فصلنامه تحقیقات اقتصاد و توسعه کشاورزی ایران
سال چهل و سوم شماره 2 (تابستان 1391)

In this study، change in the Iranian households’ preferences for red vs. poultry meat is investigated over the period of 1974-2006. To this end، a linear programming model is developed as based on Sakong and Hayes (1992) proposed methodology، while changes in preferences being estimated by in terms of variances in the estimated quantities of per capita consumption of these two commodities during the study period. Results indicate that per capita consumption of these commodities has varied for some of the years in the study period that cannot be explained by change in relative prices. However، given that the variances are not steady، one cannot conclude a permanent change in the Iranian households’ preference for either of these two food products. Based on the obtained to be all results، change in preferences has been positive for poultry meat while (for red meat) being positive (for some years) and negative for (some other years) throughout the whole study period. The accumulated sums of the quantity changes are 3. 3 and 5. 3 kilograms، respectively، for red vs. poultry meat.

The effect of symmetric (non-symmetric) foreign exchange rate shocks on Iranian agricultural import and exports was explored throughout the current research.. Time series of 1973-2007 along with Hodrick and Prescott filter method were employed. The results as obtained through vector error correction and Johnson model indicated that positive (negative) shocks introduce positive (negative) effects on agricultural export while positive (negative) shocks exerting negative (positive) effects on agricultural imports in the long run.. Positive vs. negative shocks bring forth symmetric (non-symmetric) effects on agricultural commodities'' export (import)

Unlike other studies in which the autours have focused on testing the existence of an environmental Kuznets Curve، in this study، causality relationship between the energy consumption (oil equivalent)، carbon emissions، gross domestic production، total labor force and fixed capital formation is investigated during 1960 to 2007 in Iran. Following an examination of stationary tests for all the variables، Vector Autoregressive (VAR) is employed to analyze the relationships existing among all the variables. Results revealed that Gross Domestic Production accompanied by energy consumption led to carbon emission. In addition، carbon emissions in Iran، as compared with other countries respond to shocks in energy consumption relatively quickly. Results of Variance Decomposition Analysis indicate that energy consumption has a greater share، in variance residual prediction of carbon emission، as compared with that of GDP. So، it is concluded that carbon emission could be controlled with decrease in energy consumption، through either price policy or fuel quota in Iran.

Unlike other studies in which the autours have focused on testing the existence of an environmental Kuznets Curve، in this study، causality relationship between the energy consumption (oil equivalent)، carbon emissions، gross domestic production، total labor force and fixed capital formation is investigated during 1960 to 2007 in Iran. Following an examination of stationary tests for all the variables، Vector Autoregressive (VAR) is employed to analyze the relationships existing among all the variables. Results revealed that Gross Domestic Production accompanied by energy consumption led to carbon emission. In addition، carbon emissions in Iran، as compared with other countries respond to shocks in energy consumption relatively quickly. Results of Variance Decomposition Analysis indicate that energy consumption has a greater share، in variance residual prediction of carbon emission، as compared with that of GDP. So، it is concluded that carbon emission could be controlled with decrease in energy consumption، through either price policy or fuel quota in Iran.

Development in the production of agricultural products can take place in two ways: 1) increasing the inputs، which due to limitations in resources is possible only up to a specified level. The second possibility is to increase the productivity of the units by making use of new technologies. Technology is defined as، substituting new ways of production for the old ones to increase production per unit of input. In this paper it is tried to increase the production in shrimps farming through application of new technologies. The needed data was collected from 48 farm sites in Hele site in Boushehr province for the years 2000-2003. To analyse the production changes resulted from change in technology in a specified sample، Bisaliah model (1977) was employed. The results indicate that farms that have applied new technologies have been able to achieve about 59% increase in production as compared with the farms continuing with the traditional technology. The share particular of technical know ledge from this growth has been estimated at 14%. The remaining 45% of the production growth has come from an increase in the production inputs. The shares، coming from nutrition، larve، and fertilization have amounted to 34%، 7% and 4% respectively.

