Analysis of social factors effects on Rural Production Cooperative's success Case Study: Boyer-Ahmad County

Almost half the world''s population lives in rural areas of developing countries، while the majority of them are small farmers and their livelihood is through agriculture. With regard to low efficiency of their activities due to some reasons i. e. lack of using new technical knowledge and machines، cooperation and team work is very useful to enhance their efficiency and to improve their economic status. Thus، today one of the most important strategies of different countries either developing or developed is to establish cooperatives in agricultural production system. Rural Production Cooperatives (RPCs) is one example of such cooperatives. Thus، the aim of this study was to analyze social factors influencing these cooperatives success in Boyer-Ahmad County، Southwestern of Iran. Also، the objectives of this study were: - To measure RPCs success in meeting predetermined goals; - Comparison of different RPCs based on their level of success; - To explain factors influencing these cooperatives success in the study area. A survey research method was used in this study. Research population consisted of the members of RPCs in Boyer-Ahmad County (N=1809) that about 317 ones of them were selected as research sample based on random sample size table and also were studied based on stratified random sampling technique. A pre-structured questionnaire was designed including 9 parts of different questions with Likert type spectrum responses. Furthermore، the Fuzzy Sets Theory was used to quantify qualitative data. Face validity technique was used using subject matter specialists'' opinions to ensure the validity of the questionnaire. Also، to a pilot study was conducted to test the reliability of the research tool. The calculated Cronbach''s Alpha (0. 54- 0. 91) showed the acceptable reliance of the supposed questionnaire. Moreover، to evaluate the validity of the research concepts، construct validity technique was used using factor analysis procedure. The results of KMO test (0. 513 – 0. 834) showed a proper construct validity of the questionnaire. One of the goals of this study was to measure Boyer-Ahmad County RPCs'' success in meeting predetermined goals. RPCs goals were characterized in four main groups: 1. Providing agricultural inputs and production factors; 2. Providing infra-structural services; 3. Extension- education services; 4. After production services. Research findings showed that the average success rate of RPCs in meeting predetermined goals was in moderate to low range (0. 389 in a range from 0. 012 to 0. 975). Furthermore، RPCs were more successful in providing inputs and production factors، although there is no significant difference between their success rate in meeting the above four main goals. Nevertheless، the supposed cooperatives are still far from the ideal situation. To identify determinants of the success of RPCs، Structural Equation Modeling was used using AMOSver. 20 Software. Eight variables (i. e. social capital، trust، communication، awareness towards principles of cooperation، members'' attitudes towards cooperation and team work، responsibility، performance and participation) entered the model، while all variables were significantly correlated with RPCs success. Overall، these dependent variables had the ability to explain about 83% of RPCs success variance. Direct and indirect effects of independent variables on dependent variable were also analyzed. The results showed that «awareness towards principles of cooperation» has the greatest effect on RPCs success (total effect=0. 439)، after that، other affect variables are «members'' attitudes towards cooperation and team work»، responsibility، participation، trust، performance and social capital respectively. Results of this study showed that the supposed cooperatives were not so successful in meeting predetermined goals. Also، among a lot of variables، only eight variables named awareness towards principles of cooperation، members'' attitudes towards cooperation and team work، communication، responsibility، participation، trust، performance and social capital had significant effects on RPCs success. This results showed that policy makers and planners should pay more attention to these variables، especially how to strengthen them.