فصلنامه تحقیقات اقتصاد و توسعه کشاورزی ایران
سال چهل و سوم شماره 4 (زمستان 1391)

Crop insurance is a main tool for coping up with different adversities in farming. The purpose followed in this study was to identify the major motivating and determinant factors of re-purchase of crop insurance by and among already insured farmers. Survey research and Multi sectional sampling procedures employed used to select farmers. The sample consisted of two groups of farmers: 1) currently insured, 2) past time insured. Results indicate a high rate of re-purchase of crop insurance among farmers. A stepwise regression was employed to determine factors which influence farmer's willingness to re-purchase crop insurance. The regression revealed that satisfaction, perceived quality as well as cost value of insurance can significantly determine the re-purchase of insurance. Finally, some suggestions were put forward for more farmers’ willingness to re-purchase insurance.

Nowadays soil erosion is considered as a serious threat to human's life and his welfare. When soil erosion not properly controlled, the fertility would gradually decrease. Adoption of appropriate soil conservation practices along with socio-economic factor's assessment can be used to increase farmer's awareness and acceptance of soil conservation, and to diminish soil erosion damage. The aim followed in this study is to identify and compare socio-economic factors that affect terracing acceptance by farmers in income groups of Chamani watershed, upstream of Gorgan-rud River basin in Golestan Province. The necessary information was gathered through design, and completion of 142 questionnaires that consisted of the the information items of: individual, farmland features, and awareness level of farmers regarding soil conservation practices, with farmers coming from across five villages in the watershed. Then different indexes were analyzed and compared through weighting. Results indicated that “education” from among individual features, “farm size” from farmland features and “awareness level of farmers regarding soil conservation practices” from awareness level exert the highest weight and in the fourth income group. These variables help one to draw very helpful policy conclusions for sustainable land management.

Organizational culture, as an appropriate context for one's motivation along with a deployment of his talents and abilities can play critical role in increasing an employee's job performance. The main purpose followed in this survey study was to investigate the relationship between agricultural extension experts’ job performance and organizational culture in Kerman Province, Iran. Statistical population of the study included 180 agricultural extension experts working in Kerman Province. Applying Proportional Stratified Random Sampling method, as well as Krejcie & Morgan’s Table, a sample of 123 experts was taken. A questionnaire was arranged for data collection, the validation of which was verified by a group of experts from the university of Tehran. A pilot study was conducted to determine the reliability of the research tool. Cronbach's Alpha was estimated for different parts of the questionnaire as suitable. To analyze data, SPSSwin20 and LISREL8.5 were employed. Study results showed that there was a significant positive relationship between all the components of organizational culture (involvement, consistency, adoptability and mission) and agricultural extension experts’ job performance. Results of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) showed that organizational culture with 0.67 path coefficient and t=6.21 exerted a positive significant influence on agricultural extension experts’ job performance. In the meantime, organizational culture explained 45% of the variance in agricultural extension experts’ job performance.

Success of the agricultural advisory services plan that has recently been implemented in the form of Agricultural Engineering, Technical and Consulting Firms (AETCFs) is dependent on an understanding of the level of the advisor's competencies to design and implement purposeful human resources development programs. The aim followed in this study was to investigate and compare the competencies of extension advisors employed in AETCF in Lorestan and Khuzestan provinces. The statistical population included 3417 agricultural extension advisors in Lorestan and Khuzestan provinces. The sample size was determined by using Cochran's formula. Two hundred and fifty two advisors were selected as study samples through Stratified Random Sampling Technique. Completed questionnaires served as the data source for the study. Validity of instrument was established by investigating the attitudes of specialists. Cronbach's coefficient, alpha was used to estimate the internal consistency of the Likert-type scale items (α =. 93). Data collected were analyzed by use of SPSS19. Findings revealed that leadership; administrative- fiscal and organizational knowledge competencies are not in an appropriate status and are in need of design and implementation of training courses. Likewise, the results revealed that there is a significant difference between the level of competencies in females and males.

