Strategic planning
Darush Hosseiny; Bijan Rezaee; Sohrab Del Angizan
Volume 8, Issue 2 , Spring 2018, , Pages 193-199
Abstract
The main objective of the present study was to explore the barriers to the development of agricultural businesses in the incubator of Razi University, Iran. The research was an applied study in terms of objective and an exploratory mixed method in terms of data collection methodology. The statistical population ...
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The main objective of the present study was to explore the barriers to the development of agricultural businesses in the incubator of Razi University, Iran. The research was an applied study in terms of objective and an exploratory mixed method in terms of data collection methodology. The statistical population was composed of agricultural businesses and their personnel in the incubator of Razi University in the qualitative phase and of the agricultural experts in the quantitative phase, as well. The samples for both qualitative and quantitative phases were taken by purposive sampling method. Ten people were sampled for the qualitative phase, and three were sampled for the quantitative phase. In qualitative phase, data were collected by semi-structured interviews that were kept on until theoretical saturation. Then, the content of the interviews was analyzed to classify the data. In quantitative phase, a questionnaire was developed according to the results of the first phase and was administered to the experts. Data were analyzed by the Analytical Hierarchy process method using Expert Choice Software Package. The results revealed that in-incubator agricultural businesses are challenged with a lot of barriers to their development. They were classified in five main categories including knowledge-skill, structural-legal, business-production environment, support-facility limitations, and administrative-financial. Among these factors, support-facility limitations were ranked the first with relative importance (weight of 0.237).
Decision-making
Zahra Hosseinpur; Mohammad Hossein Menhaj; Mohammad Kavoosi-Kalashami
Volume 6, Issue 3 , Summer 2016, , Pages 339-351
Abstract
Institutionalization of Water Users’ Cooperatives (WUAS) is one of the strategies for cooperative irrigation management, which lays the foundation for the participation of farmers in tackling water shortage challenge to reach the objectives of sustainable management of agricultural water in an ...
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Institutionalization of Water Users’ Cooperatives (WUAS) is one of the strategies for cooperative irrigation management, which lays the foundation for the participation of farmers in tackling water shortage challenge to reach the objectives of sustainable management of agricultural water in an efficient manner. The main purpose of the present study was to identify the grounds for improving WUAs and prioritizing the effective factors for developing and strengthening these cooperatives. The statistical population was comprised of experts and members of the board of directors as well as elite farmers who were WUAs members in 2015 (n=40). The interviewees were selected through consensus sampling. The analytic hierarchy process was used to prioritize the mechanism of improvement and development of WUAs. Based on the final weights of the criteria, the mechanisms received the following scores: supportive mechanism (0.266), agricultural irrigation management (0.261), economic mechanism (0.183), education and extension (0.123), and legal mechanism (0.090) and WUA’s members’ attitude (0.076). Accordingly, the supportive, agricultural irrigation management and economic mechanisms were the most important mechanisms to improve WUAs. Hence, it is recommended that low-interest financing should be provided by the Agriculture Jihad Organization in collaboration with the Agricultural Bank for transforming from traditional irrigation to localized irrigation.
Reza Zehtab Naebi; Saeed Firouzi; Mohammad Reza Ebrahimzadeh
Abstract
The increasing cost of peanut production is a major concern in Iran. Therefore, developing the mechanization of peanut production is a necessity. In this regard, a three-phase Delphi study was conducted to identify the promoting and deterring factors affecting peanut cultivation mechanization in Guilan ...
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The increasing cost of peanut production is a major concern in Iran. Therefore, developing the mechanization of peanut production is a necessity. In this regard, a three-phase Delphi study was conducted to identify the promoting and deterring factors affecting peanut cultivation mechanization in Guilan Province, the main peanut-producing region in Iran. After preliminary studies, 26 experts were selected as respondents for the study. Based on the final results, ‘allocating provincial and national funds to develop mechanization’ (with the agreement of 98.07% of respondents), ‘Organizing training programs to increase farmers’ technical knowledge’ (97.12%), and ‘conducting the pilot and model projects’ (95.19%) were found to be the most important promoting factors in developing peanut cultivation mechanization in north of Iran. Moreover, ‘the small size and fragmentation of peanut farms’ (with 96.15% of respondents agreeing), ‘problems with the national and provincial programs of peanut mechanization’ (95.19%), and ‘low technical knowledge of farmers and craftsmen about peanut farming mechanization’ (94.23%) were identified as the most important deterring factors in developing peanut cultivation mechanization in north of Iran. Given the small area dedicated to peanut cultivation and the low income levels of peanut farmers in north of Iran, it seems that provincial and national funding allocation and peer-planned programming to import appropriate farm machinery are the most urgent plans to improve the status of mechanization of peanut cultivation in north of Iran.
Fatholah Keshavarz Shal; Parviz Rajabi Kolvani
Volume 3, Issue 1 , Winter 2013, , Pages 33-42
Abstract
Iran due to its unique condition in terms of tourist attraction and because of the specific location and a variety of natural resources and human Phenomena, that different regions of the country including Guilan province has a typical position in terms of tourism which attracts a lot of tourists. By ...
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Iran due to its unique condition in terms of tourist attraction and because of the specific location and a variety of natural resources and human Phenomena, that different regions of the country including Guilan province has a typical position in terms of tourism which attracts a lot of tourists. By itself, ecological, environmental, cultural, historical and religious attraction in the north, we will see more development in the tourism industry by formulating and scientific solutions and preservation of cultural values and the environment. In this research, a descriptive– analytical approach has been taken in order to achieve mentioned goals. Also major sources of tourism are identified by field and library (Book, Magazines, Relevant document) study and with SWOT pattern, strengths, weakness, threats and opportunities will be specified and analyzed. The present research with fundamental question that whether tourism development reduces the effects of economic sanctions? Based on this assumption that, the development of tourism can reduce the effects of economic sanctions and we can use tourism industry as a means to deal with economic sanctions and create employment opportunities, distribution of income, foreign exchange increase, reducing migration, raising the living standard, regional balancing, transferring value to unprivileged area, development of rural and urban communities and the cultural and ethnic unity for the attainment of national unity.
Soraya Pourjavid; Hassan Sadighi; Hossein Shabanali Fami
Volume 3, Issue 1 , Winter 2013, , Pages 43-51
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to identify the constrains affecting urban agriculture in Tehran, Iran. The statistical population of this study consisted of city dwellers within the 22 municipal districts of Tehran out of which 320 individuals were selected as the sample of the study. Cochran’s formula ...
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The purpose of the study was to identify the constrains affecting urban agriculture in Tehran, Iran. The statistical population of this study consisted of city dwellers within the 22 municipal districts of Tehran out of which 320 individuals were selected as the sample of the study. Cochran’s formula was used to determine the sampling size based on stratified sampling method. A panel of experts confirmed the validity of the questionnaire used in this study. The calculated Cronbach’s alpha for the main sections of the questionnaire was 0.95 and 0.93. Results of the ranking of constrains and challenges revealed that “high start-up costs” and “lack of knowledge among managers and authorities” were among the most important constrains. The results of factor analysis revealed that 7 factors including “education-research”, “infrastructure”, “support”, “regulations and policy making”, “technical”, “financial-economic” and “cultural” explained 67.36 of the variance. Although list of constrains revealed is not perfect, this work paves the way for further research regarding factors influencing urban agriculture. It also provides interesting information for planners about the challenges of urban agriculture development.
