Identifying Challenges Facing Development of Precision Agriculture in Iran

The main purpose of this research was to identify the challenges facing development of precision agriculture in Iran. A descriptive survey research was undertaken and questionnaire was used to collect the data. The research population included agricultural specialists and experts familiar with precision agriculture (N=450) and by using proportional stratified sampling, a sample of 117 was selected based on the Cochran formula. Data were collected using a questionnaire, which its validity was confirmed by a panel of experts. Its reliability was established by collecting 30 questionnaires and Computed Cronbach’s alpha score was 81%, which indicated that the questionnaire was highly reliable. All survey data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 16.0). The results indicated that 50 percent of the variances in the challenges of developing precision agriculture could be explained by infrastructural and educational, content, managerial, human resources, extensional and program planning.