فصلنامه فن آوری های نوین کشاورزی
سال پنجم شماره 2 (1391)

Development of consulting services firms in agricultural sector is an optimal solution to agricultural development of Iran. For this purpose، one of the measures taken by the country´s agricultural development planners and policymakers is establishing the network of agricultural engineering and technical consulting services firms (AETCSFs) in terms of outsourcing agricultural services and extension activities. The purpose of this paper was to analyze performance of Agriculture Technical and Engineering Consulting Firms (ATECFs) and its determinants in Broujen County. For this purpose a multiple case study was used. The population consisted of 10 successful active advisory cooperatives in the county. Critical sampling technique was used to select five successful cooperatives from which، 57 members were interviewed by means of a questionnaire containing open-ended and closed questions. Face validity was confirmed by experts، and the questionnaire was subjected to reliability testing by using data collection in the pilot study with Cronbach’s Alpha value of 0. 63 to 0. 94. Findings revealed the moderate performance of the advisory firms. Furthermore، the six components of the performance (pre-cultivation، cultivation، husbandry، harvest، post-harvest، and extension services) were placed in a medium position، either. Extension services were the only activity with a desirable position. Analysis of regression model showed that “the social status”، “governmental supports”، and “within group trust” were the most important significant factors to predict performance of the AETASFs.

In some rural areas، due to the lack of public water supply systems، water supply rationing، and high costs of water transfer from other locations on one hand، and the proved sustainability of traditional surface water harvesting in the arid environments on the other hand، storage of temporal surface water flows through these systems could plays an unique role in supplying water to local communities. This two-phase research was done with aim to explain optimization mechanisms of the traditional water harvesting systems in rural areas، Bousher Province. In first stage of this research، the different aspects of the traditional local water harvesting systems were recognized exactly. Then، quantity and quality structure of the traditional local water harvesting systems were surveyed based on Ortiz model. Also، analysing the water quality samples of Ab-Anbar (a local traditional water reservoir) introduced parameters 17 situated in Iran water standard allowable and nice limit، than measured parameters 18 for drinking and can improvement in water quality of Ab-Anbares by increasing Perchlorine. According to this research findings، often can use from simple and cheap methods and indigenous stuff for optimization of the traditional local water harvesting systems. Beside، sometimes can use from the systems truly by physical and economical justifiable implements and stuff and also with preventions timely. Therefore، integrating these indigenous techniques with the modern knowledge and tools will definitely lead to successful results and their efficiency will especially increase with public acceptance، support and participation.

The main purpose of this survey was to analysis of the performance of Islamic Rural Councils (IRC) in Kheir-Abad Village of Abhar county. Methodologically، this research was an analytical- explanatory research. The statistical population of the study consisted of all heads of rural households in Kheir- Abad village (N= 585). According to Cochran formula، a sample size of 112 was selected using a simple random sampling method (n= 112). A questionnaire was used to collect the data. A panel of experts in University of Zanjan confirmed the validity of the questionnaire. A pilot study was conducted to establish the reliability of the instrument. Cronbach ´s Alpha coefficient for the main scale of the questionnaire was higher than 0. 75. The descriptive results revealed that three variables including «cooperation with active institutions and organizations in the area»، «continuous contact with executives and government officials particularly county» and «follow and resolve local disputes» have achieved the highest priority، respectively. The results of factor analysis showed that five factors namely، communicational، social، administrative- supervisory، economical and physical- infrastructural explained 66. 5% of total variances of performance of Islamic Rural Councils (IRC) in Kheir-Abad village.

The main purpose of this research was to identify obstacles components related to Saffron’ processing، marketing and export. A questionnaire was designed to gather data needed for the study. Its validity was acquired using a panel of experts. A reliability analysis was conducted، Cronbach´s alpha value being reported to be 0. 89. Population of this study was Jihad-Agriculture’s staff in Torbat-e-Heidariyeh (N=89) that 79 questionnaires were filled out and analyzed by take census (n=79). By applying of Factor Analysis Technique، obstacles of Saffron’ processing، marketing and export were reduced to six factors. These six factors expressed 75. 12% of the total variance of the variables. Nearly 25% of reminder variance was related to factors or variables which had not been seen in this research.