The main purpose followed in this study was to assess and analyze the Knowledge of Jihad-e- Agriculture Organization''s Staff members (Darreh Shahr County) toward Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Statistical population of the study consisted of all the staff members of Jihad-e- Agriculture Organization in Darreh Shahr County (N=97). Census، a prearranged questionnaire was sent to any of the members of in the statistical population، out of which a number of 78 questionnaires were completed and returned. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of experts and its reliability verified through Cronbach''s Alpha coefficient (? = 0. 78). Data was analyzed through SPSSwin16 software. Results indicated that the knowledge of a majority of respondents toward IPM was at a moderate level. Results of mean comparison revealed that there existed significant differences among knowledge of the respondents toward IPM as based on their academic fields. Results of multiple regression analysis indicated that 51. 2 percent of the variance of the dependent variable namely: knowledge of respondents toward IPM is explained by two variables of: education level plus their work experience.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the level of agricultural extension entrepreneurship in the process of sustainable agricultural development. The statistical population of the study was composed of agricultural extension experts (N=2882). The method of sampling was a systematic random sampling one. Questionnaire was the means employed for data collection. Questionnaire validation was verified by a group of experts and as well by professors of the Department of Agricultural Education and Extension، Tehran University. A pilot study involving 30 questionnaires was conducted to determine the reliability of the research tool. Cronbach''s alpha was estimated for different parts of the questionnaire as suitable for the study. The collected data were analyzed through an application of SPSS and LISREL softwares. A structural equation model for measurement of entrepreneurship of agricultural extension in the process of sustainable agricultural development. Within the model، there exist three dimensions for agricultural extension entrepreneurship assessment، namely: innovation، proactiveness as well as risk taking. The assessment components of the agricultural extension entrepreneurship، including a factor analysis as well as reliability factor، were determined. Results confirmed that three distinct dimensions of entrepreneurship، similar to those suggested in the literature، do exist. Based on how the items were related to each factor، the factors were entitled as: innovation، proactiveness and risk taking. The results imply that agricultural extension entrepreneurship is assessable through these three dimensions. The model could be used to improve entrepreneurship potential by managers in agricultural extension organizations.

Drought، known as one of the serious natural disasters، has adversely affected climatic equilibrium of the countries during recent years، bringing about various economic and social losses. The purpose followed in this study was to assess the effective factors involved in the adoption of the type of management wheat farmers of Varamin Township choose to alleviate the situation. The methodological approach was a descriptive- correlational one. The target population consisted of all the wheat farmers in Varamin Township (N=2485). The sample was obtained through Proportional Stratified Sampling (n=334). Validity of the instrument was established by judgement of a panel of experts. The results indicated that the variables of: social participation، promotion in the use of service centers and agricultural services، channels of communication and use of consulting engineering services to agriculture exerted the most effect on the type of management Wheat farmers of Varamin Township adopted towards management of the drought.

The main objective followed in this research was to study some of the factors influencing water users'' participation in management of the irrigation and drainage networks on the lands under Jiroft Dam. The kind of research method of the study was a descriptive- correlational one. The statistical population of the study consisted of all the water users of irrigation and drainage networks active on the lands under Jiroft Dam in Jiroft County (N= 2122). According the Cochran''s formula، a sample of 180 water users was selected using the Stratified Random Sampling method. A questionnaire was arranged to collect the needed data. The validity of the questionnaire was established by a panel of experts. A pilot study was conducted to establish the reliability of the instrument. Cronbach Alpha''s coefficients for the main scales of the questionnaire were obtained as more than 0. 75، which indicates the appropriate reliability of the questionnaire. The descriptive results revealed that، in general، water users'' participation in management of the irrigation and drainage networks stood at a low to intermediate range level. Based on a regression analysis، 68. 7% variances of the dependent variable of water users'' participation in management of the irrigation and drainage networks was explained by the five variables of: the level of water users'' dependency upon the water of the Dam، membership term in the water user cooperatives، water users'' literacy level، level of water users'' satisfaction with performed irrigation and drainage projects and their levels of experience in agriculrture.