The purpose followed in this Descriptive- Correlational research was to investigate the factors influencing an application of information Technology (IT) in dairy Farms’ management in the West parts of Tehran Province. The statistical population of the study consisted of 284 dairy farmers, from among whom 82 were selected as sample using Cochran Formula along with Proportionate Stratified Sampling method. The sample size was later increased to 103 dairy cattle farmers for enhancing the precision of the study. A questionnaire was make use of as the main tool of the study. The validity of the questionnaire was approved through judgment of a panel of faculty members (University of Tehran), who were taken here as experts. In order to measure the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach Alpha coefficients were calculated for the main scales of the questionnaire (0.94 to 0.97). The data were analyzed through SPSS-win software. The results obtained Step-wise Regression Analysis indicated that such variables as internet use, access to IT implement, farm capacity, number of dairy cattle (Animal unit equivalent), and daily milk production determined 85 percent of variance as regards the extent of applying information technology in the farm management operations.

Natural resources available in each and every country are considered as vital bases for the growth and development indifferent aspects of that country, including agricultural production and improvement of urban welfare, therefore, a suitable utilization and conservation of these resources in indispensable. Range owners as the most important and effective element in sustainable utilization and conservation of rangelands, bear the direct management responsibility of rangelands, so in this area, it is essentail to provide them with the nessecesary information and knowledge. As an instance in the case, the main purpose followed in this research was to study and analyze the educational needs of range owners in the county of Zanjan. The research method of the study was an analytical- explanatory one. The statistical population of the study consisted of all the range owners of Ortabolagh village in the county of Zanjan (N= 142). According to Morgan& Krejcie table, a number of 105 range owners were selected through Simple Random Sampling for the study. A questionnaire was used to collect the data. The validity of the questionnaire was established by a panel of experts. A pilot study was conducted to establish the reliability of the instrument. Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the main scales of the questionnaire were calculated as more than 0.75, which indicates the appropriate reliability of the questionnaire. Factor analysis of educational needs of range owners showed that four factors namely: Technical, Conservative, Legal, and Cognitive explained 67.05% of the total variances.

The purpose followed in this study was to investigate the attitude of the students of the higher level education institutions towards learning motivations. A descriptive-correlational method was chosen for the study. A number of 120 students were randomly selected as the study sample out of 1339 students and finally 112 questionnaires were collected. The instrument was assessed for face and content validities by a panel of faculty members in agricultural college of Tehran and Tarbiat Modarres University. Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient for the questionnaire was assessed as 0.85-0.91. Results of analysis of the attitude towards learning motivation indicated that a majority of students (83.24%), were of favorable attitudes towards learning motivation. Also results indicated that future employment and academic document are factors that greatly influence a student's learning motivation A majority of the students expressed that learning was consistent with their interests and they had no doubt concerning their abilities in learning of course lessons at higher education levels. According to the study, there were significant relationships observed between the independent variables and the dependent variable (attitude toward learning motivation). An enter regression analysis indicated that these variables could explain about 50 percent of the variations of attitude towards learning motivation.

The extension of the Modern Irrigation Systems (MIS) has been considered as one of the mechanisms for increasing irrigation water use efficiency since 1990s in Zanjan Province. The main purpose followed in this descriptive - correlational study was to examine the factors influencing farmers’ adoption of MIS in Zanjan and Khodabande townships of the province through a survey, making use of a structured interview. A sample of 270 farmers from 17 rural communities was randomly selected in these townships employing a multi- stage sampling technique. The data were collected using a questionnaire the content and face validities of which were confirmed by faculty members, and irrigation specialists of the Agricultural Jihad Organization. Cronbach Alpha coefficient was found out for a determination of the reliability and the internal consistency of the questionnaire (ranging between 0.74 and 0.86 for different constructs). The results indicated that the adoption of MIS by farmers was positively and significantly correlated with their age, financial standing, participation in the design and implementation of such modern irrigation systems, machinery possession and utilization, cosmopoliteness, and innovativeness. Moreover, Stepwise Multiple Regression revealed that 51% of the adoption variations could be explained by such variables as the total hectars of irrigated and rainfed lands, livestock number, financial status, machinery possession and utilization, access to communication channels, age, and the existing rate of water crisis before vs. after the utilization system adoption.

