فصلنامه تحقیقات اقتصاد و توسعه کشاورزی ایران
سال چهل و چهارم شماره 1 (بهار 1392)

Agriculture is one of the main sectors affected by climate change. Although recently some studies about the nature and size climate change effect on the physical variables of water resources and agriculture have been done, however economic perspectives and the role of adaptation strategies have been less studied empirically. The contribution of this study is modeling real economic behavior of stakeholders in agriculture and its integration with socio-economic and climate change scenarios. Achievement of Research objectives is pursuing through implementation and linked weather generator models, hydrology neural network and crop-water response functions and optimization models of positive mathematical programming. Results showed that by mid-century, climate change will result to reduce precipitation and increase temperature parameters in the Zayende-Rud water basin. The direct result of these changes will be reduce of basin surface water resources 4.3 and 8.1 percent compared to the base scenario up to 1420 and 1450, respectively. Results of economic model showed that the consequence of this change for the agricultural sector in the worst case (without adaptation strategies) will be reduction of 18 and 33% in gross margin up to 30 and 60 future years respectively. Also, results confirms that selection of optimum cropping pattern and selection of optimum deficit irrigation strategies can provide good opportunity to deal with this situation and reduce its effects to 7.2 and 10 percent. Design a Strategic Plan on irrigation and cropping pattern consistent with regional climate and socio- economic trend based on country watershed's unit is proposed.

Production of meat and milk is important activities in agriculture of Fars province. Nitrogen and phosphorus excretion by cows can result in pollution of the environment and increased cost of production. Shadow prices of two environmental outputs of 60 beef cattle farms in Shiraz which were selected by random sampling method, are assessed using two-stage procedure; linear programming and stochastic estimation is used to estimate output distance function. Results indicated that price of pollutant was positive, meaning that the income and production efficiency will increase as a result of reducing the environmental outputs. In the term of, there is potential to reduce manure and improve consumption of nutrient materials trough proper feeding management.

In this study, a model of optimal allocation of subsidy was developed based on the microeconomic optimization theory. The model was evaluated by applying to premium subsidy allocation to the cereal crops’ (corn, rain fed barley and wheat, and irrigated barley and wheat) insurance in Iran. In developing the model, it was assumed that, policymaker on behalf of society, follows a social utility maximization in which the level of utility increases as the area coverage of insurance expands on the lands with higher productivity. In this model, in addition to subsidy budget constraint, information on farmers’ willingness to pay for insurance, which is reflected in their demand functions, is taken into account as a determining factor facing policymaker in achieving its objective. Results indicate that optimal allocation of premium subsidy is influenced by land productivity, level of actuarial premium, price elasticity of demand for insurance, and present insured areas. In addition, the optimal allocation of subsidy results in a redistribution of subsidy budget among different cereal producing regions and causes a more balanced distribution of funds among the regions. Finally, results reveal that, subsidy allocation targeted to improve productivity, increases budget allocation efficiency by %17.

Since the promenades allocate the part of the country's revenues, therefore, attention to its valuation is very important. Springs in desert area are the most prominent of natural landscapes. More study in country investigates recreational value using double– bounded dichotomous choice. But in this study, single-bounded dichotomous choice has been used because of this approach is more like to market condition. Therefore, this research determinates recreational value of Gharbalbiz area by using willingness to pay with contingent valuation and single-bounded dichotomous choice approach in 2010. Results of research indicate that the average willingness to pay of people is 4786 Rials. Also recreational value for per family and total recreational value are 11702 Rials and 1.22 billion Rials, respectively. Therefore, based on sustainable development and to develop tourism activities in the region, it should be invested at least 1.22 billion Rials for developing tourism in the region.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived organizational support and the trait emotional intelligence with the entrepreneurial behavior of employees in jihad-e keshavarzi organization of Fars Province. The research method used was a survey and descriptive- correlation techniques. Statistical population of this study consisted of 110 experts in Jihad-e- Agriculture organization of Fars province. Using Cochran’s formula and random sampling technique, 62 experts were selected as sample. Data were collected by using questionnaire, which was validated by a panel of experts in the department of agricultural extension and education of Tarbiat Modares University and jihad-e keshavarzi organization of Fars province. The reliability was gained through a pilot study with Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient between 0.73 to 0.87 for different parts of the questionnaire. The results indicated that there were positive and significant relationships between Perceived Organizational Support (POS) and Emotional Intelligence (EI) with the employee’s entrepreneurial behavior. The positive correlation between POS and entrepreneurial behavior was moderated by organizational tenure. In other word, the positive relationship between POS and entrepreneurial behavior was stronger for employees with less tenure (less than 15 years), compared with employees with higher tenure (more than 15 years). The results of stepwise multivariate regression analysis indicated that POS and EI could explained 15.9 percent (R2= 0.159) of the variability of the entrepreneurial behavior variance.

