احسان قلی فر

Application of biofertilizer is governed by different factors whose identification and knowledge will play a great role in farmer acceptance of the fertilizers. The present quantitative study was conducted to identify the factors involved in the use of biofertilizers by farmers in Yengijeh village, Zanjan, Iran. The statistical population consisted of all the local farmers (N=313). Using Yamane formula, the sample size was calculated at 175 but data were ultimately collected from 165 farmers through the convenience sampling method. For this purpose, a questionnaire was used whose face validity had been approved by an expert panel and its reliability was computed via Cronbach' alpha (α˃ 0.7). Binary logit regression was employed to examine the effects of two categories of variables on biofertilizer consumption; these included farmers' individual characteristics (including attitude toward and knowledge about biofertilizers and communication channels) and perceived innovation characteristics (including compatibility, trialability, observability, complexity, and relative advantage). Results revealed that while the three innovation characteristics of trialability, observability, and complexity had significant effects on fertilizer consumption, farmers' individual characteristics had none whatsoever.

Perceived innovation characteristics are one of the components affecting innovation adoption. Accordingly, present study aimed to investigate the perceived bio-fertilizers characteristics impact on consumption of these bio-fertilizers. Statistical population of this study constituted of all farmers were working in Yengijeh Village in Zanjan county (N= 313) from which 161 farmers were accessed through convenient sampling. Sample size was determined according to appropriate sample size for multivariate statistical techniques. The appropriateness of determined sample size was also confirmed by Cochran formula. Data collected through a questionnaire that its validity and reliability were examined respectively by a panel of experts and Cronbach's alpha (α ≥ 70). Stepwise discriminant analysis was applied to examine the effect of innovation characteristics including "perceived compatibility", "perceived observability", "perceived complexity", "perceived trialability" and "perceived relative advantage" on bio-fertilizers consumption. Discriminant analysis revealed that "perceived relative advantage" was the only bio-fertilizers' characteristic that could distinguish consumer farmers from non- consumer farmers. Other variables entered the discriminant function lacked acceptable discriminant power for separating consumer farmers from non-consumer farmers. In this study farmers' perception of bio-fertilizers may could affected by their financial, technical conditions and skills. Thus, it is suggested that farmers' individual and social characteristics considered, besides, bio-fertilizers perceived characteristics.

Due to adverse effect of chemical fertilizers overconsumption, bio-fertilizers have been considered as an alternative or supplementary input. However, sustainable consumption of bio-fertilizers is dependent to their adoption by farmers. Accordingly, the main purpose of this study was to examine the impact of bio-fertilizers perceived innovation characteristics on intention to use them in Yengijeh village in Zanjan County. The statistical population consisted of 313 farmers working in this village from which 165 farmers were chosen through convenience sampling. A questionnaire was applied to gather data that its reliability and face validity was examined, respectively by computing Cronbach Alfa and a panel of expert. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the data. Results revealed that among five bio-fertilizers’ innovation perceived characteristics (compatibility, complexity, trial ability, observability and relative advantage), only observability had positive significant impact on intention to use these fertilizers. It seems that the observability of bio-fertilizers in comparison with other innovation characteristics can be achieved without need for any action to be taken through environmental indicators and informal relationships. Thus, intention to use bio-fertilizers can be predicted by characteristics that easily and without extra effort can be understood.

Aquaculture is one of the agricultural sub-sectors, whose development is of great importance. In the sustainable aquaculture management, social and ecological dimensions are interdependent, and should be considered as a system. In present study, management activities in the form of information exchange, coordination and participation networks among 27 organizations, which are active in aquaculture in Alborz watershed in Mazandaran province are studied using social network analysis. The needed data for social network analysis was gathered through a questionnaire. The data were analyzed by using Ucinet6 which is one of the popular software for analyzing social network data. Based on the results, organizations such as the Mazandaran Fishery Department, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center and Governor had suitable situation in receiving and delivering information and knowledge, cooperation and participation with other organizations, which indicate mentioned organizations are active and dynamic in the network. In addition, the results showed that governmental organizations have more power and centrality (authority) in information exchange, cooperation and participation networks compared to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). In the other side, investigating the NGOs’ out-degree (Social influence) and in-degree (reputation and authority) centralities showed that out-degree centrality is more than in-degree centrality, which indicate that responsible organizations haven’t paid attention to local and NGOs’ knowledge and information related to aquaculture. The results of the role of network activators and analysis of the effect size on restrictions represented that Mazandaran Fishery Department could be considered as a powerful knowledge and information producer with attracting participation and cooperation of other organizations in the network.

