فصلنامه تحقیقات اقتصاد و توسعه کشاورزی ایران
سال چهل و هفتم شماره 4 (زمستان 1395)

Food prices are interested policymakers because of its vital roles food security. Agriculture and food prices like other economic sectors will be affected by macroeconomic policies. Hence, governments usually used fiscal and monetary policies to control food inflation. The purpose of this study is investigating the effect of macroeconomic factors on food prices in Iran. In fact, this article looks for answering this question that food inflation is affected by which of macroeconomic variables. Therefore, structural vector error correction model (SVECM) is utilized for period of 1978-2011. The results showed that in short-run food inflation has significant and positive effect on food inflation and value-added has significantly negative effect. In the long-run agricultural value-added has negative and significant effect on food inflation and money supply has significantly positive effect. In fact, food inflation shock increases food inflation in short-run (0.0206). Also rising agriculture value-added causes decreasing food inflation in short-run and long-run amount 0.0186 and 0.0149 respectively. Also money supply increases food inflation in long-run (0.0723).

The increasing demand of agricultural commodities as well as weak management of resources has resulted in the country in order to satisfy domestic needs, a large part of the income is spent on the import of these goods. So in order to better manage the import of agricultural products and identifying the necessary tools to control the indiscriminate importation of these products, in this study, the pattern of imports of agricultural products (wheat, barley, corn, sugar, rice, chicken meat, meat, egg and oilseed) analyzed and evaluated, for the period 1983-2011. The results show that the price policy on imports of egg products, chicken, wheat, due to mainly impact, higher importance. So, import tariff on wheat, meat, and barley, as an instrument of trade policy is very important. The study also shows that the impact of currency fluctuations in the number products is positive (meat) and in some crops (sugar) is negative. Therefore to efficiently manage on agricultural products imports, supporting local producers and food security through food availability in the country, the appropriate policy instruments to keep pace with current trade policies, should be used.

Due to worsening water shortage in various areas, virtual water trade in planning and policy, agribusiness, it is important. By calculating the virtual water content can be adjusted and developing a suitable framework for long-term strategies of water and agriculture sector. This study uses the basic technical approach to determining the amount of virtual water consumption and related indices for the main agricultural products of Zanjan province in 2013. The results showed that agricultural exports (Crop) of Zanjan province in 2013, led to a volume of 26.53 million cubic meters of virtual water export. Also 95% of virtual water export of horticultural products and 5% owned by agronomy. In addition, the intensity of water use in agriculture Zanjan province is estimated 24 percent of the renewable water resources. it is necessary that the agricultural sector in the province, in terms of finding comparative advantage in the production of different agricultural products to be used in such a way that the lowest pressure on groundwater resources, take action.

In the present study, Using the Co-integration analysis in panel data, short and long term relationship between carbon dioxide emissions, per capita income, energy consumption, trade openness index and urbanization In the MENA region during the period 1995- 2012 were assessed. The results showed N-shape relationship between income and emissions. The effect of energy consumption variable was significance at high level of statistical, So that by 10 percent increaseing per capita energy consumption is expected that per capita emissions Increased in the long-term and short-term respectively about 6 and 3 percent. trade openness index with little effect, increases the pollution. The effect of urbanization variable on per capita emissions was not statistically significant.

The main purpose of this this descriptive- correlational research was to Investigating the relationship between organizational culture and knowledge management process in the agricultural faculties of west Iran. The statistical population of the study consisted of the faculty members of west Iran agricultural colleges (N=157), and using Census method and 138 questionnaires were analyzable. A questionnaire was the main tool of study. The validity of the questionnaire was approved by the judgment of a panel of faculty members of the department of Agricultural extension and education, University of Tehran who were assumed here as experts. In order to measure the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach Alpha coefficients were calculated for the main scales of the questionnaire which ranged from 0.81 to 0.91. The data were analyzed by SPSS-win18 software. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistic such as mean, standard deviation, Coefficient of variation, Correlation variability and Regression analysis. The results of correlation analysis showed the relationship between involvement, Consistency, Adoptability and Mission with knowledge management in faculty members is positive and significant. Also, the results of multiple regression analysis indicates that 49/9 percent of the variance of the dependent variable: knowledge management is explained by three components "Adoptability ", "Mission” and” involvement ".

