نشریه پژوهش مدیریت آموزش کشاورزی
سال چهارم شماره 21 (تابستان 1391)

This study was carried out to identify social factors on adoption integrated rice-fish farming by farmer in north of Iran. A survey was conducted using a stratified random sampling to collect data from farmers of selected villages in Guilan province. The questionnaire validity and reliability ware also determined to enhance the dependability of the result. Data were collected from 184 respondents (61 adopters and 123 non-adopters) randomly sampled from selected villages and was analyzed using the Artificial Neural Networks. Results showed that correctly were classified 88.9% cases of educate and 70.7% cases of samples kept separated. On these basis social factors influencing the adoption of integrated rice-fish farming were age, experience and rate of participation in extension-education activities.

Todays، creative and committed staff is considered as the organization''s main source. The Wealth of organizations is not technology and physical capital، but knowledge، skill، and staff motivation form foundation of the organization''s capital. Necessity of cultivation of staff enjoying self-management ability leads to the fact that the empowerment of human resources، as a new paradigm، attracts attentions of many experts in management issues. The aim of this study is to investigate and identifying level of psychological empowerment in board members of agricultural production cooperatives. The research design of this study was a survey utilizing descriptive-correlation technique. The statistical population consisted of board members of active agricultural cooperatives in Fars province. Used sampling method was proportional classified. In order to identify the sample volume، Bartllet table was used. According to statistical population (N=1540) 184 of board members in Fars Province randomly selected. Then، to enhance the confidence coefficient of the research، the number of population increased to 193. The instrument face and content validity was acknowledged by the panel of agricultural extension and education experts of Tarbiat Modares University and Shiraz University. The reliability analysis of questionnaire was conducted by a pilot test and Cronbach`s alpha values ranged from 0. 79 to 0. 84 for various part of the questionnaire. The results show that the overall level of psychocological empowerment of board members of agricultural cooperatives in Fars province is above average. Results also showed that competence aspect of psychocological empowerment of board members of agricultural cooperatives in the Fars province is higher scores (mean 3/81) that other aspects of psychocological empowerment.

People participation is the most effective alternative strategy for achieving development objectives and success of economic structural adjustment programs. Hence، this study was conducted to analyze the mechanism for improving participation of farmers in the management of irrigation network of Jarghouyeh district in Isfahan County. The study adopted a descriptivecorrelational research design and implemented by survey procedure. About 1810 farmer''s who were members in the Water User Associations (WUAs) of Jarghouyeh district of Isfahan County consisted the statistical population of the study، out of which 150 farmers were selected as sample using proportionate stratified random sampling technique. A questionnaire was developed for gathering the data and information. The validity of the questionnaire was approved by the judgment of expert panel. Internal consistency of the main scale of the questionnaire was calculated through Cronbach alpha in SPSS software which was equal to 0. 75 indicating the reliability of the scale. Factor analysis also indicated that four factors Viz.، legal support and provision of facilities by the government، improving farming practices and adopting modern methods، increasing role of GOs and NGOs and provision of necessary education accounted for 57% of variance of the mechanisms for improving farmer''s participation in the irrigation networks. The results of prioritizing of the mechanism for improving participation of farmers in the management of irrigation network indicated that by the government facilitation in the allocation of water، the farmers will participate more in the maintenance and exploitation for the irrigation network. In addition the government involvement in the provision of sustainable legal support system، farmers'' participation will be improved.

Agriculture is the main source of livelihood of large numbers of people living in Marvdasht area. However، water shortage due to long-term drought، growing demand and lack of proper water management practices has endangered the sustainability of agricultural development. In recent years، drought and extracting huge amount of ground and surface water resources by farmers have driven the situation beyond the capacity of water supply sources in many parts of Iran. To reduce this imbalance، a wide range of solutions has been offered. Conservation of water resources with emphasis on management knowledge and behavior at the individual level (farmers) is considered to be an important driver to combat the problem. It is believed that knowledge leads individuals to shape a favorable opinion and consequently، to act toward change and improvement. Accordingly، a survey study was carried out in Marvdasht County، Fars Province، in order to investigate and measure the water management knowledge of farmers living in different climates zone of the county. Using the stratified random sampling method، a sample of wheat producers in Marvdasht County was selected. The needed data was gathered by using a questionnaire among farmers. Results showed that there was a significant relationship between farmers'' knowledge of water management and their water management practice at farm level. Furthermore، farmers in different climates zones have significantly different water management knowledge and water management practice scores. Finally، some recommendations were proposed based on the research results to improve the farmers’ knowledge and management practices regarding conserving the limited available water resources.

Innovation processes review over time، shows that these processes have changed from linear patterns to systematic pattern and today the concept of innovation system instead innovation is common. Since innovation system is important in researches، especially in agricultural research; investigating of innovation systems facing methodology problems such as; evaluation and performance measurement is associated with the failure of compatible local indicators to measure their performance. This challenge has been far from attention. Thus، a study was carried out by using the Delphi method and archival study in the poultry industry of Fars province; and it was seeking to explain the adaptive local indicators to measure performance of the innovation system in this industry. Results show that local indicators measure performance included five indicators: «value added production»، «market information and communication and infrastructure»، «governance and management-spiritual guidance»، «innovation appropriate» and «communication، networking and knowledge exchange» that their localization will be discussed in this study.

