فصلنامه تحقیقات اقتصاد و توسعه کشاورزی ایران
سال چهل و سوم شماره 3 (پاییز 1391)

Determinants of the adoption of land leveling in Fars Province were investigated through an application of Logit Model to data collected from a sample of 300 farmers. The results revealed that area under cultivation، farmers'' education، earnings beside-farm-income، access to credits، availability of laser applied land leveling instruments and equipments in the region، as well as dam water، as the source of irrigation water have positive effects on adoption of laser land leveling with the respective 4. 3، 2. 1، 1. 4، 2، 62&47 percent marginal effect. Also، it is understood that the availability of laser land leveling equipments in the village is a main factor in adoption of the technique، and information diffusion of the technology motivating publicity from farmers themselves to other farmers.

The State Agricultural Extension System (SAES) due to serious limitations of finance، equipment and staff could not meet all the expectation of the farmers. Use of unemployed young graduates'' services as consultant، farm manager or farm supervisor has been considered as a solution to the problem and as an alternative، in recent years. This research was aimed at an evaluation of the extension competencies of agricultural experts as Private Agricultural Extension Agents (PAEA) in consulting companies of Marvdasht، Iran. It was a survey research in which questionnaire was utilized as the research instrument. The census population was comprised of the agricultural experts in all the13 agricultural consulting companies، members of “Iranian Agriculture and Natural Resources Engineering Organization”. No sampling method was needed، with all the experts being included in data gathering. Using SPSS (v16)، data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistic methods. According to the findings، among the “technical skills”، the topics of sustainable development indigenous knowledge and proper practices in wheat farming; from among the “vocational skills”، skill of assessing the educational needs; and from among the “personality traits”، responsibility، self-esteem، leadership and management; and finally from among “perception traits”، skill in instant reply، general information regarding farming status in the area and also continuous supervision of the ongoing activities were recognized as the most necessary competencies as from the subjects’ points of view.

Stability and structural change of Iranian consumers'' preference for tea commodities during 1988-2005 is investigated throughout the coarse of this study. To this end، nonparametric Test of Revealed Preference has been utilized. Results of Weak Axiom of Revealed Preference (WARP) show that in 1995 a contradiction has been in observed consumers'' preference for tea with the Null Hypothesis of Preference Stability being rejected. The calculated K-W statistic supports the notion that the revealed WARP violation is not a transitory shock، but caused by a permanent structural change in consumers’ preferences.

The studies performed regarding the reasons for villagers’ migration to cities confirm the fact that the motivation for migrants to migrate is to attain higher incomes. The proposed method in this research to recuce migration is to transform the farmer into portfolio entrepreneurs. The applicability of this method to increase farmers'' income to reduce their migration is tested throughout the research. Tourists can join farm work either for learning or for fun. They could also visit a farm for only for short-term accommodation and catering. Thus and within this concept Tehran Farahzad Valley Garden Restaurants were studied. The number of questionnaires filled in by Owner managers of Garden Restaurants was 19. The method used was Path analysis. The results indicated that transforming farmers to become Portfolio entrepreneurs is effective in raising incomes and thereby reducing migration. Through path analysis model it was shown that satisfaction with income، raising incomes and increasing purchasing power، were among the most influential immigration reduction factors. Therefore، farmers by becoming Portfolio Entrepreneurs، through farm diversification activities، increasing farm productivity، and creating additional income can provide a significantly positive effect in reducing migration.

The studies performed regarding the reasons for villagers’ migration to cities confirm the fact that the motivation for migrants to migrate is to attain higher incomes. The proposed method in this research to recuce migration is to transform the farmer into portfolio entrepreneurs. The applicability of this method to increase farmers'' income to reduce their migration is tested throughout the research. Tourists can join farm work either for learning or for fun. They could also visit a farm for only for short-term accommodation and catering. Thus and within this concept Tehran Farahzad Valley Garden Restaurants were studied. The number of questionnaires filled in by Owner managers of Garden Restaurants was 19. The method used was Path analysis. The results indicated that transforming farmers to become Portfolio entrepreneurs is effective in raising incomes and thereby reducing migration. Through path analysis model it was shown that satisfaction with income، raising incomes and increasing purchasing power، were among the most influential immigration reduction factors. Therefore، farmers by becoming Portfolio Entrepreneurs، through farm diversification activities، increasing farm productivity، and creating additional income can provide a significantly positive effect in reducing migration.

