فصلنامه تحقیقات اقتصاد و توسعه کشاورزی ایران
سال پنجاه و دوم شماره 3 (پاییز 1400)

Water scarcity is a major deterrent to agricultural development. Adopting appropriate policies to sustain this resource has become an important strategic issue in the country. One of the policies implemented in the agricultural sector for sustainable water resources is the policy of changing the pattern of cropping and reducing the level of water crop cultivation based on the pattern and increasing irrigation efficiency. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of gradual reduction of rice cultivation area along with increasing irrigation efficiency on economic and environmental indices in Marvdasht County. For this purpose, a Positive Mathematical Planning Model (PMP) and calibrated based on crop area data for the year 2017-2018 used. The method used for data collection was based on survey, documentary studies and the use of expert opinions and experiences. The results of this study showed that the application of water demand management policies in the context of different scenarios of reducing rice crop area, in spite of the decrease in the economic benefits of the agricultural sector, improves the economic efficiency index of water resources and decreases the water demand. Therefore, in order to stabilize surface and ground water resources in Marvdasht city, it recommend to change the optimum cropping pattern, in order to reduce the cultivation level of water crops and provide farmers with facilities to equip their farms with new irrigation systems.

Although many indicator-based vulnerability assessing tools for agriculture have been developed in the last decades, considerably less effort has been put on their validation. The aim of this study was to identify and validate appropriate indicators to assess the vulnerability of agricultural areas in drought conditions in Golestan province. In the first stage, by examining the literature on vulnerability in drought conditions, 64 indicators in three dimensions of "exposure", "sensitivity" and "adaptability" were developed and selected. In order to be judged, 30 experts were selected from among the faculty members of the Departments of Water Engineering, Agriculture and Plant Breeding, Agricultural Extension and Education and Agricultural Economics, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, and experts from the Water Engineers Company. In order to reach the collective agreement of the sample experts and to determine the validity level of the indicators, the average statistics, standard deviation and coefficient of variation were calculated for each of the indicators. To test the hypothesis that the score of the desired indicators is higher than the average, a sample t-test was used. The results showed that, except for one indicator, all other indicators were suitable by experts to assess the vulnerability of agricultural areas in drought conditions.

One of the main mechanisms in optimizing water consumption management is the use of related technologies to achieve high productivity level. In recent years, low-pressure irrigation system has been considered as one of the new methods to improve efficiency of surface irrigation. This study aimed to analyze the psychological factors affecting farmers' behavior in using low-pressure irrigation system. This qualitative study is performed in East Azarbaijan province. The statistical sample population consists of 393 farmers out of 112010 farmers of East Azarbaijan province. This seems to be a sufficient sample of farmers due to the use of Cochran's formula and multi-stage sampling method. The SPSS version 20 and AMOS version 21 were used to analyze the data. The results of using structural equation modeling showed that the variables of attitude, self-efficacy, mental norms and behavioral control were explained 57% of the variance changes. The variable of ethical norms has been a stronger predictor of the tendency to use low-pressure irrigation.

Food security is introduced as a global indicator of the welfare level of households worldwide, ‎especially in developing countries. Also, income extracted from the entrepreneur of women in ‎the rural area affects the total income of the household and their access to high-quality foods based on ‎their preferences. In this study, the association ‎between food security and the entrepreneur of women was investigated in the rural area in ‎Khorramabad county in 2019-2020. Data ‎were collected via face-to-face interview and the status of food security was assessed by using ‎Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). The results showed that about 23.6% of ‎households were food secure while 13.9%, 23.8% and 38.7% of them were marginal, moderate ‎and severe food insecure, respectively. Also, about 79% of households who have an ‎entrepreneural woman faced food insecurity, while about 73.9 of those who don't have faced ‎food insecurity. The results showed that the probability of being food secure in ‎households with a female entrepreneurial member who is activated in agricultural production and ‎handicraft activities was higher than that of conversion and service industries. The results of ‎the logistic regression model showed that some factors including the background of ‎entrepreneurship activity, household income, entrepreneural income, occupation of head of ‎household and personla saving were directly associated with food security. While distance from ‎the central market was inversely associated with food security. So, distributing inexpensive raw ‎materials, providing subsidized inputs, improving job opportunities, holding educational classes, ‎providing low-interest facilities for economic empowerment and stimulating productive activity ‎for entrepreneurial households was suggested.‎