Identifying the variables that influence on adoption of aquaculture in agricultural water reservals help to find real adopters and decline the number of farmers who abandon the innovation due to the inappropriate innovation. Therefore، this study aims at studying the characteristics which distinguished adopters from non-adopters of aquaculture in agricultural water reservals (AAWR) in Fars province. A survey method with stratified random sampling was used to select farmers with agricultural water reservals in Shiraz and Jahrom. The questionnaire validity and reliability was tested and measures were taken to improve the instrument. Results of the study revealed that the most important differences between adopters and non-adopters of AAWR were access to aquaculture information، and level of education، which were significantly higher among adopters. Non-adopters in comparison to adopters perceive AAWR to be more complex. The two groups did not differ with regard to other variables such as family size، perceived compatibility، and relative advantages of the innovation. The findings also showed that the integrated and diffusion models could suitably categorize adopters and non-adopters of aquaculture of AAWR. The most important variables، which differentiated adopters from non-adopters، were access to information، and knowledge about aquaculture.

The attitude of people towards the impact of natural resources management projects on their livelihoods can have an important role in the sustainability of these projects. This paper is to investigate the attitude of rural people towards the impact of range management and watershed management projects on rural households´ livelihood capitals using a descriptive-correlational methodology through the mixed methods of survey and case study in the Taham and Hassan Abdal Watersheds located in the Zanjan Township of Iran. The data were collected through focus groups and structured interviews from a randomly selected sample utilizing a reliable and validated questionnaire. The rural people generally tend to show a positive impact of these projects on their livelihoods. The positive impact were mostly on increased natural capitals (reduced soil erosion، improved water resources، enhanced soil fertility، increased vegetation and biodiversity conservation) and social capitals (increased trust، participation and relationship with other local people as well as trust to government). However، the impact on livelihoods´ financial and physical capitals were not much considerable or in some cases through decreasing the rainfed lands of many households، they had negative impacts، though the increased water resources had provided an opportunity for some households to increase their irrigated land or outcomes as well as tourism activity. The impact on human capitals، particularly people´s knowledge and skills concerning vegetation and soil and water conservation activities، to some extent tend to have a positive outcome. However، these projects have neglected the relationship and participation of local people in natural resources management planing programs. Different people also showed various attitudes towards these impacts in terms of their age، education، household size، and various agricultural activities. Livestock holders showed less positive attitudes. Households who have had more interactions with and trust to other local people and government in these projects، have had more possibility to increase their financial and physical capitals. Moreover، Enhancing human capacities، particularly households´ knowledge and skills، can help them increase their other capitals.

Determine of agriculture professionals’ norms and attitude toward drought management: The case of Boushehr province Drought، which is one of the most complexes hazards، is a temporary، recurring meteorological event، originates in the lack of precipitation and is a typical feature of any climate particularly arid region such as Iran. Favorable attitude regarding drought management is a pivotal step regarding effective drought management. Therefore، this research was designed to investigating the elements which can predict norms and attitude toward drought management. Jahad-Keshavarzi staffs in Bushehr provinces were the statistical population. Simple random sampling was used to choosing 120 staffs at Jahad-keshavarzi organisation. Survey was the research method. The result reveals that staffs have not favorable attitude and enough knowledge regarding drought management. Furthermore، regression showed that knowledge regarding attitude was most important predictor of attitude. Based on the research findings some applicable recommendations have been presented toward staff´s drought management attitude at the end of the article.

This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness and productivity of livestock loans granted to livestock enterprises in Zanjan province. A descriptive–correlation survey approach was used in this study. Responds filled in a closed questions questionnaire. Reliability and validity of instrument were determined by investigating the attitudes of specialists. The study population consists of Livestock enterprises loan recipients during 2006 to 2010 in Zanjan Province. A sample of 65 loan recipients was selected by using the stratified random sampling method. To determine the reliability of research instruments، the pilot test and Cronbach´s alpha coefficients were calculated. The values of alpha ​​for different parts of Questionnaires were obtained 0. 79 to 0. 84. The results show that From the perspective of loan recipients increased production and productivity، strengthening of economic activity، equitable distribution of credit facilities in all regions، poverty alleviation and the diversification of income sources، more equitable distribution of resources، especially among disadvantaged people and job creation were moderate to high and have been more successful in achieving the objectives of SME’s. Regression analysis showed that customer information from the loan، repayment period and job creation by loans paid involved in productivity and they explain in total 57% of the variation to the productivity.