Iran, with more than 4,400 hectares of cultivated area of ornamental flowers and plants as well as proximity to world markets, bebefits from only a small share in these markets. This party indicates the existence of problems in the production and development of greenhouses that if recognized can be effective in somehow solving those problems. The main objective followed in this study was to identify and analyze factors that affect production and development of flowers and ornamental plants produc greenhouses in Amol County. Through census method and by means of questionnaire, data was obtained from 111 individuals of ornamental plants operators greenhouse in year 2009. Estimation of Cobb-Douglas production function showed that: Greenhouse being the main occupation, number of labor, amount of water consumed, microelement fertilizers, manure and heating costs, are of significant positive effect, while chemical fertilizers exert significant negative effects on the production in greenhouses. Factor analysis indicated that: credit and market, technical and educational, infrastructural, supportive, personal and financial factors duly affecting the greenhouse's development. These factors, explained approximately 69% of the greenhouse's development variance.

The purpose followed in this study was to investigate, and identify the educational needs of Water User's Association members. The research paradigm is quantitative and the study a descriptive applicatory one. Statistical population included 1500 members of Water User's Associations in Ramshir Irrigation Network of Khuzestan Province, of whom 150 members were selected through random sampling. A questionnaire constituted the data collection instrument. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were approved through judgement of a panel of experts and determination of Cornbach's Alpha coefficient (0.77) respectively. Results indicated most educational needs to include marketing concepts and principles of product's marketing, further organizing water User's Associations, legal training, establishing familiarity with the concepts and principles as well as rules in water User's Associations, improving management and management skills at water User's Associations. Results finally indicate that five groups of factors clarify about 45.56 % of the educational needs for the development of organizing water User's Associations. These factors include legal ones (10.53%), marketing education (10.15%), risk management (8.78%), more proper management of the associations (8.05%) and finally financial and budget management (8.04%).

The main purpose of this research was to investigate the factors influencing on computer attitudes of agricultural extension agents. The target population consisted of all extension agents of Agricultural Engineering and Council Services Companies in Kermanshah Township (N= 85). A sample of 70 agents was selected through a stratified random sampling. Based on the results, the majority of agents had a positive computer attitude and self- efficacy. The stepwise multiple regression revealed four factors to be statistically significant determinants of this attitude including computer self- efficacy, daily usage level of computer, access to computer and job experience. There was a significant and positive relationship between computer attitude and computer self- efficacy. Increasing computer skills of agents by means of their better access to computer, in home and work place, is recommended.

The aim followed in this study was to identify and determine the development strategies as related to Khuzestan's nomad society. With regard to the samples being few in number all the 46 rank and staff experts of Khuzestan province's general nomad affair's management Directorate were selected and then their 32 points of strength, and of weaknesses as internal factors vs. 32 opportunities and threats as external factors being exploited in relation with nomad society development. SWOT analysis was imployed and finally 7 strategies including: "sustainable employment creation plus increase in nomad familie's incomes", "organization and consolidation of nomad population centers", "production service level improvement along with migration optimization", "extension and advantage taking through inquiries and from investigations", "promotion of production factor's efficiency", and "preservation, revival, expansion and exploitation of natural resources" were identified and concluded as efficient strategies of nomad society development.