Among different supportive policies of agricultural sector, crop insurance as a useful solution has always been emphasized. Moreover, it is necessary to attract private sector to involve agricultural insurance industry. Agricultural insurance fund of Iran actually began its work in September 1984. From 1996, some parts of its activities have been transferred to production cooperatives (PC) and continuing this policy, some parts of its activities have also been transferred to private agricultural insurance (PAI) agents in second half of 2002. To ensure effective and efficient services of these two agents (PC and PAI) in the field of agricultural insurance, it is necessary to evaluate their performance and to learn more about their strengths and weaknesses. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the performance of PC and PAI. Survey research method was used in this study. Validity of the research tool (questionnaire) was confirmed using face validity procedure. Also, Cronbach's alpha was used to calculate its reliability that obtained from 0.64 to 0.80 for the different parts of the questionnaire. CSM and Seaqual techniques were used to calculate PC and PAI performances. The results of both techniques indicated that PCs have a better performance in terms of social and economic aspects, while PAIs are better in management, general and "law and procedures" aspects. Also, calculating total performance revealed that PAIs have a better performance and farmers have been more satisfied with them.

Climate Change is inevitable events that influenced the different aspects of human life in the coming years. In this context, in order to deal with it without any doubt, policy-makers and water managers a policy of water will change that agricultural sector as largest consumer of water is the first activity that would be affected. The purpose of this study was to simulate the simultaneously effects of climate change and the policy of water transfer from agriculture to industry on horticultural products in yazd province. In this research, The system dynamics methodology was used. In order to analyze the time series data (from 1367 to 1392) the software of Vensim PLE was used. The results showed that climate change will have negative effects on water resources on Horticultural sector which in interaction with other variables involved in horticultural production can cause negative effects on the performance of the gardens by 1404 in Yazd-Ardakan watershed. In this circumstances, the implementation of the reallocation of agricultural water policy will impose more negative effects on the horticultural sector which can increase the risks such a water conflicts among both the major economic activities and intra-agricultural sector has predicted in Yazd-Ardekan watershed for future.

In the recent years, entrepreneurial orientation has been recognized as an important element in organizational performance. Therefore, the main purpose of this descriptive- correlative research was to study the effect of entrepreneurial orientation on organizational performance of the Jihad-e- Agriculture organization in West Azerbaijan Province. The statistical population of the study consisted of 1040 experts of the Jihad-e- Agriculture organization in West Azerbaijan Province. According to the Bartlett et al. (2002) table, a sample size of 240 was selected using a stratified random sampling method. The standard questionnaires were used to collect the data. The content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of experts. The construct validity and the composite reliability of the research instrument were tested by estimating the measurement model and they were satisfied after making necessary corrections. The results showed that the hypothesis of the research have verified and the entrepreneurial orientation had a positive and significant effect on the dependent variable. The entrepreneurial orientation explained about 41 percent of the variances of the organizational performance of the Jihad-e- Agriculture organization in West Azerbaijan Province. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that reinforcing the entrepreneurial orientation directly results in improvement of organizational performance of the Jihad-e- Agriculture organization.

Sericulture is one of lateral agriculture productions. Some of its features such as short period of Rearing, low investment and appropriate incomes for rural people especially at their leisure times turns it into a more special job. This study aims at determining proper functional form of sericulture and economic valuation of inputs. The study has been performed at Mazandaran Province. Statistical population of the study was 1150 sericulturist that sample volume was 240 sericulturist using Cochran formula. Sampling was performed as multi stage cluster and samples were selected accidentally from each cluster. For determining proper functional form at first 5 functional form (Cobb-Douglas, Transcendental, Translog, Quadratic and Generalized Leontief) were estimated that the Cobb-Douglas form was determined as the optimal model. The results obtained from Cobb-Douglas functional form estimation showed that inputs usage amounts were optimal and silkworm rearing at Mazandaran is located at second region of production range. Also, economic value of silkworm egg 3868339, berry leaf 3313and labor 229506 Rials were calculated.

