Factors inhibiting the development of the potato value chain in Hamedan province from the point of view of producers

The present research was conducted with the aim of identifying the factors inhibiting the development of the potato value chain in Hamadan province. This research was survey and descriptive. The participants of this study were potato growers from which 386 people that selected as a sample. The research tool was a questionnaire whose validity was confirmed based on the opinions of the research team and its reliability was evaluated and confirmed by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.722. Data were analyzed with SPSS26 software and exploratory factor analysis method. The results showed that, six factors inhibit the development of the potato value chain in Hamadan province including, educational-promotional, infrastructural, input supply, managerial, economic and environmental problems and obstacles, and these factors, these factors explained 60.22% of the total variance. The most important barriers, in order of the highest average, include, the high price of fertilizer, the high price of seeds, the high cost of packaging, price instability, the high price of machinery, the decrease in soil quality and the presence of water problems in the region. Therefore, according to the obtained results, policymaking, planning, investment, monitoring the process of various activities and updating the technologies used in different links of the value chain, are among the mechanisms. which can accelerate the development of the value chain with the participation of the government and the private sector.