Applying a balanced diet approach to define poverty line، the extent of poverty of the families in the rural vs. urban areas of the Karkheh River Basin، Iran is investigated in the present study. The main source of data is from the Household Income and Expenditure Survey figures for years 1983، 1993 and 2004، as provided by the Statistical Centre of Iran. First، a review of different methods of defining monetary poverty line and the choice of various poverty measures are was made. Then، using different poverty measures، incidence and severity of poverty are assessed for the rural and urban areas of the Karkheh River basin. The results indicate that throughout the study period the poverty line in the rural areas has been lower than that in the urban areas of Iran. Meanwhile، the incidence of poverty was found to be greater in the rural areas than in the urban areas. Consistent with the whole country، though with slight differences، the Karkheh River basin incidence of poverty has increased from 1983 to 1994. In contrast، during 2004، poverty declined significantly both at the country level، and within the Karkheh River basin.

This study is aimed at an identification of farmers'' knowledge level on soil and water issues، hardware and software requirements، and to characterize farmers'' educational priorities in Tehran، Khuzestan، Golestan، and Mazandaran Provinces. Three pilot plans were selected and evaluated in each province. Field survey was employed and the required data collected via personal interview whit the farmers، filling questionnaires، and consulting with local experts and authorities in the studied regions. The reliability of data was assessed through Cronbach''s Alpha coefficient being about 0. 81. Results showed that in spite of many activities and attempts done in the studied regions (including educational and extensional affairs، administrate executive plans، i. e.، irrigation and drainage networks، encouraging farmers to level their land channel lining، developing pressurized irrigation systems، etc.)، the actual condition of water and soil management in the study regions is a long way away from the ideal. In general، the farmers'' technical knowledge regarding soil and water issues was relatively low among the farmers questioned. However، they benefited from an average knowledge of agronomy e. g. rotation، application of nutrients and pesticides/herbicides mainly due to the fact that those inputs are payed for، and also one can actually observe their beneficial effects in the field. Most farmers (96. 6%) did not measure the applied water to their fields، instead، they concentrated on their indigenous knowledge. Time (56%) and amount (64%) of irrigation water applied to the fields was based upon the farmer''s local knowledge. Over 90% of the farmers involved in the study were not familiar with internet، computer and neither whit soil and water management softwares. The conducted training courses for farmers were mainly related to agronomy issues (81%). Rarely، they were provided training courses concerning such soil and water issues as، irrigation scheduling، irrigation management، and advanced irrigation methods. Main challenges in the regions under study were insufficient inputs (39%)، water scarcity (28%)، and inadequate agricultural machinery (12%). Educational priorities in the studied regions were also determined and presented.

Despite the passage of seven decades from the field of adult education activities، and establishment of several formal vs. informal organizations، not only a comprehensive philosophy for adult education has not been developed، but also a significant effort to introduce the philosophy of education as regards adult education is lacking. The aim followed in the present study was to seek the attitudes of the trainers of the Agriculture and Natural Resources training centers with regard to the philosophy of adult education. The research was a descriptive-correlational one. The census population consisted of all the 110 educators (from Imam Khomeini Agricultural Education Center in Tehran and from Center for Natural Resources and Watershed Training and Empowerment of Beneficiaries in Klarabad. A Judgment Random Sampling Method was employed to select 86 educators as sample. Zinn’s questionnaire was utilized as the instrument for data collection. A pilot test was conducted to determine the reliability of the questionnaire. Cornbach’s Alpha was estimated 0. 91. The findings indicated that a majority of the educators in either center are of a progressive philosophical view as regards adult education. The results of t-test revealed that there existed a significant difference between the attitudes of the two centers’ educators in liberal philosophical view at the 0. 05 level. Based upon the results of the correlation coefficient there exists a significant relationaship between the age and teaching experience variables and the voriables of: liberal philosophical perspective، behaviorism، social progress، humanism and radicalism.

