraction, protection of natural resources, and as well the prevention of floods and reduction of soil erosion. However, no meaningful correlation was observed between the public participation variable in various stages of the Hableh Roud Project with other such variables as: reduction in rural migration to the cities, improvement of welfare facilities, social harmony, access to new data and information, more job opportunities, and increase in the area of cultivated lands. The cumulative impact of the independent variables on the improvement of rural economic conditions as a dependent variable through the utilization of multi-variable regression indicated that some variables including the intellectual and financial participation as well as involvement in the training workshops of the Hableh Roud Project have rendered positive effects on the improvement of the rural economic conditions. Moreover, the intellectual participation of the rural residents in the implementation of the Hableh Roud Project had a positive impact on their social status. The result of cumulative effects of independent variables (intellectual and financial participations as well as Hableh training-workshop's attendance as indicators of public participation in the Project) on one of the dependent variables (Economic Conditions) based on step by step multi-variable....

Awareness of the perception of farmers toward cooperation is an important step for developing the role of cooperatives in rural economy. The purpose of this descriptive-correlational study was to investigate perception of farmers toward cooperation. The statistical population for the study consisted of farmer heads of families in the rural society of Kermanshah township (N=24391). Three hundred and fifty samples were selected through multistage sampling method. Data were collected through questionnaire. Validity and reliability of the research instrument were respectively determined through a panel of experts and a determination of Cronbach's Alpha Coefficient. Based upon farmers, views, there exists an institutionalized cooperation culture and collective action mentality in the rural society. Farmers possess a relatively proper perception towards cooperation. Stepwise Regression analysis revealed that 64 percent of the variation of cooperation perception was explained by variables of: social solidarity, family relationships, social trust, income, work experience in cooperatives, and awareness of cooperation principles.