فصلنامه تحقیقات اقتصاد و توسعه کشاورزی ایران
سال چهل و یکم شماره 2 (تابستان 1389)

In this article, measurement and analysis of productivity growth are studied by use of two approaches of "Time Trend" and "General Index" for years 2002-2007. Then, the measured productivity growth by Time Trend and General Index approaches are compared with measured productivity growth through Divisia Index approache for the studied provinces and the years. Results indicate that General Index approach is in less contrast with Index Number in comparison with to Time Trend Approach. So, by use of General Index approach, one could better attain the targeted results in comparison with Divisia Index and it is more applicable in research studies. Also results indicate that technical changes for the studied years have had their growth, resulting in increasing "return to scale" in irrigated wheat production.

Prices of meat in the international and a nation's internal markets tend to be closely related to each other. This relation could be sometimes harmful and due to lagged responses, meat prices at the internal market would subsequently increase as input prices increase at either the internal or international market. Price uncertainty and transmition are two important problems facing a nation's meat producers and Iranian consumers. The aim of this study was to investigate meat price relationship in the internal and international markets. Con-integrated VAR models were considered for chicken and red meat markets to study price relationships. The results indicate that there is a relationship between corn plus chicken world prices and international chicken prices. The results also indicated that price transmition in chicken market is more pronounced than in red meat market. This may be due to more marketable and importable inputs for chicken market. In addition, institutions are comparably more organized in chicken market sector.

Price transmission is one of the most important factors that affects the producers, consumers and marketing agents’ welfare. Market structure affects price transmission. Asymmetric price transmission affects the marketing margin, increases marketing agents’ profit and decreases producers and consumers’ welfare. In recent years high prices of beef has caused consumers’ dissatisfaction however, producers have gained not more than 40 percent of retail prices. Asymmetric price transmission is one of the reasons that increases marketing margin and may arise from non-competetive market structure. The objective of this paper is to analyze market structure and the impact of price transmission on marketing margin. To achieve this objective, first;structure, conduct and performance of beef market were analyzed and then marketing margin model was estimated for the 1377-87 period. The results revealed that the share of beef in red meat production has increased but inappropriate spread of slaugther-houses and existence of a large number of middlemen in marketing chain have ended up with non-competitive structure, increasing marketing margin and reduction of beef producers and consumers’ welfare. The results of estimating marketing margin showed that price transmission and marketing cost transmission in Iranian beef market were asymmetric, causing the increase in marketing margin.

Successful export of a commodity is closely dependent upon observing the related international standards. Aflatoxin standard is an important index of pistachio import/export market. A lot of pistachio consignments are annually rejected because of being infected with aflatoxin. This results in export market's instability and fluctuations. The role of aflatoxin contammination in pistachio market instability was investigated in this study. Mean and variance of pistachio price in the two states of being polluted or non-polluted with aflatoxin as well as the farmer's willingness to pay for using sanitary standards in pistachio dealings were evaluated. Results indicated that export of Iranian pistachio to EU countries remained at the same level, during the study period (2004 – 2007). Along with an increase in total world export of pistachio, the share of pistachio exported to EU countries was reduced. Results also indicate that, the frequency of pistachio (exported to EU countries) being rejected was less during autumn season, as compared to the total export. There was a negative correlation between the number of rejected pistachio consignments and the pistachio price, meaning that the rejection of pistachio negatively affects the pistachio price. An evaluation of the willingness to pay for eliminating aflatoxin indicated that, on the average, it equals 0.25 dollars per kilogram of the produce. But, it is equal to 0.43 dollars per kilogram for a relatively more contaminated year such as 2005. If all the consignments are contaminated, the willingness to pay will be increased to 1.18 dollars per kilogram. Finally, for enhancing sanitary condition of pistachio market, it was proposed to promote early harvesting, and to increase sanitary observance of pistachio market paths after it is sold out by the farmers. Internalization of sanitary costs and receiving them from farmers, traders, and others involved in pistachio industry were suggested.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the instruments of risk management in the industrial dairy cattle farms in Uromieh and Khoy counties. The industrial dairy cattle farms in Uromieh and Khoy counties (N= 84) altogether constituted the statistical population of the study. By use of simple sampling method, 50 cattle farmers were selected as sample. The research design was a survey method one. A questionnaire was designed and administered to gather the required data. Face validity of the instrument was determined by expert's judgment. The findings revealed that seasonal disinfection, direction of slopes, prior and after milking disinfection measures as well as proper cleaning of the cattle shed were the most frequent options among the instruments of risk management as perceived by cattle farmers. The results of Eta test showed that there were high and significant correlations between application of instruments of risk management, and residential status, education discipline and the main job of cattle farmers. The result of mean comparison showed that the respondents with different residential status (either inside or outside residents of the the farm) as well as educational discipline made significant differences among dairy cattle farmers in terms of instruments used for risk management.

