Investigation of Farmer's Attitude towards Establishing Farm Corporations: A Case Study of Miandarband Subdistict of Kermanshah County, Iran

Farmers’ attitude towards rural development projects in general and establishing farm corporations in particular is vital in rural development interventions. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to assess farmers’ attitudes toward establishing farm corporation in Tekie and Sarabla village in Kermanshah county. Data was gathered using focus group and deep interviews. Directed content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Five categories emerged: 1) farmers’ lack of knowledge on corporation objectives, 2) poor social relations between farmer shareholders and corporate managers, 3) lack of farmers’ participation, 4) poor social infrastructure, and 5) poor government policies. Moreover, two new categories emerged using directed content analysis: 1) bad past experience with former corporate managers, and 2) farmers’ lack of satisfaction with government organization in the past. A new conceptual framework was developed as old concepts fit with new concepts. In order to cross check the findings, experts commented on the findings and the following concepts were introduced by the experts: 1) vague ownership after the death of head of household, 2) gradual diminishing of farmers’ indigenous knowledge in farm management, 3) diminishing social values among rural population, and 4) farmers’ migration to urban areas. The result of this study has implications for Office of Farming Systems in that any rural intervention in general and establishing farm corporations in particular should consider farmer’s attitude as a human factor if rural development interventions are to be successful.