Factors Influencing the Yield and Quality of Saffron Production:A Case Study in Torbat-Heydarieh Township

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influenci ng the yield and quality of saffron production with an approach to compare members and non-members of rural production cooperatives (RPC). The research was a descriptive-analytical st udy of the survey type. The target population in the study consisted of 14880 saffron farmers (SFs) in Torbat-Heydarieh township of Khorasan-Razavi province. Using stratified random sampling technique, 375 SFs from seven regions having RPC were chosen as statistical sample. The research instrument was a structural questionnaire consisted of only close-ended questions that its validity and reliability were tested. The results of correlation analysis revealed that the variables of practical skill, education level and technical knowledge have the highest influence on saffron yield, respectively. The findings reaveled sigaificant relationship between the practical skill of SFs and the quality of saffron produced. The results of logistic regression indicated that the variables of social participation, agricultural extension activities, practical skills, access to agricultural inputs and marketing status were the most important factors which distinguished two groups of members and non-members of RPC and 78.7 percent of respondents were correctly classiffied through these factors.