The present study performed with the goal of determining the features of "Application of mobile learning system" within the domain of agricultural cooperatives. The statistic population of the research consisted of the managers and members of board of directors of agricultural cooperatives of Zanjan Province (N= 900) who were interviewed through a questionnaire comprised of five sections. The results indicated that among advantages vs. restrictions of a mobile learning system, lifetime learning relevant with pervasive need, vs. hardware problems are the ones of higher priorities. The most outstanding attitude of the managers of the cooperatives toward utilization of mobile learning is an improvement of quality of education and learning. The research shows that a full support of the government as well as authorities to develop educational services and awarding of subsidies, education and an improvement of substructions are the most awarding solutions for an application of mobile learning system. Such factors as an understanding of the advantages and restrictions of mobile learning system as well as understanding of the capability of this system in resolving such problems as low quality of educational programs along with learner' s lack of motivation toward learning are recognized as the most important factors affecting attitudes. Findings indicate a positive and meaningful relationship between a manager's educational field and location of employment, and the variable of attitude towards an application of mobile learning system.

Non-consolidation and dispersion of agricultural lands is considered as one of the serious barriers against agricultural development. Small-size farms along with their being dispersed hinders the efficient use of water, land, labor, mechanization and other factors effective in agricultural production. The main purpose followed in this article is to study the attitude of farmers towards land integration and to identify the influencing factors of the adoption of land integration. Statistical population of the study was constituted of all the potato growers of the rural districts of North Zayandeh rood River, the city of Friedan(N=190). A number of 125 farmers were chosen from among the population by means of Random Sampling method. The size was determinated through Cochran formula and the data collected through questionnaires. The face and content validities of the questionnaire, were confirmed by a group of graduate and postgraduate students at the University of Tehran. The reliability was further confirmed as based on Cronbach's alpha (74 %). SPSS statistical software was used for data analysis. The findings revealed that the farmers have a low inclination towards the integration of their lands, and even on the condition that they had a temporary integration of their land, lands they would prefer to have participation with familiars and family individuals. There exists a significant positive relationship between the factors of education, average expenses, number of pieces of land, interest in team work, familiarity with integration plan, attitude towards integration of land, degree of confidence to governmental programs, confidence in other fellow farmers and the dependent variable of land integation. Also there exists a significant negative relationship between the factors of agricultural experience, level of production, price rate of lands, average size of lands as: vs. the tendency to integrate lands. In summary, the main barriers against land integration could be named individual, social, and economic.

Nowadays, women's participation in rural sustainable development is notconsidered as an optional issue, but a necessity. The societies downgrading the need for women's participation have faced failures, cuausing delay in sustainable development and the meeting of social security as well as social welfare. This applied research was aimed at clarifying the role of rural women's participation in rural sustainable development. It was conducted in Shavour rural district of Susa city using scaling-descriptive method. Due to differences in social and cultural features of villages under study, choosing samples was done through Stratified Sampling with probability proportionate method. In order to collect data, a researcher made questionnaire was designed the validity of which was confirmed by expert views and reliability of its questions confirmed through a Pilot study.Data analysis was performed through SPSS software. Correlation studies results showed a significant positive relationship between age vs. size of family and participation rate in economic activity with a 99% of probability. There was also a meaningful negative relationship observed between level of education and participation rate in economic activity with 99% of probability. Research findings indicated that, compared with to other activities, women more participation in productive activities related to handicrafts (Kapoo-bafi,...) the main reason for which could be the possiblity of performing these activities at home together with carrying out their housekeeping duties. Dissapointedly their presence in such social and cultural activities as in decision-making centers like village Islamic council or their cooperation with village state (Dehyari) was far from desirable conditions wich needs more work on the culture and on the creation of the necessary background as well as context for increasing the women's active participation and social influence. Finally, more recommendations (to increase rural women's participation in rural sustainable development programs) are put forward.

Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) and Rotterdam Model have been employed to (by means of Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) estimate the function related to milk and dairy products in the urban societies of Iran for years 1982 to 2009. Cross and cross price elasticities have been evaluated too. Results indicated that during the study period, share of milk products in household budget was more than that of milk in that budget. Calculation of milk and dairy product's price elasticity implies that milk price elasticity exceeds unity, so price instrument seems suitable for changing the quantity of demand in a way that consumers would profusely react to price fluctuations. Ultimately with respect to economic theories and some statistical tests it has been proven that AIDS is more applicable than Rotterdam model as regards milk and dairy products during the mentioned test periods.