While Agricultural engineering, technical and consulting companies have been purposed as a mechanism for developing agriculture sector and increasing employment opportunities for agricultural graduates; providing sustainable qualitative services for farmers and income for their members is dependent on their competitiveness and so developing entrepreneurship in them. Thus, this study was conducted to examine the entrepreneurship development barriers in Isfahan province Agricultural engineering, technical and consulting companies. Using a twostage sampling method, 102 people were selected from 500 organization members. Data was collected through a questionnaire the validity of which was confirmed by a panel of experts. The reliability of the study was assessed through Cronbachs-Alpha which was 0.89. Findings revealed that, the instability in policies on agricultural sector, loan taking out cumbersome laws, lack of capital and cash flow, lack of security for investing in agricultural sector and lack of attention to agriculture sector by government were most important variables. Factor analysis categorized the examined variables in seven factors including: educational, business environment, zoning problems, agricultural specific barriers, monitoring organizations obstacles and problems related to members factors.

The results of studies conducted show that one of the main challenges of Iranian agricultural higher education system is limited interaction with the environment. The primary purpose of this study was to identifying organizational variables affecting improvement of interaction status of Iranian agricultural colleges within the organizational health concept. Target population included all of faculties’ members in agricultural colleges in Tehran, Zanjan and Ardebil universities. Statistical sample selected through proportional stratified random sampling. Sample size was designed by calculating Cochran formula. The research instrument was questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was approved by the judgment of experts. In order to measure the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach Alpha coefficients were calculated (α= 0.83). The data were analyzed by SPSS-win16 softwares, with proper statistical methods. Findings showed that there is a positive and significant relation between interaction status and five variables such as nature of work, supervision situation, reward situation, payment situation and regulation. The relations between educational background variable as well as amount of scientific activities with interaction status as depended variable were significant. Likewise, about 64 percent of respondents evaluated their colleges’ interaction status in a low and relatively low level.

The main objective of this descriptive- survey study was to identify explanation factors of villagers’ satisfaction from agricultural consulting، technical and engineering services companies in Zanjan County. The statistical population of the study consisted of all villagers who have benefited at least once or more from the services of the companies in Zanjan County during past two years (N= 2550). According to the Cochran''s formula، a sample size of 262 was selected using a stratified random sampling method. A questionnaire was used to collect the data. The validity of the questionnaire was established by a panel of experts related to research field. A pilot study was conducted to establish reliability of the instrument. Cronbach alpha''s coefficient for the scale of villagers’ satisfaction from the companies was equal to 0. 85. The results revealed that explaining factors of villagers’ satisfaction from the companies in Zanjan County reduced to five factors named as technical and engineering services، extension- education services، executive and administrative activities، communication skills and marketing services. In total، five factors covered 60. 1% of variances

The main objective of this research was to study the components of implementing the Total Quality Management in the agricultural faculties in Iran’s North West universities. An analytical- explanatory research method was chosen for this study. The statistical population of the study consisted of the all agricultural faculty members in Tabriz, Ardabil, Orumieh and Zanjan universities (N= 268). According to Krejcie and Morgan table, 155 individuals were selected by using stratified random sampling method. A questionnaire was used to collect the data. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of experts in the University of Zanjan. A pilot study was conducted to establish the reliability of the instrument. Cronbach 's alpha coefficient for the components level of importance for implementing the Total Quality Management in the agricultural faculties was 0.91. The results of factor analysis showed that five factors namely client-centered, structural-communicational, managerial, professionalism participatory-development and team-oriented explained 67.55 percent of total variances of components of implementing the Total Quality Management in the agricultural faculties.