One of the main factors affecting on the technical and economic performance of farms and livestock is the ability or capacity management. Main goal of farm management is achieving specific performance, profitability and productivity; there for measurement management and performance in livestock farms are necessary. Considering the necessity of increasing production and quality in the dairy industry, to investigate the effect of different inputs and also total factor productivity and management impact on output and profitability, milk production and profit functions, were estimated using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method. In this study, data and information were collected by studying documents, observation and interview procedures. Results of production and profit functions estimation showed that productivity and management have positive significant effects on output and profitability. The total factor productivity of them was measured using Tornqvist-Theil indicator; total factor productivity of farms was calculated 0.92 in average. Also, management index for each farm were measured using Multiple Attribute Decision Making (MADM) techniques; the average of management indicator were obtained 0.55. Among the variables included in the production function, two edible inputs; concentrates and alfalfa, and then the labor, respectively have the highest milk production elasticity. It was also showed that the fuel input was used consumedly and in non-economic region of production. Results of profit function estimation showed that fuel price after the price of alfalfa have the greatest negative impact on profitability of dairy farms; on the other hand, concentrates price, wages and cost of each time artificial insemination, have the positive effect on profitability.

The purpose of this paper is to design entrepreneurship model of agricultural extension in the context of agricultural sustainable development. In fact the purpose of this paper is to identify the prerequisite (the influential factors of entrepreneurship), process (development of entrepreneurial program in organization); context (extension perspective in the context of agricultural sustainable development) and outcomes of Entrepreneurship model and determine how this prerequisite, process and context of model influence the entrepreneurship phenomenon and outcomes in the agricultural extension organizations. The statistical population of this study was agricultural extension experts (N=2882). Method of sampling was Proportional Stratified-random sampling method. Questionnaire was employed for data collection. Questionnaire validation was verified by the group of experts and professors of department of agricultural extension and entrepreneurship faculty of Tehran University. A pilot study with the 30 numbers of questionnaires was conducted to determine the reliability of research tools. Cronbochs alpha was computed to assess the reliability of the Questionnaire, its rate being determined as: 0/79 -0/93. The collected data were analyzed by the SPSS and SPLS software. Results show that entrepreneurship of agricultural extension is a valuable key capability that predicts outcomes of organization in the context of agricultural sustainable development. Also data analysis indicate that every four factors of prerequisites and also process and context of model affect the development of entrepreneurship phenomenon in the agricultural extension organizations, and also process and context of model influences organizational outcomes positively and directly and indirectly by means of the entrepreneurship.

Using Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP), this research was done with aim of prioritizing alternatives and criteria of integrating entrepreneurship education in higher agricultural education. At first, respecting these alternatives and criteria, a three-level decision making tree was outlined. Required data was collected through pair wise comparison through 27 questionnaires filled by samples that experienced in entrepreneurship and agricultural education, then Expert Choice software used to analysis data. the alternatives prioritized as: 1. Extracurricular training and counseling services in entrepreneurship and enterprise, 2. A major in agriculture entrepreneurship and enterprise management (M.Sc. degree), 3. An interdisciplinary department of agriculture entrepreneurship and enterprise in agricultural faculty, 4. A 3- credits course of agriculture entrepreneurship and enterprise development (for all majors), and 5. A 2-credits elective course of fundamentals of entrepreneurship and self-employment (for some majors), with weighted mean of 0.274, 0.204, 0.196, 0.182 and 0.145, respectively. Finally, based on illustrating the five introduced alternatives, some mechanisms were suggested for promoting entrepreneurship education in higher agricultural education.

Despite various efforts towards empowerment of cooperatives in Iran, much in agreement with this concept and strategies can not be observed. The purpose of this descriptive study was to investigate the solutions to empowering production cooperatives. The Delphi technique was employed to do this study. The target population consisted of specialists in national provincial and specialists (N=15). Snowball sampling was utilized to select target population. A questionnaire was developed through two rounds to gather data, whose validity and reliability was confirmed. In Round 1, the experts reported 17 types of the solutions to empowering cooperatives. Finally our findings suggested that “Briefing sessions in order to create transparency about the duties, powers and responsibilities of cooperative members in production before their membership”, “Training sessions on principles, patterns and methods of planning for managers of cooperative production”, “Encouraging cooperative production elements to create incentive for active participation”, and also empowering means “The process of improving individual and organizational capacities of all actors involved in cooperative activities, and developing appropriate social and economic conditions in order to eventually enhance cooperative's productivity”.

The main purpose of this study, was to determine most important strategies to improve implementation of promotional plan, named "Finding Transfer Facilitation" (FTF), and based on viewpoint of farmers in Kermanshah province. The statistical population consisted of farmers whose are looking for project manager in K. P. (72 members); the statistical population is studied by census method. The results of study showed among recommended strategies to improve implementation of promotional plan (FTF), guaranteed purchase of products covered by the plan of farmers (mean 4.15), to determine of product price based on quality (mean 4.04) and adaptation of content of program with time of implementation (mean 4.04) in order of have most important and to expand on agricultural farms and active cooperative companies in the plan (mean 3.15) and special projects to cover activities of rural and nomadic women (mean 3.22) have minimum important. The results of factor analysis showed that the most important strategies to improve implementation of FTF were economic (16.21%) and management (15.34%).