The main purpose of this research was an investigation of factors influencing attitude of experts in Jihad-e Agriculture of Fars province toward application of Knowledge Management in their organization. This research was survey method and the statistical population of this study consisted of experts of Jihad-e agriculture of Fars Province in Iran (N= 150). Using proportionate stratified random sampling technique، 92 agricultural experts (by Cochran formula) were selected and the data were collected using a questionnaire which its validity (face and content validity) was obtained by a panel of the faculty members of Agricultural Extension and Education Department of the University of Tehran. Reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed by calculating Cronbach-Alpha coefficient (between 0. 85 - 0. 98). SPSS win 16 was used for data analyzing. The research results indicated that majority of the experts had a favorable attitude toward application knowledge management in the agricultural organization. Results showed that there were significant relationships between independent variables: social capital، organizational culture، and learning organization with research dependent variable (attitude toward application knowledge management). Results of multiple regression analysis of the factors influencing of attitude of experts toward application of Knowledge Management in Jihad-e Agriculture of Fars province by stepwise method showed that two variables of learning organization and social capital could explain 54% of variations of dependent variable attitude of experts toward application of Knowledge Management.

Participation in extension activities is one of the main challenges of extension programs planning in a way of rural sustainable development. In this regard، the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between participation and quality of extension activities in Rural Production Cooperatives (RPCs) of Boyer-Ahmad County. Quantitative research method along with descriptive-analytical technique in the form of comparative approach was applied. Statistic population of the study was the 1809 members of RPCs in Boyer-Ahmad County. The sample size (317) was determined by using the sample size table given by Patten. Stratified random sampling was used to select the participants. Face-to-face interviews were used to collect data with the aid of questionnaire containing open and closed questions. A panel of experts confirmed the face validity of the questionnaire. The KMO coefficient (0. 809 to 0. 834) and Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient (0. 830 to 0. 910) confirmed the validity and reliability of the instrument. Findings revealed that participation of the members in extension activities of RPCs was at moderate and low level. Furthermore، findings of one-way ANOVA showed that the RPCs were significantly different with regard to participation of members. Also، Person correlation coefficient showed significant correlation between members'' participation and quality of extension programs at RPCs. Furthermore، regression analysis showed that among the variables postulated in the model; level of information about cooperative''s law، quality of extension activities، and age together were able to explain 53. 5 percent of variability in the participation of the RPCs'' members.

The purpose of this study was to identify cooperator rural women’s participation deterrent factors in training course in Fadak rural women cooperative in Surkhankola in Golestan Province. The methodological approach was descriptive study of survey type and statistical population of the study included 180 members of the cooperative from that 120 cooperator rural women were selected a sample of the study using systematic random sampling method. Data was gathered through a questionnaire. Its face validity was confirmed by a panel of faculty members of Agricultural Extension and Cooperative experts. The reliability analysis was conducted through completing 30 questionnaires and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0. 73. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Results showed that from the view point of cooperator rural women، most important deterrent factors causing rural women not to participate in cooperative training course were lack of awareness about promoting training courses، length of training courses، lack of enough opportunity to participate and their different occupational and social responsibilities. Unfavorable experience about their participation in former training courses promoted a negative impression of local council were among the least important factors of nonparticipation of cooperator rural women in training courses. This study recommends offering appropriate information about training courses to the participants and shortening the length of training courses to consider different duties and responsibilities rural women are handling.

The aim of this survey study is to evaluate the effectiveness of practical agricultural course to empower undergraduate agricultural student. The statistical populations are consisting of 180 undergraduate agricultural students who have taken this course. Using Cochran''s formula determined the sample & 100 students. Questionnaire was used to collect data after determining content validity (Cronbach''s alpha coefficient obtained 91%). Data analysis was performed using SPSS. The results of the correlation between variables show that، there is significantly positive relationship between students residency، lecturers'' methods، space and teaching facilities، education of program features، course management and student evaluation of teaching effectiveness with their practical.

Agriculture students’ attitude towards their field of study plays an important role in macro programming. The high cost of higher education، and the necessity of increasing the capacity of universities and presenting miscellaneous training courses are the main challenges of agriculture higher education regulations. One of the ways of dealing with these challenges is analyzing the students'' attitudes towards their field of study. Accordingly، this study is aimed to determine the factors that influence students'' attitudes towards agriculture field. This research is descriptive and is performed according to regression analysis. Population is Agriculture students of Payame Noor University of Hamedan (524 = N). Using a random stratified sample and Cochran formula 222 subjects were selected. The survey instrument was a questionnaire and content validity was confirmed by a team of agricultural experts and its reliability was controlled by using Cranach''s formula (α =0/79). Based on regression analysis of factors influencing attitudes، future employment، personal interest in the discipline، the moral value of agricultural labor، the motivation to continue studying at the higher levels، identification of the students'' academic level، intellectual environment and university situations were identified respectively and modelwas estimated.