Desirable size and minimum economic of farm size in farming systems in Golestan province

The purpose of this study was to determine desirable size and minimum economic of farm size in farming systems including peasant, production cooperative, commercial (small, medium and large) in Golestan province. The methodological approach was a descriptive and survey type. The target population in the study consisted total farming systems units in Golestan province, including peasant, production cooperative and commercial exploiters. In all farming systems, using multistage cluster and stratified sampling techniques and Cochran,s formula 358 exploiters (farmers) were chosen including 164 peasant, 80 production cooperative and 50 commercial (small, medium and large) exploiters. Data were collected through a questionnaire and its content and face validity were obtained by experts of farming systems. The reliability analysis was conducted with completing 30 questionnaires out of the target population and Cronbach,s alpha value was 0.88. Data were analyzed using SPSS, V.11.5. The results showed that average farm size in total farming systems were less from their desirable size. Minimum economic of farm size in peasant exploiters was more than their average farm size but minimum economic of farm size in production cooperative was less than their average farm size. In commercial exploiters, farm size enables to provide income which it can provide flowing expenses of production and yearly expenses of exploiters and provide additional income for them. In farming systems that farm size is not desirable, this study suggested using scale profit and in farming systems that their minimum economic of farm size is less than their average farm size, this study suggested to adopt supportive politics and farm integration.