Social capital as a qualitative factor of production is a tool to improve efficiency and productivity of farmers. One ways to achieve development is pay attention to social capital and empowerment and inform farmers by strengthening the various dimensions of this type of capital. Pistachio as a green gold has an important role in the agricultural sector of Sirjan. One of the biggest problems for pistachio farmers is the severe limitation of water resources. However, many farmers use the traditional method of irrigation. In this study, 285 pistachio farmers in Sirjan city were selected based on Cochran's formula. Then, they divided into 2 groups based on the type of irrigation method (traditional or modern). After that, different dimensions of social capital were evaluated based on Putnum (2000) and in the presence of this factor, the efficiency of water input was calculated. In addition, using the Tobit model, the factors affecting water efficiency and using the logit model, the factors affecting the adoption of new irrigation technology with emphasis on the role of social capital were studied. Data were collected using a questionnaire in 2018-19. According to the results, the social capital index in both groups was evaluated based on the dimensions of trust and norms and social cohesion at a medium level and in terms of participation and social networks at a low level. The average water efficiency (CRS) with and without social capital among farmers who use traditional irrigation methods were 31% and 27%, respectively. These values in the group of farmers who use new methods of irrigation were determined 67% and 58%, respectively. In addition, it was found that the variables of participation in water saving programs, education, social capital, water price and type of irrigation have a positive effect on water technical efficiency. The variables of access to bank credit, income, social capital and water price had the most positive effect on the acceptance of new irrigation by farmers. It is recommended that by consolidating the savings of small farmers and integrating orchards through agricultural cooperatives and water user associations, which are the most important sources of formation and strengthening social capital among farmers, steps can be taken to increase water efficiency and expand the use of modern irrigation system.

In today's competitive world with different types of products, the success of any product in sales requires that the packaging and appearance of the product can establish an effective relationship with buyers and provide the customer's attention. Considering the role and importance of packaging in consumer buying behavior, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of packaging dimensions of agricultural products (packaging design, font type, packaging color, packaging materials and printed information) on consumer purchasing intent. The type of research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-correlational in terms of the nature of the method. The statistical population of the study includes consumers of packaged agricultural products (food). According to Morgan and Krejcie table, 384 people as a sample size by simple random sampling method (available) who referred to two convenience stores in Ardabil (food purchase). They were elected. Data collection tool is two standard questionnaires (Belo and Lachan (2012) that validity has been confirmed using face validity and its reliability has been confirmed using Cronbach's alpha. Data analysis has been performed using Spss21and PLS software. He said that color packaging, design, font type, quality of packaging materials and printed information have a significant effect on consumer intention to buy, and among the dimensions of packaging of agricultural products, color and packaging design have the greatest impact on consumer intention.

Food and nutrition is one of the basic needs of human society and its provision lies in the comprehensive category and concept of food security. It is important to study the food security situation of countries in the present era because of its prominent role in the flourishing of human capital. Food security has an undeniable impact on the physical, social and psychological well-being of society, and this has led to the issue of food security going beyond the literal concept of "food security". On the other hand, international trade, as one of the effective mechanisms in ensuring food security of countries, plays a decisive and key role. International trade links food production and consumption with trade Openness and thus plays an important and effective role. Trade Openness minimizes restrictions on food imports and exports and motivates food-producing countries. Among all the rights given to individual’s community in the basic household needs, food security is one of the most important individual needs that governments are responsible for providing and has a broad and complex concept that is determined by the interaction of a set of biological, economic and social factors. The importance of food security is such that the eradication of poverty and hunger has been considered as one of the development goals in the third millennium. The World Bank has also identified food security as one of the important indicators of development and equated it with per capita income, equitable income distribution, employment rate, environmental protection and respect for human rights.

The purpose of this research was identification of Economic Empowerment Facilitators of economic empowerment among rural women. The statistical population of the study consisted of all members of rural women's Micro-Credit Funds in the province of Semnan that 112 of them were selected according to Cochran formula as sample size. This research was a survey and a researcher-made questionnaire was employed to data collection. Reliability of the questionnaire by calculating Cranach's alpha (α= 0.939) and validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by four experts of Institute of agricultural education and extension. The results of ranking the determinants of economic empowerment of rural women showed," Trust in your ability to do things", " Motivation and desire to earn money by myself ", "Membership in rural women's microfinance fund", in the first to third ranks and there are the most important factors of the economic empowerment of rural women in Semnan province. Also, according to the results of exploratory factor analysis the most important factors affecting the economic empowerment of rural women in Semnan province were classified into six factors: 1- Cultural context of rural community, 2- Participation in social and educational activities, 3- Economic and and households participations, 4- Tangible and intangible assets, 5- Family support and 6- The spirit of financial independence. In total, these factors could explain 65.76% of the total variance.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has introduced climate-smart agriculture as a resistant and productive agriculture for better management of resources. This study aimed to recognition and obtaining the affecting or undergoing (cause and effect, and mutual relationship) components of climate-smart agriculture. DEMATEL technique was employed to identify and extract the Mutual relationships (effective or influential, causal and causal relationships) of the components of the climate-smart agriculture and the extent to which they interact with this agricultural system. The research was applied to a descriptive-survey method. The statistical population of the study was 15 experts in agricultural development, Agricultural extension and education, meteorology and soil science, University of Tehran. The research instrument was a questionnaire whose validity (its appearance and content) was confirmed by the opinion of professors of Tehran University. In this research, Excel software and DEMETLIC technique have been used to analyze the data. According to the results of the research, the most effective variable among the main components of agriculture in the climate-smart agricultural, increase in adaptability with effect intensity of 0.34 and the most effective the influence variable is, income sustainability with the effect intensity of 0.44, and also climate-smart agriculture with 11.18 highest interaction (both effect And effect sustainability) and income sustainability with a coefficient of 8.63 has the least interaction with other components and the agricultural system itself. The results indicate that among the main sub-components of agriculture, climate-smart agricultural is the most effective variable, improvement of water management with the intensity of 0.59 and the most effective variable, maintaining land use with the intensity of 0.53, and in terms of interaction, agricultural climate with a coefficient 3.14. The highest and 0.55 percent of agricultural insurance products have the least interaction with other subspecies and the agricultural system itself.