This research, applied as a survey approach aimed at investigating farmers’ tendency and attitudes toward agricultural water management styles (WMSs). Therefore, using Cochran’s formula and simple random sampling, 244 farmers were selected in Doroudzan region, Iran. The data were acquired by face-to-face structural interviews and as well through a questionnaire that consisted of closed and open ended questions. A panel of experts confirmed the face validity of the questionnaire while the reliability being tested in a pilot study based on Coronbach’s Alpha coefficient (0.53 to 0.74). The questionnaire was further improved based on the pilot study results. Results indicated that farmers had high utilitarian beliefs regarding agricultural water resources. Also, the majority of farmers had positive attitude and perception towards participatory water management. Cluster analysis was employed to better understand farmers’ characteristics. Cluster profiles in terms of age, education, family size, utilitarian beliefs, and water distribution styles revealed three clusters of risk prone, traditional, and moderate farmer groups.

The purpose of this study was to analyze biotechnology experts’ attitude in university centers of Tehran province towards use of transgenic plants. The design of the study was descriptive, and it was carried out through a survey method. The target population consisted of biotechnology experts in university centers of Tehran Province (N=75). Though Kerjcie and Morgan sample size table and ratio stratified randomized sampling method 63 experts were chosen as the study sample. Research instrument was questionnaire. Content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed and corrected based on opinions of a panel of agricultural extension & education and biotechnology experts. A pilot test was conducted to determine the reliability of the questionnaire. Cronbach’s Alpha was estimated 0.78. Descriptive findings showed that 47.6% of experts’ attitude towards transgenic plants was ‘medium’. Factor analysis results showed that about 86 percent of expert's attitude toward using transgenic plants is determined by the five factors of: biosafety, management, belief, providence, as well as congnition.

Development along with improvement of sanitary and veterinary services are needed for production of protein acious food substances and reducing of domestic loss. This is important in food security in a society. This needs systematic planning for delivering proper services to livestock producer units as well as proper spatial distribution of veterinary services. The purposes of this study were a realization of spatial distribution of industrialized and semi-industrialized animal husbandries and a cognition of spatial distribution of private and public veterinary services that provide the possibility of utilization of livestock producer units from these veterinary services. The population for this study consisted of 83 villages, 50 semi-industrialized animal husbandries along with 43 industrialized animal husbandries in Karaj County. By use of Arc View GIS 3/2a software, the spatial distribution maps of livestock producer units with their number of sheep and cow diagrams, veterinary unit as well as other veterinaries in the basic map were pinpointed. Distribution of veterinary units showed that 55% of the units were located in villages and 45% of them were in industrialized and in semi industrialized animal husbandry vicinities. Also for private veterinary livestock units – veterinarian to cattle ratio was 743 (world standard: 12500). This ratio shows that there is a surplus of private veterinarians in the county of Karaj. The tool used in the study was a questionnaire. The samples of the study were defined by Cochran formula related to 30 villages, 20 semi-industrialized, and 20 industrialized animal husbandries in the Karaj County. Cumulated data were analyzed through SPSS software. The findings revealed that traditional animal husbandries are significantly (5% and 1%) different from both industrialized & semi-industrialized animal husbandries in access to public and private services. Also there is a significant and negative correlation between the utilization of veterinary services and distance of animal husbandry to private veterinaries. Also there exists a significant and positive correlation between animal loss and distance of animal husbandries from public & private veterinary centers (5% level).

