Qualitative Modeling of the Problems with Value Chain of Greenhouse Crops in Zanjan Province

Unemployment of agricultural and natural resources graduates is one of the challenges that can be solved to some extent by forming agricultural cooperatives. In the various fields of production, distribution of inputs, conversion and processing, and marketing of agricultural products agricultural cooperatives are of the necessary potential to create employment for agricultural graduates. The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors affecting the behavioral intention of agricultural students towards the formation of agricultural cooperatives using the theory of planned behavior (TPB). The statistical population is all undergraduate students of Lorestan University in the academic year 1400. Using Cochran's formula, 363 cases were determined as the sample size. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity and reliability were confirmed by content validity analysis and Cronbach's alpha coefficients, respectively. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS and PLS software. The results showed that the behavioral intention of students to form agricultural cooperatives is influenced by the variables of attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, and these three variables are also affected by the three variables of behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs, and controlled beliefs, respectively. According to the results, the effects of students' behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs, and controlled beliefs on their attitude, subjective beliefs, and perceived behavioral control towards the formation of agricultural cooperatives were significant. Also, the three variables of attitude, subjective beliefs, and perceived behavioral control have significant effects on students' behavioral intention towards forming agricultural cooperatives. These three variables explained 62.7% of the variance of students' intention. The implications of this research can be a guide for cooperative planners and those in charge of the employment of students in the field of agriculture and natural resources.