Regarding the importance of Agricultural Consulting، Technical and Engineering Service Ventures (ACTESVs) in developing agricultural sector and relative low level of farmers’ satisfaction with these ventures، the main objective of this research was to study the effective factors on farmers’ satisfaction with ACTESVs in Zanjan County. Research method of the study was descriptive- correlative. The statistical population of the study consisted of all farmers who have benefited at least once or more from the different services of ACTESVs in Zanjan County during two years ago (N= 2550). Using Cochran''s formula، sample size was obtained 262 farmers. The stratified random sampling method was used to access the samples. A questionnaire was used to collect the data. The validity of the questionnaire was established by faculty members of agricultural extension and education in universities of Tehran and Zanjan. A pilot study was conducted to establish reliability of the instrument. Cronbach alpha''s coefficients for the main scales of the questionnaire calculated more than 0. 75. The descriptive results revealed that about 0. 8%، 23. 7%، 64. 4%، 8% and 3% of farmers’ satisfaction with ACTESVs were very low، low، average، high and very high، respectively. The results of regression analysis showed that 58. 8% variances of farmers’ satisfaction with ACTESVs were explained by the three variables including: respondents’ attitudes towards ACTESVs، level of respondents’ familiarity with ACTESVs and respondents’ literacy level.

The purpose of this research was to analyzing organizational health of the agricultural facultiesin Iran. Survey study was applied as research method. Target population included all of faculty members of public agricultural faculties (N=1837), out of them 97 faculty members were selected as statistical sample. Statistical sample selected through proportional stratified random sampling. Sample size was determined by Cochran formula. The research instrument was a questionnaire that its validity was approved by a panel of experts. In order to measure the reliability of the questionnaire Cronbach alpha coefficient was calculated (α=0.83). The data were analyzed applying SPSS14 with proper statistical methods. Findings of factor analysis showed eight dimensionsincluding intimacy, innovativeness, participation, commitment, goal-path, leadership, cohesiveness-autonomy and development. Likewise, findings revealed that there is a correlation between personal variables such as age, educational and scientific backgrounds with many dimension of organizational health and there is a significant deference among organizational health of the studied faculties.

Agricultural engineering and technical consulting services (agricultural advisory services), have been initiated to provide, among other facilitating affairs, job opportunities for agricultural graduates; while without entrepreneurial activities and simply relying on public sector contracts many of them will not be able to be economically sustainable and preserve their members employment. So this study was conducted to evaluate the entrepreneurship development mechanisms prevalent among these firms. Using a two-stage sampling method, 102 people were selected from 500 companies’ members. Data was collected through a questionnaire the validity of which was confirmed by a panel of experts. The reliability of the main scale employed in the study was assessed through Cronbach’s Alpha equaled to 0.87. Findings revealed that the skills of: decision making, marketing, planning and predicting, as well as communication skills along with facilitating loan grants from banks were the most important variables from the viewpoint of companies’ members. Factor analysis categorized the examined variables in seven factors of: 1) managerial skills, 2) major entrepreneurial skills, 3) infrastructural, 4) business planning skills, 5) agricultural practical skills, 6) educational and finally 7) cultural factors. These factors were determinants of 73.65 percent of the variance among the solutions.

The increasing trend in agricultural wastes is one of the most important challenging problems in most countries، especially the developing ones. Policymakers and researchers being on the alert، do their best to reduce these wastes. The main purpose followed in this study، done in 2007، was to investigate the factors affecting the level of wastes of apple in Zanjan Province، Iran. The study population consisted of apple growers in Zanjan. To select the sample population Stratified Random Sampling was employed، the sample being comprised of 200 apple growers. The questionnaire''s validity was confirmed by judgement ofa panel of faculty members، University of Tehran and as well by some experts from Zanjan’s Agriculture Jihad Organization. Reliability was assessed through Cronbachs''-Alpha with =0. 83 indicating that the reliability of the questionnaire was acceptable. SPSS/win 11. 5 Software was made use of for data analysis، and Factor Analysis method was employed to identify the factors explaining the dependent variable''s variance. The results revealed that seven factors explained 78. 9 percent of the total variance. Inappropriate post- harvesting management with 19. 69%، of significance was found out as the first important influencing factor. Other factors were recognized as excess supply، ecosystem، infrastructural- planning، pre-harvesting management، harvesting management، and inefficeny of organizations.