This survey study is a kind of descriptive – correlational research that considers Residents’ Attitudes Regarding the Effects of Rural Tourism in areas of rural tourism in Izeh township of the province of Khouzestan in year 2009. The statistical sample in the study was comprised of the residents who were living in rural areas with touristry attractions and who perceived the area as being of centers of tourism impacts. Sample determination was through "Tackman" according to which 335 residents were selected through classified sampling. The obtained data by questionnaire were analyzed through SPSS. The independent variables in the study were individual-professional, characteristics of residents, perception economical, Socio-cultural as well as environmental impacts, rate of contact with tourists, the dependent variable was attitude towards developing rural tourism. The results indicated, positive and statistically significant relations between the residents attitudes and age, income, range of dependence on tourists, degree of contact with tourists as well as perception impacts.

This research was conducted to identify problems and obstacles in formation of job-related learning among agricultural students in University of Tehran. It was a descriptive-correlational research. Statistical population of the study consisted of 1103 agricultural students, out of whom 201 students were selected as sample, based on Cochran’s formula. Stratified random sampling technique was employed to reach the respondents for interview. The research instrument consisted of two parts; the first segment being related to demographic characteristics and the second one to job-related learning problems upon which a scale was developed using information gathered from literature review. Validity of the questionnaire was approved by a panel of experts’ judgment and reliability coefficient was calculated for the main scale of the questionnaire using Cronbach's Alpha. The values of alpha amounted to 0.81 indicating that the questionnaire was reliable for data gathering. The results of factor analysis showed that the problems of job-related learning can be classified into five factors including motivation and planning, communication and information, policy making, outreach services as well as environmental. In total, these variables explained 70% of the total variance of “job-related learning problems”, out of which motivation- planning factor was the most important one that influenced job-related most learning among agriculture students.

The study was carried out among potato farmers in Ardabil plain, to investigate their attitude towards sustainable agricultural practices. It was comprised of a stratified sample of 140 farmers from two townships (Ardabil and Naming) who were operating in 24000 hectares of potato farms. Descriptive survey research was employed in the study. Data were gathered using a questionnaire and through interviewing the respondents. Content validity of the instrument was established using a panel of experts consisting of faculty members of Agricultural Extension and Education as well as potato specialists from the research area. The results of reliability analysis indicated a value of 0.87 for Cronbach Alpha. The results also revealed that there was a favorable attitude towards such general principles and practices of sustainability, as the necessity of soil and water conservation, diminishing the negative effects of chemical inputs, decreasing the negative impacts of excessive agricultural practices on environment and the necessity of environmental preservation as a main priority, among respondents. However, their attitudes towards the necessity of reduced use of modern agricultural technologies, lower use of agrochemicals and practice of low tillage was negative. Regarding other sustainable practices, the respondents showed moderate attitudes. The result of correlation analysis showed that there were positive significant relationships between attitude scores and information sources/channels, participation in extension, and negative significant relationships between attitude scores, and age as well as farming experiences. The results also showed no significant relationships between attitude scores and agrochemicals application, and farm status which revealed contradiction between their attitudes and practices.

This survey research was conducted to investigate the professional facilitation competencies of agricultural extension experts. The statistical population of the study consisted of all extension practitioners working in different provincial extension departments of the Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture. Using Cochran's formula, 232 extension practitioners were selected as sample using multi-phase method. Content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of extension experts of ministry of Jihad-e- Agriculture and agricultural extension and education faculty members of the University of Tehran. Calculated Coronbach Alpha coefficient as an indication of the questionnaire’s reliability for the main parts of questionnaire (three categories of facilitation competencies in terms of both importance and current status) stood in range of 0.83 – 0.87. The data was analyzed through SPSS software. The findings revealed that the extent of competencies of facilitation of most of the respondents (80%) was from medium to relatively low. Calculated correlation coefficients indicated that there was a significant positive correlation observed between on agricultural extension expert’s competencies of facilitation and job record, collaboration in research-extension projects, field visits, membership in cooperatives, taking courses in facilitation field, participation in extension forums, record of being extension educator, as well as experience as facilitator. The results of a comparison with T-test indicated that there was a significant difference observed between competencies of facilitation of respondents as based field major, being a native extension agent, having taken course in facilitation field, experience as facilitator. According to ANOVA (F-test), there was a significant difference observed between measures of competencies of facilitation of respondents as based organizational unit, as well as the level of education.