This research was aimed at، investigating the factors that affect the transfer of learning (Learning Transfer System Inventory) as related to FFS programs in Fars Province، and the way their being ranked in different cities. The study was an intentionally practical one. A survey method was employed to carry out the descriptive – correlational research. Population of the research consisted of Fars Province farmers participating in FFS courses during 2009-2010 farming season (N=235). According to Krejcie and Morgan Table، a sample of 131 farmers was selected through Proportional Allocation Sampling method. A questionaire was devised for data collection، the content validity was of which verified by some agricultural extension and education experts in Tarbiat Modares University، Shiraz University and Fars Provionce Department of Agriculture. The questionnaire''s reliability was ascertained through Cronbach’s Alpha determination، following a pilot test. (Alpha for 70 items=0. 79). Findings revealed that practice of self efficacy and supervisor''s sanctions were respectively identified as the most and least important factors affecting the transfer of learning. Also Farashband، and Darab were ranked the first and second، while Mamasani and Neyriz ranking 10th and 11th among cities، with regard to the importance of factors affecting learning transfer in FFS programs. Also there was a positive significant correlation observed between farmers extension contacts and basic factors of: learning of the secondary effects، motivation، ability and environment in the process of the transfer of learning.

The Integrated Production and Protection Management Strategy، with the purpose of safe production، nowadays، is an operational strategy to achieve goals of sustainable agriculture. This study is aimed at an analysis of the factors hindering the advance of the Integrated production and Protection Management Strategy among greenhouse owners in Isfahan Province. Data were gathered through questionnaires filled in by farmers. The content and face validity of the instrument was verified by the Faculty members of the Agricultural Extension and Education Department in Tarbiat Modares University. Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient Value for the questionnaire was obtained equal to 0. 82. Population of the green house owners equalled 160 individuals from whom 113 were chosen through random proportional stratified sampling method، as the study sample and for a determination of the sample size. One haudred and three questionnaires were eventually collected and analyzed through SPSS software (n=103). Results of Factor Analysis revealed that such factors as: Financial، Educational، Planning and Legal - Support were among the barriers of adoption of IPPM technologies. These factors could in total explain 70. 52 percent of total variance.

The main purpose followed in the ongoing research was to investigate the role of the extension factors (experience of familiarity with agricultural extension services، participation of paddy farmers in extension - educational courses، their participation in Farmer Field School (FFS) programs، and their number of extension contacts regarding IPM) in the adoption of IPM technology among paddy farmers of Sari County. The research was an applied one with the statistical population being consisted of farmers who inhabited a number of five Sari County residential districts. Using stratified proportional random sampling، 260 paddy farmers (through Cochran Formula) were selected. Data were collected through questionnaire، the validity (Face Validity) of which was verified by Jihad-e-Agriculture experts of Sari County and a panel from the faculty members of agricultural extension and education. To ascertain the reliability of the questionnaire Coronbach’s Alpha formula was calculated (estimated at greater than 0. 7). It was found that there were positive significant correlations between the variables: experience in familiarity with agricultural extension services، rate of paddy farmers'' participation in extension-educational courses، FFS programs and as well the number of extension contacts and the variable of: adoption of IPM technology among the paddy farmers. Paddy farmers who participated in extension – educational courses and in FFS Programs stood at a higher level، in application of IPM technologies، as compared with those who did not attend these classes

The main purpose followed in this study was to evaluate the role of social capital on Organizational Learning (OL) of Jihad-e-Agriculture Organization''s staffs. The statistical population consisted of all staffs of Jihad-e-Agriculture Organization in Kurdistan Province (N=150). Applying census، a questionnaire was sent to all the members of the study from whom 124 members finally filled in the questionnaire and returned. The validity of the questionnaire had been confirmed by a panel of experts and its reliability confirmed through Cronbach''s Alpha coefficient (? >0. 7). Data was analyzed through an application of SPSSwin16 software. Results of mean comparison indicated a significant differences among OL of Jihad-e-Agriculture staffs as based on the levels of social capital. Results of Correlation Analysis showed a positive and significant relationship between any one of the social capital components and OL. Also the results of path analysis revealed that components of social capital as based on their effects on OL could be listed as follows: collective identity with a total effect of 54. 3%، collective coherence with 39. 6% total effect، mutual cooperation with a total effect of 39. 3%، trust with a sum of 38. 3% total effect، networks and common norms affecting OL by of 27. 8%، and finally cooperation and voluntary participation with a total effect of 21. 9%، Empathy، and mutual understanding & respect did not affect OL. In total، social capital components determined some 62. 5% of variations in of OL among Jihad-e-Agriculture organization staffs.