The main purpose of this study was ranking and assessing factors affecting on the success of rural cooperatives in Zanjan province, Iran. Purposeful proportional stratified sampling was applied to select respondents. For prioritizing factors affecting the success of rural cooperatives in perspective of managers, AHP method was used. Expert Choice Software was used for data analysis. The research findings revealed that appropriate marketing performance, cooperatives and members’ financial power, employees’ education level, managers’ technical skills, amount of participation in cooperative affairs, manager’s human skills and members’ benefit from cooperative, respectively, were the most important internal organizational factors and cooperatives union performance, quality of instructions offered, membership experience, the number of instructional courses offered and knowing the members, were the most external organizational factors on cooperatives success, respectively.

A most important phenomenon among organizational resources is creativity along with mobility of staff، while empowerment being the motivator of creativity and mobility. The purpose of this study was an analysis of management and organizational factors necessary for empowerment of Iranian Agricultural Colleges Faculty members. Research methodology was a descriptive-survey one. The statistical population of the study consisted of the faculty members of agricultural colleges in Iran (N= 1837)، out of whom 404 people were planced in the statistical sample according to the formula setup of Krejcie and Morgan. Multi stages sampling method was emplayed for selection of the samples among all the agricultural colleges in Iran. A questionnaire was assembled as the main tool of the study. The validity of the questionnaire was approved by the judgment of a panel of faculty members of the university of Tehran acted here as experts. To assess the reliability of the questionnaire، Cronbach''s Alpha coefficients were estimated. T-test results showed that there exists a significant difference between the degrees (MSc and PhD) and between places from where the degrees obtained (inside and outside the country)، the difference among faculty members، in terms of ability level being 99 percent. Results of Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed that five factors explained about 60. 691% percent of the total variance covering the management and organizational determinants for an empowerment of the faculty members; theses factors being: Job enrichment، Participation، Facilities، Education as well as Decision making.

The main purpose of this descriptive – survey study was to investigate the factors affecting the professional skills of faculty members in Iranian agricultural colleges. The statistical population of the study consisted of the faculty members of Iranian agricultural colleges (N=1837), from whom 380 were determined as sample, applying Morgan's sample table. The population size was later increased to 404 for an enhancement of the precision of the study. Proportional stratified random sampling method was employed to determine the samples. Data were collected through questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire, was verified by a group of University of Tehran faculty members and specialists. Cronbach's Alpha (Professional Skills= 0.82, Organizational Culture = 0.78, Organizational – Management fields= 0.92) coefficients were applied to estimate the reliability, the extent of which being from. 78 to. 92 indicated the questionnaire's acceptable reliability. T-test results revealed significant differences between the degrees (MSc and PhD) and the degrees (obtained inside vs. outside the country) of faculty members as regarded their professional skills. Regression analysis also indicated that the three variables, organizational – management fields, organizational culture, teaching background, explaining 57.4 percent of variation in professional skills of faculty members.

The main purpose of this survey is to identify the barriers to corporate entrepreneurship development in Agricultural Consulting, Technical and Engineering Service Ventures (ACTESV) in Zanjan Province. A descriptive- survey method was used for collecting the data. The statistical population of the study consisted of all the members of ACTESV in Zanjan Province (N= 301). Based on the Morgan and Krejcie Table, a sample size of 170 was selected using a stratified random sampling method (n=170). A questionnaire was used to collect the data. A panel of experts established the validity of the questionnaire. Cronbach Alpha's Coefficient was calculated to establish the reliability of the instrument with a value being equal to 87%. The factor analysis was applied for analyzing the data. According to the findings, five factors, namely: structural, environmental, psychological, skill and educational explain 68.86 percent of total variances of barriers in the way of corporate entrepreneurship development in ACTESV in Zanjan Province.