In spite of 60 years of past experience، Agricultural extension in Iran still faces problems، obstacles and limitations. Researchers believe that during these years، the service available to farmers has been neither successful nor satisfactory. With respect to the presently available problems and limitations، a thorough identification and analysis of these issues is necessary as well as inevitable to improve the existing situation. Therefore، this study is aimed at an identification of and priority given to the problems and limitations in Extension Education Activities from the viewpoints of Agricultural extension Specialists of the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad and as well from the view points of Extension Specialists in Qom Province. A survey research was conducted applying a questionnaire. Reliability of the questionnaire was approved by experts while its validity confirmed through Cronbach alpha coefficient test the coefficient being found out as 0. 92. Out of all the extension experts and staff of the Department of Agriculture، 117 individuals were chosen through Stratified Random Sampling، using Morgan & Kerjcie Table. Finally، 111 questionnaires were collected and analyzed. Results show that according to priority، the most important problems and obstacles which limit educational-extensional activities could be listed as follows: problems related to the researches (as the current researches do not match every day problems and needs of farmers)، problems related to human resource management (lack of proper motivation and accountability on the part of extension personnel)، administrative problems (legal discrimination against extension personnel as compared with the staff engaged in some other sections)، problems related to human resource educational development (as educational programs in agricultural colleges do not match today''s needs)، executive problems (budget deficiency)، social problems (daily migration of rural youth to urban areas) as well as physical problems (scattered farm lands). The results also indicate that there is a positive relationship between educational، extensional as well as communicative capabilities، and experts'' points of view. A comparison of the viewpoints of different experts (according to their fields of study) shows a meaningful difference between extension graduates، the graduates of other agriculturally related fields vs. those of other disciplines.

Nowadays، along with the development of human communities، wildlife has been faced with serious issues even to the estent of a threatening extinction،Therefore the role of natural ecosystem preservation for the needed conservartion of wildlife is of crucial importance. Estimation of payment willingness is an apparopriate method for an assessment of an individual''s interest in wildlife conservation. The present study performed in 2009، was aimed at the estimation of payment willingness by some JIROFT inhabitants for conservation of Grey francolin، an indigenous endangered fowl، applying contingent valuation method. In total، 191 inhabitants of the region were selected using Simple Random Sampling، the required data being collected through a dual questionnaire. Analysis of collected data was carried out applying a Logit model under maximum likelihood procedure. The obtained results revealed that payment willingness was negatively affected by age، suggested fee and family size variables. While، those familiarity of the inhabitants with the fowl، environmental issues، level of income and literacy exerted positive significant effects on payment willingness. A payment willingness value of 63557 RLs (6/13 $) per year was estimated for the participating and involved inhabitants.

Agricultural production is influenced by different political، economic and environmental factors. Various factors influence production، affecting the income of farmers and even in some cases increasing their vulnerability. Continuation and expansion of economic activity in this sector requires appropriate risk management policies to be promptly and appropriately applied. One of the oldest strategies for risk management in the agricultural sector is the diversity of crops grown. In this study، factors affecting the decision in cultivating various crops by farmers in Mazandaran province (for years 2008 to 2009) with an emphasis on extension activities، has been studied. The variables: farmer''s experience، number of farm labor، farm size، number of educational courses، participation in and understanding of the extension programs، were some of the factors affecting the use of diversified crop culture by farmers. The highest estimated coefficient among different variables was related to the variable of participation. Hence the adoption of appropriate plans along with the use of services of experts in expanding the diversity of crops in this region can be constructively effective.

The present research was carried out to find out the factors influencing the satisfaction of agricultural students regarding practical education at the University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources، University of Tehran. Total statistical population was comprised of 2032 junior as well as senior students of agriculture. The sample of the study consisted of 335 agrisciences students while using appropriate Stratified Random Sampling technique. The reliability of the scales of the questionnaire was verified through Cronbach''s Alfa coefficients ranging within 0. 70 - 0. 84. SPSS software was employed for data analysis. The validity of the questionnaire was approved seeking the opinion of experts from among the faculty members of the Department of Agricultural Extension & Education، University of Tehran. Data analysis was mainly done while applying Multiple Regression Analysis. The findings indicated that there were a number of fourteen variables affecting the level of satisfaction of agrisciences students towards practical education as follows: (1) willingness to make the «Project Course» compulsory (2) participation (3) increasing laboratory courses credit (4) quality improvement of the practical and applied courses (5) suggestion of rules and regulations to facilitate the more often visiting of students of the pertinent rural areas (6) Utilization of the new methods of practical education (7) Provision of the necessary equipment to communicate with the research centers (8) Provision of the needed financial support (9) awareness of the related existing and new businesses (10) Utilization of complementary brochures and CDs (11) Familiarization of teachers and instructors in working with new machinery (12) Participation and cooperation in the programs of «seed samples» collection (13) Reducing the period of «Training Courses» (14) Students'' visits to get familiarized whit different farming systems. These items explained about 48. 42 percent in the total variance of the «Satisfaction of agrisciences students».