Agricultural engineering and technical consulting services (agricultural advisory services), have been initiated to provide, among other facilitating affairs, job opportunities for agricultural graduates; while without entrepreneurial activities and simply relying on public sector contracts many of them will not be able to be economically sustainable and preserve their members employment. So this study was conducted to evaluate the entrepreneurship development mechanisms prevalent among these firms. Using a two-stage sampling method, 102 people were selected from 500 companies’ members. Data was collected through a questionnaire the validity of which was confirmed by a panel of experts. The reliability of the main scale employed in the study was assessed through Cronbach’s Alpha equaled to 0.87. Findings revealed that the skills of: decision making, marketing, planning and predicting, as well as communication skills along with facilitating loan grants from banks were the most important variables from the viewpoint of companies’ members. Factor analysis categorized the examined variables in seven factors of: 1) managerial skills, 2) major entrepreneurial skills, 3) infrastructural, 4) business planning skills, 5) agricultural practical skills, 6) educational and finally 7) cultural factors. These factors were determinants of 73.65 percent of the variance among the solutions.

The ongoing research was conducted to have the organizational learning development designed in Iranian Agricultural Extension Organization as based on entrepreneurship components and was implemented as a correlational research by using casual model. The statistical sample was comprised of 2768 extension employees in Iran, one out of each six regional groups of Provinces (N= 25) was randomly selected with 250 extension workers randomly selected from these six provinces as based on Cochran’s sampling methodology. The research instrument consisted of two parts in Likert scale, The parts being enterpreneurship and organizational learning development. Validity of the questionnaire was verified by use of Average Variance Extracted (AVE), that is a one method of Discriminant validity. Also Composite reliability coefficients were calculated for the questionnaire's parts. These figures show that questionnaire benefits from a high potential for data gathering. Structural equation modeling was carried out, employing SPLS 2.0 software package. The results of research finaly revealed that entrepreneurship components can express some %65 of the variance of the organizational learning variance. Also organizational culture, knowledge sharing, team working plus learning, systemic thinking as well as participatory leadership could reveal %45 of the staff competency development.

The Law of One Price (LOP) in oilseeds market of Iran (cotton, maize, and soybeans) is tested in the present study, using annual domestic data, and world prices for the period of 1992-2008. Modern time series econometric analysis methods, including co-integration and error correction model are made use of. The main results obtained from the study confirms an in the long- run relationship between domestic and world prices for cotton, maize and soybeans. The results of Estimated Error Correction Model for cotton, maize and soybean's market show the respective figures of 0.98, 0.76, and 0.99 percent of disequilibrium will be corrected within every period. Monitoring of world cotton, maize and soybean's markets and an adoption of appropriate trade policies to reduce the sensitive dependability of domestic prices to world market price changes are the main suggestions as based on the results obtained from this paper.

The present study was conducted to analyze student's willingness to initiate Small businesses. The population of the research was comprised of all the graduate and postgraduat students of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Razi University of Kermanshah)N=151). Using Kerjcie & Morgan Sampling Table, 96 students were selected as the experimental sample employing stratified Proportional Sampling Method. The main instrument of the study was a researcher-made questionnaire together with a conducted pre-test. The validity and reliability of the instrument were respectively confirmed by a panel of experts and through calculation of Cronbach's Alpha coefficient. Data were analyzed by means of SPSSwin18 software. Results indicated that most of the participant students in the study were not of the appropriate attitudes, knowledge and willingness towards creating small enterprises. A comparison of means revealed significant differences between attitudes, knowledge and willingness of the students as regarded their participation in entrepreneurship education courses. Also correlation analysis showed a significant difference between knowledge and attitude of students with their tendency towards initiation of small enterprises. In addition, as based on the results of factor analysis, barriers in the way of small businesses to be initiated were categorized in five factors of 1) capital, 2) motivational-communicational, 3) educational, and finally 4) supportive-skilfulness.