The objective followed in this descriptive-survey research was to investigate factors influencing farmers’ attitudes toward participation in Water Users’ Associations. The statistical population of the study consisted of 1435 farmers of Markazi District of Zanjan County out of whom 329 were selected as sample using Cochran formula. Random sampling technique was used for the study. A questionnaire was developed to collect the data. The reliability of the main scales of the questionnaire was examined thuough Cronbach alpha Coefficients ranging from 0.87 to 0.91 the validity of the questionnaire was approved by a group of the faculty members of the University of Tehran and as well by a number of experts. The data were analyzed through SPSS software. The findings revealed the existence of positive significant relationships between farmers’ attitudes toward participation in Water Users’ Associations and formal participation, non formal participation, farmers’ willingness to participate in water users’ associations, educational level, irrigated land size as well as period of membership in rural production cooperatives (at one and five percent levels of significance). In addition there were negative significant relationships observed between farmers’ attitudes towards participation in Water Users’ Associations and farmers’ age, job experience as well as annual income at one percent level. Step-wise Regression Analysis indicated the five variables of: non formal participation, farmers’ age, formal participation, job experience and irrigated land size explaining 77.8 percent of variations in the extent of farmers’ attitudes toward participation in water users’ associations.

Empowerment of human resources is one of the effective tools for increasing efficiency and optimum use of individual and group capacities and capabilities of individuals in order to realize organizational goals. The purpose of this descriptive survey research was confirmatory factor analysis of necessary contexts on promotion of Iranian agricultural colleges faculty members. The statistical population of the study consisted of the faculty members of Iranian agricultural colleges (N= 1837), out of whom 404 people included in statistical sample. To collect data, proportional stratified random sampling method. 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. In order to measure the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach Alpha coefficients was calculated(.78-.92). The data were analyzed by Lisrel8.8 software.. Confirmatory Factor Analyze results showed that organizational culture, professional skills and management – organizational contexes had positive and significant effect on the empowerment of faculty members.

The purpose of this descriptive- correlational research was to investigate factors affecting use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by agricultural extension experts. The statistical population of the study consisted of the Agricultural Extension experts in the Khorasane Razavi Province out of whom 196 individuals were taken as sample, using Cochran Formula and Proportional Stratified Sampling Technique. A questionnaire was designed as the main tool of the study. The validity of the questionnaire was verified through the judgment of a panel of faculty members (University of Tehran), considered as experts in the field. To assess the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach Alpha coefficients were found out for the main scales of the questionnaire (0.87 to 0.95). The data were analyzed through SPSS-win software. The results of stepwise regression analysis indicated that English proficiency skill, knowledge of computer,application, age and years of job experience, respectively explained 54.1 percent of the variances in knowledge on Information and Communication Technology. Also, extent of knowledge in computer skills, as well as in Internet skills, and English proficiency, explained 68.8 percent of variances in use and application of Information and communication technology by agricultural extension experts.

The main purpose of this study was to explore factors affecting student mentalreadiness to enter to agricultural production field after their graduation. Statisticalpopulation was 440 junior and senior under graduate students and 422 graduate studentsat the University-college of agriculture and Natural resources of Tehran University. Using Cochran formula sample size was consisted of 93 under graduate students and 86graduate students. A stratified proportional sampling method based on the major wasapplied. Results showed that 96. 8 percent of under graduate student and 77. 8 percent of graduate students were urban and 65. 2 percent of under graduate student and 57 percent of graduate students had no direct practical agricultural experience. Given the under graduate student regression analysis three variables including: students attitude toward agriculture profession، social status، students’ perception about the direct efficiency of improving farmers performance and their total average explained 44 percent of the dependent variable students’ mental readiness for entrance in agricultural field. Given master students’ viewpoints، regression analysis showed that two variable including: Students attitude toward agricultural profession social status and students’ perceptionabout the direct efficiency in improving farmers performance were explained 51 percentof dependent variable’s variance.

Technical skill of agricultural faculty members is essential in providing change in the agricultural sector. The objective of this research was to identify and analyze skill requirements of faculty members of agricultural colleges of Iran. The questionnaire was administered to 404 agricultural faculty members selected on the basis of proportional stratified random sampling method. Results of exploratory factor analysis revealed that information technology, communication, mastery, use of strategies and status explained 70.66 percent of total variance of the professional skills. Furthermore, statistically significant differences among assistant, associate, full professors and their places of studies were found. Finally, the researchers discussed policies that could raise the technical skills of faculty.