The increasing trend in agricultural wastes is one of the most important challenging problems in most countries، especially the developing ones. Policymakers and researchers being on the alert، do their best to reduce these wastes. The main purpose followed in this study، done in 2007، was to investigate the factors affecting the level of wastes of apple in Zanjan Province، Iran. The study population consisted of apple growers in Zanjan. To select the sample population Stratified Random Sampling was employed، the sample being comprised of 200 apple growers. The questionnaire''s validity was confirmed by judgement ofa panel of faculty members، University of Tehran and as well by some experts from Zanjan’s Agriculture Jihad Organization. Reliability was assessed through Cronbachs''-Alpha with? =0. 83 indicating that the reliability of the questionnaire was acceptable. SPSS/win 11. 5 Software was made use of for data analysis، and Factor Analysis method was employed to identify the factors explaining the dependent variable''s variance. The results revealed that seven factors explained 78. 9 percent of the total variance. Inappropriate post- harvesting management with 19. 69%، of significance was found out as the first important influencing factor. Other factors were recognized as excess supply، ecosystem، infrastructural- planning، pre-harvesting management، harvesting management، and inefficeny of organizations.

Factors influencing behavioral reaction of corn farmers to mitigate production risks in Kermanshah Township region constituted the main purpose followed in this descriptive-correlational study. The study population was comprised of corn farmers of Kermanshah Township who cultivated corn during the farming year 2009-2010 (N= 3239). A sample of 340 farmers was selected through Systematic Random Sampling. Results revealed the framers'' behavior as risk-averse oriented، type of and this reaction was affected by variables of age، education level، and ownership، and as well by having participated in extension courses. Among these variables، age exhibited a more pronounced effect on a framer''s behavioral reaction، in a way that with increase in age، farmers became more risk-averse. In addition، a framer''s management reaction indicated that 65 percent of the farmers believed in prompness and innovation in crisis management and knew that they must find immediate remedial solutions following occurrence of adverse events.

Improving the marketing capabilities of beekeepers is assumed one of the most important and effective factors affecting the development of apiculture industry. The purpose followed in this study is an investigation of the educational needs of Lorestan Province beekeepers in the domain of marketing scope. The population of the study included all beekeepers in Lorestan Province (N=1200). A sample of 85 beekeepers was selected through the Random Sampling Technique (n=85). The tools adopted for gathering data was questionnaire. The validity of the instrument was gained through judgement by a group of faculty members of agricultural college of Tehran University and as well by some animal husbandry specialists in Loresatn Province. Reliability of the questionnaire was implemented by conducting a pilot test. Cronbach''s Alpha being، used to assess the reliability of the instrument، was obtained equal to 0. 91 indicating the instrument reliability (? =%91). Findings revealed that: a knowledge of the marketing centers، recognition of the demand sites for the product، awareness of the product prices in non-local markets، an estimation of the proper price in deals with different size packages and satisfaction of the customers to pay a reasonably fair price for the commodity have been some five items of the educational priorities of respondents in marketing their products. Likewise، there is a negative relationship observed between the level of a bee keeper''s education and extent of business vs. his need for learning more about marketing. Eventually، market recognition، sale management and sale communication are indicated among the most important educational needs of the respondents as regards marketing.

The effects of agricultural information on the technical knowledge of the greenhouse owners in South Khorasan province are dealt with in this study. Research A descriptive-correlational methodology was ployed، and in terms of time، it was limited to the activities of the elements of knowledge and agricultural information as obtained from greenhouses during 2009. The study population consisted of greenhouse owners in South Khorasan Province، as based on Agricultural Organization statistics، The number of individuals being over 122. In this study، a Census method was utilized to achieve the required information. Research findings suggest that the technical knowledge at the level of greenhouse owners is low. There is a significant positive relationship in information sharing between greenhouse operators، researchers، extension agents، academic members، fellow farmers، vs. technical knowledge of the operators. At 95 percent level، a positive and significant relationship exists between technical knowledge of greenhouse operators، vs. education، farming experience، experience in greenhouse cultivation، cultivation of crops and greenhouse production per unit area. The results of regression analysis in determining the estimating equation of the effective professional and individual characteristics on technical knowledge of greenhouse owners indicates that education، history of greenhouse cultivation، work history and cultivation of agricultural crops، respectively، were the most important variables contributing the most to the technical knowledge of greenhouse owners، and explaining about 39 percent of the change in the variance of these variables.