Iran's Agricultural Research System:Problems and Approaches

This explanatory study aims to identify and analyze mechanisms and implications of enhancing agricultural research system of Iran based on a survey. According to Cochran formula, the size of sample was 152 selected from a total of 1160 faculty members of institutes and centers affiliated with Agricultural Research and Education Organization. Initially, a questionnaire was designed consisting of two parts: system-wide and institution-wide mechanisms and implications. After the completion of questionnaires we used factor analysis from SPSS. Six factors were extracted from factor analysis of system wide mechanisms and implications that contribute to the strengthening of National Research System (NRS). They include: 1) Organizing agricultural research in NRS, 2) policy making, 3) institutional development, 4) coordination, 5) planning and managing agricultural research, and 6) facilitating professional development. Moreover, factor analysis of the institution wide mechanisms indicates five important factors: 1) human resource management2) infrastructure management3) funding 4) networking5) organizational capacity building.