Groundwater resources have long been considered as one of the vital sources of water supply and meeting the needs of human societies. Groundwater resources governance through the consensus of public, private and public actors in a participatory perspective seeks to find existing challenges and gaps, formulate, and provide solutions to improve and improve the conditions for sustainable use of water resources, especially groundwater resources. Therefore, in this study, in order to study and evaluate the governance of groundwater resources in the Hamadan-Bahar plain, the water resources governance framework presented by the OECD in 2015 was used. The present study was evaluated using field method, survey technique and questionnaire tools and using SPSS software and 3.Smart PLS in order to evaluate the governance indicators of groundwater resources from the perspective of 86 experts and officials of relevant organizations. For this purpose, the OECD governance framework (2015), which includes 3 main sections of productivity, effectiveness, trust and interaction and 12 sub-categories are divided. The results of F2 effect size showed that among the structures, policy structure, optimal use of resources, information and data with values of 0/422 0/356 and 0/326, respectively, based on F2 effect size criteria between 0/15 and 0/35 have a large effect on the latent variable exogenous And other structures have a moderate effect. In addition, the result of the fit of the general model ‌ GOF standard is 0/29, which indicates a good and acceptable fit. In addition, the results of t-test and path coefficients (β) showed that policy structures, Innovation, and Financial have the greatest and strongest impact on the governance of groundwater resources in the Hamadan-Bahar plain.

In the past decades, several development projects have been implemented in the country, one of the most important of which is the garden development plan and the network of water pumping stations. Considering the high cost and budget allocated for this project, the evidence and documentation of the Agricultural Jihad Office indicate that the project has failed to achieve the desired goals and has led to failure. The present study, with a qualitative approach and using root analysis method, investigated the causes of stagnation in Pasar Harsin village water pumping station project. In order to collect data, in-depth interviews, focus group and direct observation of the researcher were used and analyzed by content analysis. The study population of this study is experts involved in the project and beneficiaries of Pasar village. Also, in interviews, purposive sampling techniques have been used to achieve theoretical saturation and conceptual richness. Based on the research findings, the main causes of the stagnation of this project were inappropriate atmosphere and the prevailing atmosphere during the project. The results of root-e-analysis show that this factor has led to other key problems that have played a major role in the stagnation of pasar project in the form of causal-handicapped relationship, including the lack of financial resources of the project. Poor and inefficient planning, lack of attention to income diversity during the implementation of the project, inappropriate atmosphere and prevailing space during the project, prolongation of the project, lack of training to beneficiaries, instability of responsibility and management, poor organization and recruitment of the project, selection Inefficient contractors and impossibility before the project were noted.

Determination of the cropping pattern and optimal combination of crops by diversification of cultivation, as an approach to reduce income risk given the economic issues and resources. Income risk as combination of price and performance risks is one of the most important risks for farmers. In this study optimal cropping pattern of crops was determined to reduce income risk by applying risk and return measures in Gorgan County in 2018. For this purpose, the diversification-consistent DEA model based on directional-distance criterion was used. The results showed that 0.05 and 11 percent decreases, respectively, in the risk measures of the coefficient of variation and conditional value at risk. Also, a 24 percent increase of the expected profit measure in the optimal cropping pattern compared to the current pattern. Furthermore, the share of more profitable crops such as medium and long rice grain with high quality and rapeseed increased in the optimal cropping pattern and share of crops such as wheat and potatoes decreased. Due to the 60 percent share of medium and long rice grain with high quality in the optimal pattern, it is recommended to use tools such as income insurance and compensating for the development of rice cultivation in the region.

Benefits transfer method (BTM) uses economic data collected in a specific temporal and spatial situation to draw results about the value of goods and environmental services in another situation. One important consideration in the use of BTM is the validity and reliability of the method in estimating the error. Accordingly, the present study compared the entertainment value of the Sardab Rud River in Chalus, Iran estimated by BTM and main valuation by the contingent method to find out the error of BTM. The error is usually measured by convergent validity test. According to this test, the error is measurable when the main valuation research is carried out in a new location and is compared with the values derived from benefit transfer. In this study, It was found that the consumers’ mean willingness to pay for each recreational visit in the Sardab Rud River was estimated at 57679 IRR by BTM and 59,041 IRR by CVM (the main research in a new context) per family in 2014. Thus, BTM exhibited an error of 2.34%. Given the scientific validity of the previous study, this error is mainly caused by the error in the transfer of benefits and the measurement error has a negligible role. This low error implies the high reliability of the method