Perceptions of Agricultural Production Cooperative Members Regarding Sustainable Development in Naghadeh Township

This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting sustainable development of agricultural production from the viewpoints of Naghadeh Township cooperative members. A survey method was used to conduct this research. This research was a descriptive-correlational study. The data collection tool was a questionnaire and the population included members of agricultural production cooperatives of Naghadeh Township (N=778). The sampling method was stratified random sampling 260 selected members. The validity of the questionnaire was gained througha panel of experts in the department of agricultural extension and education at Tarbiat Modares University. Furthermore, in order to assess the reliability of the research tool, Cronbach's Alpha test was used. The value of Cronbach's Alpha test for different parts of the questionnaire was between 0.78 and 0.82. Statistical tests used in this study were, Spearman, Pearson correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression. The results of correlation analysis showed that age, location, historical membership, education and socio-cultural, personality, educational-extensional, managerial, economic, politics, and environmental factors had significant relationship with the dependent variables. The results of multiple-regressionrevealed that between variousvariables, five variables such as: personality, Managerial, age, social-cultural and economic had greatest impact on sustainable development of agricultural productioninNaghadeh Township cooperatives. Collectively 52.6 percent of dependent variable was explained.