Iranian farmers are faced with many challenges. They must be economically efficient, produce enough food for the growing population and must be sensitive to environmental concerns. However, there is a growing concern related to the aftermath and side-effect of some agricultural activities on environment. These concerns made researches to consider agricultural activities with profound care in order to present better solutions for these problems. The main aim of this survey research was to explore the factors that contribute towards sustainability of irrigated and rain fed wheat production systems among farmers in Kermanshah province. A sample of 300 farmers was selected using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method. The findings revealed that agricultural extension programs, job satisfaction, and sustainability knowledge contribute towards sustainability of irrigated wheat production. The major determinants of different dimension of sustainability of rain fed wheat producers were social participation and yield. Finally, recommendations were provided to promote more sustainable agricultural practices.

Purpose of this paper is Identify mechanisms for employing the Forestry Alumni by Agricultural and Natural Resources Engineering Organization (ANREO). This organization is a NGO with aims member’s right supporting, employment creation and tag determining and following the member’s demands. Regarding to global policies toward privatization, delegation, decentralization and cumulative unemployment rate of Agricultural and natural Resources alumni in Iran can use this organization for alumni’s employment task. Dominant paradigm in this research is qualitative paradigm. Statistical population of this research consist ANREO’s experts, responsibilities and members, experts of natural resources bureau in Lorestan province. Data were gathered by Semi Structured Interview and triangulation of interviewees was doing for research accuracy. finding showed that this organization have some problems in its activities; such as having multi responsibilities of stakeholders, haven’t intersectional collaborations, lower the alumni’s economic situation, higher expectances of members. For improving the ANREO roles are recommended such as Entrepreneurial education, establishing the collaborating committee between organizations and universities, revising in curricula for applicability of them, government attending for executing the privatization policies completely, government systemic supportive from ANREO, using the experiences and financing of international organizations and donors, employing the alumni in educational and research era, interaction with provincial responsibilities and policy makers for sustainability of ANREO role and relationship and collaborating between provinces and staff.

Present study performed to investigation of attitude of agriculture and natural resources in University of Tehran graduate students toward the application of information and communication technology (ICT) in agricultural higher education. Statistical society of this study consisted of 1650 graduate students of agriculture and natural resources in University of Tehran that from these individuals, 328 persons were selected as sample society by proportional stratified random sampling. Questionnaire was the main tool to collect data. The questionnaire’s validity was confirmed by a panel of specialists of information technology and agricultural extension and education. Reliability was assessed through Cronbach’s Alpha which it amounts were more than 0.72. Spss17 software was used to analyze data. Results indicated that 87.5 percent of students had positive attitude toward application of information and communication technology (ICT) in agriculture higher education. The results showed that there were positive and significant relations between dependent variable and the variables of age, students’ use of ICT, students’ ICT skills, the average hours of using computer and average hours of using internet at level 0.01 and with research activities and GPA at level 0.05. Also the Results of linear multiple regression analysis revealed that variables of students’ use of ICT, students’ ICT skills, average hours of using computer and age determined 53.9 percent of variance of dependent variable.

The main purpose of this study was to identify driving factors of application of renewable energies in smallholder farming systems of the Tafresh County. A descriptive survey method was used for collecting the data. The statistical population of the study consisted of 2470 small farmers working in the smallholder farming systems of the region, in which 300 people were selected as sample using the Krejcie & Morgan table and the stratified random sampling technique (rural district as strata). A questionnaire was used to collect the data. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of faculty members in universities of Tehran and Zanjan and some experts in the field of renewable energies. A pilot study was conducted to establish the reliability of the instrument. The Cronbach alpha's coefficient for the main scales of the questionnaire was higher than 0.75. The results of factor analysis showed that five factors, namely, knowledge informative, psychological characteristics, development and diversity of agricultural production, increasing the cultivated land and development of animal keeping explained 44.94 percent of total variances of driving factors of application of renewable energies in the smallholder farming systems of the Tafresh County.

The main purpose of this was to analyze challenges and improvement mechanisms of Wheat Consulting Engineers (WCEs) in Iran, Isfahan Provinces. It was based on survey research which has been two groups (Consulting Engineers and Extension Experts). The population of the study was 163 of Wheat Consulting Engineers and 87 Extension Experts. Out of which, 95 Consulting Engineers and 55 Extension Experts randomly selected. The results of t-test revealed that there were significant differences in some items of project challenges from viewpoint of Consulting Engineers and Extension Experts. The results of challenges showed that challenges set in 5 factors from viewpoint of Consulting Engineers and in 4 factors from viewpoint of Extension Experts. Based on the findings and conclusions of this study, specific recommendations were made.