Tobacco farming system as a specialized commodity production system is common in the Mazandaran province and the gains to employment, income and livelihood for rural communities. Hence the development of tobacco farming system can contribute to the sustainability of rural livelihoods. Statistical evidences of tobacco cultivation in recent years illuminate that this farming system is faced with serious challenges in Mazandaran province. This research aimed at identify and analysis issues and problems of tobacco cultivation and provide appropriate solution to develop the tobacco farming system. This qualitative Research carried out by Grounded Theory method. Data was collected by semi-structured interviews. Statistical population of this research consisted of included tobacco growers in the Mazandaran province and experts of Tobacco Research Institute of Tirtash, affiliated to Iranian Tobacco Company. Using purposeful sampling technique, a representative sample was selected (n=42). Data was analyzed through multi-stage coding, including open coding, axial coding and selective coding. According to research findings, restraining factors affecting development of tobacco framing summarized in the six thematic categories, including economic, social – communication, technological - infrastructure, organizational - institutional, natural – agronomic and inappropriate supporting. Also, constructing factors categorized in four principal components, including supplying support services, appropriate policy making and organization, facilitated access to crop inputs, and social considerations. Through conceptualization of retraining and constricting factors, two representative conceptual model of development of tobacco framing system in the Mazandaran province was drawn.

the purpose of this study was to assess the adaptive capacity of farmers towards dust. The population in this study comprised of wheat farmers (N = 2105) in which 330 wheat farmers from Markazi and Moosian townships were selected using stratified proportionate cluster sampling techniques. The first To assess farmer's adaptive capacity towards dust was used as indicators of adaptive capacity. Using AHP techniques, 15 experts weighted the indicators through 2*2 matrices and Expert Choice Software was utilized as tool for further analysis. Composite indicators were then developed for further assessments. Fuzzy logic and MATLAB Software was used to determine the adaptive capacity of wheat farmers. Result revealed that wheat farmers the Adaptive capacity of Dasht Abas Rural district Farmers with the rate of 0.605 had the highest Adaptive capacity and Nahr anbar Rural district with rate of 0.508 and Anaran Rural district with rate of 0.563 were placed in second and third place. The implication of this study aids policy-makers in Dehloran Township to allocated resources based on farmers vulnerability level. Furthermore, the result of this study helps policy-makers to plan for enhancement of farmer's adaptive capacities and thus lowering their vulnerability towards dust.

With regard to the implementation of targeted subsidies law in the country and rising energy prices as one of the most important inputs birder, replacing current fuel sources with renewable sources is necessary in order to reduce production costs. For this purpose, in this we study to identify factors affecting the adoption of new energy resource by birder in Garmsar Township. This research based on goal is applicable and based on method was casual – relative. The population of this study was Garmsar township birders. Based on the results there was a significant relationship between perceived benefits of new technologies, perceived threat from the current situation of energy supply, provides the conditions for the use of renewable resources and willingness of farmers to use it and adoption renewable energy. Purposed model can explained 81.2% of the variance of dependent variable. Also results of path analysis showed that factor willingness with direct impact factor 0.493 was the most effective factor on the adoption of using renewable energy. The perceived advantages of modern energy technologies with impact factor of 0.324 the second, prepared of conditions with total impact factor 0.322 third and perceived threats of the current situation of energy supply and a significant factor with impact factor 0.241 are the fourth affecting factors on adoption process.

The main purpose of the present study was to agricultural education pathology in Payam-e-Noor University (PNU) of Shahreza Branch. Research method was qualitative and the population included four groups i.e. planning personnel, university instructors, university students and graduates in 2012-2013 academic years. The samples were 58 people including 39 students, 7 instructors, 6 planning personnel and 7 graduates. The data was gathered by semi-structured interviews. To determine the credibility and trustworthy of the questions and to achieve impartial and transferable results (transferability of data), the methods of continuous contacts of researcher to environment and the subject, the adequacy of the references, and triangulation were used. The data were analyzed based on a content analysis qualitative method. The results of the study showed that the most important difficulties and obstacles in agricultural education in PNU, Shahreza Branch were the irrelevance of teaching material to agriculture discipline and students’ need, the over-content books in comparison to other universities, ignoring practical teaching and executing methods compatible with agriculture, low level of learning, lack of laboratory and related facilities, incompatibility of test with the content of the course, ignoring frequent and continuous tests, some tests are not comprehensive. Cases such as use appropriate faculty major of Study with course and with higher levels of education and teaching experience, reform and revision of textbooks be free of mistakes content and print, correcting and revision questions and answers before holding the test and the allocations part of scores to operational tests and activities of student were some solutions to solve the mentioned difficulties and improve teaching agriculture.