Cooperatives، established through a unification of human and economic capital within their members can lead to strengthening of the social capital. The main purpose of this descriptive – correlational research was to investigate the influence of membership in production cooperatives on the level of social capital. The statistical population for the study consisted of: poultry producers in cooperatives and private sector (N=216). One Hundred and sixty nine samples were selected through Stratified Random Sampling method. The sample size was determined using Bartlett et al (2001) table of sample sizes. Based on the results، the level of social capital within cooperatives was significantly higher than that within the private producers. The variables of: trust to strangers، intrapersonal trust، and information exchange within the social system، social cooperation and informal relations'' network were the most conspicuous differentiators between cooperatives and private producers، meaning that members of production cooperatives، in terms of possession of these components stood at a higher level. The results finally indicated that the cooperatives help strengthen and promote social capital. In total، the social capital of production cooperatives amounted to a higher figure than that of the producers in the private sector.

The main purpose followed in this research work was to investigate the competencies needed by extension workers in Ardabil province. A descriptive- survey method was employed to collect the needed data. The statistical population of the study consisted of all extension personnel of Jihad- Agriculture Organization in Ardabil Province. According to Krejcie& Morgan table، a sample size of 102 was selected using a Stratified Random Sampling Method (n= 102). A questionnaire was designed and used to collect the data. The validity of the questionnaire was established by a panel of experts from the University of Tehran. A pilot study was conducted to verify the reliability of the instrument. Cronach ''s Alpha coefficient for the scale of «importance of the competencies needed by extension workers» was found equal to 0. 77. The results of factor analysis revealed that five factors namely: communicational- teaching competency، personal- professional competency، cognitive- informative competency، research and managerial competancies explained 63. 67% of the total competency variances needed by extension workers in Ardabil province.

The goal followed in this study was to investigate the barriers that hinder the application of Mobile phone technology being communication in agricultural education، from the view points of agricultural extension educators of Ardabil Province. Survey research method was used throughout the study. The line and staff experts comprised the statistic population of the study. A sample consisting of 114 experts participated in the study. The instrument of the study was a questionnaire، validated by a panel of experts. A pilot study was conducted to achieve the questionnaire''s reliability. Results showed that a majority of the respondents had used Cell phones in agricultural education، to a limited extent. They had little familiarity with Mobile phone capabilities in different fields including agricultural education. Low proficiency، high communication costs and a lack of organizational financial support to undertake a part of the communication costs for agricultural education hindered its expected extensive use in agricultural education. Among cell phone applications، most respondents said theyused it either as a clock for waking up of making contacts with colleagues. On the other hand، they used it to a limited extent as an instrument to acquire local market information، GPS، getting and connected to internet. Factor analysis categorized the barriers in six categories of: information- communicational، psychological، credit- financial، proficiency، complexity، and improper context which together explained 68. 26 percent of the variance.

The main goal followed throughout this research was an identification of the role of environmental variables in Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) dimensions، implemented as a correlational research، and by an application of causal model. Statistical sample of the study consisted of 1800 cooperative memberships for the selection of which one out of each six regional groups of Provinces (as clustered by Taavon Ministry)، was randomly selected. A 268 research sample was further randomly selected from the six provinces as based on Cochran’s Sampling formula to fill in the questionnaire. The research instrument consisted of a five point scale (Likert Scale) for latent variables، assessment. Validity of the questionnaire was verified by use of Average Variance Extracted (AVE) which is a one method of Discriminant validity. Also، composite reliability coefficients were calculated for the questionnaire''s different sections. These figures indicated that the questionnaire was of a high potential for as regards data gathering. Structural Equation Modeling was employed while LISREL 8. 54 software package being applied. The results obtained through SEM indicated that the competitiveness، independence، risk taking، innovation orientation and proactiveness as five dimensions of Entrepreneurial Orientation are influenced by environmental factors. Social، economical and policy latent variables play a significant role in cooperatives'' EO strenghth as evidenced by the causal model.

Nowadays، in most countries، whether developed or developing، the standing of Small and Medium Economic Enterprises has been at the focus of attention by policymakers in these countries. However، opponents and proponents have largely debated the effectiveness of small to medium economic enterprises in Iran. With this approach، in mind، the present study was carried out to evaluate the performance of these measures، and to investigate the role of the offered credits in the productivity of Small and Medium Enterprises in the agricultural sector during the years 2007 to 2009. Early return enterprises exploited in 2007 in the fields of beekeeping and animal husbandry in Babol (a city in Northern Iran) and (treatment group)، selected through census were and compared (using Matching Methods and Malmquist Index) with another group of beekeeping and animal husbandry farmers who had not used the credits of the early return firms (control). The results revealed، although payment of credits in these two industries had not had a significant effect on management efficiency (correct combination of total factor production) and on technological improvement، however، it has had an increasing on the scale efficiency، technical efficiency and total factor productivity in these two industries.