Decision-making
mohammad ali dadashi; Vahid Khasheii
Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 21 September 2017
Abstract
The purpose of the present research is to examine the effect of coating the tertiary irrigation canals on farmers’ satisfaction in Sowme’eh Sara, Guilan. The study was conducted using a survey research methodology. The statistical population included 14 tertiary canalized schemes in Sowme’eh ...
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The purpose of the present research is to examine the effect of coating the tertiary irrigation canals on farmers’ satisfaction in Sowme’eh Sara, Guilan. The study was conducted using a survey research methodology. The statistical population included 14 tertiary canalized schemes in Sowme’eh Sara up to the end of 2013, Including totally 2434 hectares .The share of each beneficiary was 0.7 hectare according to the extant statistics and documents in water and soil management of Agricultural Jihad Organization of Guilan. Based on Morgan and Krejcie’s Table, 340 beneficiaries were chosen by stratified random sampling. The main data collection tool was a self-made questionnaire whose face and content validity was improved and finally accepted by water and soil experts and professors. In order to determine the reliability of the research, the questionnaires were answered by 30 members of the statistical population. Afterwards, using SPSS software and Cronbach’s alpha test, the questionnaire’s sustainability was assessed and 78% was computed and confirmed. The independent variables under study were age, literacy, the number of individuals under guardianship, workload, product performance, costs, securing agricultural goals etc. and the dependent variable was farmers’ satisfaction of coating the streams. Each of the variables was categorized and assessed based on Likert Scale. The effect of each independent variable on farmers’ satisfaction was evaluated through SPSS software and Spearman’s rank correlation. The results showed that there is a semantic relationship between literacy, workload, product performance, costs and securing agricultural goals variables and farmers’ satisfaction.
Decision-making
Masoud Ahmadinejad
Volume 9, Issue 4 , Autumn 2019, , Pages 319-330
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to identify the factors affecting research practices development (RPD) regarding entrepreneurship in agricultural higher education, case study Islamic Azad University, Khouzestan Province, Iran. Faculty members in Islamic Azad University, Khouzestan Province were ...
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The purpose of this research was to identify the factors affecting research practices development (RPD) regarding entrepreneurship in agricultural higher education, case study Islamic Azad University, Khouzestan Province, Iran. Faculty members in Islamic Azad University, Khouzestan Province were considered as statistical population. The sample size based on Cochran formula was determined (n=210). Stratified random sampling was used to select faculty members. A researcher-made questionnaire was employed for data collection. Its validity was confirmed by content validity and its total reliability was estimated by Cronbach's alpha as to be 0.81. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to describe RPD performance regarding entrepreneurship in agricultural higher education and inferential statistics to analyzing factors affecting on RDP. The results of the factor analysis showed that four factors such as encouraging researchers to research in entrepreneurship (MF1), institutionalization of entrepreneurship in academic research (MF2), establishing proper communication between the university and industry (SF) and creating the necessary rules and infrastructure for the commercialization of knowledge regarding entrepreneurship (LF) were identified as factors affecting the research practices development (RPD) regarding entrepreneurship in agricultural higher education which explained 62.55% of the total variance altogether. The result of the structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that, it can be seen that the predictive positive effect of MF1 to RDP is supported (β=0.38, t-value=4.86, p<0.001). In addition, MF2 has a positive effect on RDP (β=0.39, t-value=5.08, p<0.001). Also the LF has a positive effect on RDP (β=0.31, t-value=4.05, p<0.001). MF2, SF and LF also have a significant impact on MF1. The findings showed that R2 for RDP was 0.53. So that, these four construct (MF1, MF2, SF and LF) determinants accounts for 62% of the variance in the RDP.
Decision-making
Mohammad Reza Azadedel; Mahnaz Shokri
Volume 9, Issue 3 , Summer 2019, , Pages 273-283
Abstract
One of the most important factors for successful implementation of activities, maintaining status and keeping balance in an organization is human resources. The present study aims to analyze the role of informal internal staffing as a mediator in explaining the attitudes of the employees of the Agriculture ...
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One of the most important factors for successful implementation of activities, maintaining status and keeping balance in an organization is human resources. The present study aims to analyze the role of informal internal staffing as a mediator in explaining the attitudes of the employees of the Agriculture Jihad Organization (AJO) of Guilan Province through the commitment of management to internal marketing. The target population of the study was composed of the employees of AJO. Simple random sampling approach was applied for choosing subjects. To test the hypotheses, structural equation modeling (SEM) and Smart PLS software were used. The results showed that due to the low commitment of management to internal marketing in the statistical society, informal relationships were hard to form between employees and management and the positive attitude toward work was at a low level. This becomes more important when the hypothesis is confirmed, but the severity of the coefficients indicates the moderate relationship between the main variables of the research.
Decision-making
Olaoluwa Ayodeji Adebayo
Volume 9, Issue 2 , Spring 2019, , Pages 77-88
Abstract
Group dynamics features are important factors for improving farmers’ socio-economic status. This study focused on the effect of group dynamics features on the socio-economic status of cocoa farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 93 cocoa farmers for ...
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Group dynamics features are important factors for improving farmers’ socio-economic status. This study focused on the effect of group dynamics features on the socio-economic status of cocoa farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 93 cocoa farmers for the study. Descriptive statistics and linear regression were used to analyze the data. Results showed that the mean monetary value of their material possessions, income generated from the cocoa producer per production cycle per year and other agricultural production activities were 9,819,796.60 Naira, 2,693,900 Naira and 1,887,400 Naira respectively. Majority (51.7%) of the cocoa farmers are of moderate socioeconomic status (M=4,800,365.53 Naira). Results showed that the group dynamics features of the cocoa farmers are high in group cohesion (M=31.04) and leadership dynamism (M=25.75) while it is low in group attitude and behavior (M=23.09), discipline, trust and accountability (M=17.76) and group rapport (M=14.47). The results of linear regression revealed that farming experience (β=0.301) and educational level (β=0.561) significantly (p< 0.01) increased the socio-economic status of the cocoa farmers. The study concluded that personal characteristics can influence cocoa farmers’ socio-economic status and their group dynamics features. The study recommended that cocoa farmers’ personal characteristics (educational level and farming experience) should be improved through intervention programs, training and sensitization as this will translate into better-quality group dynamics features thereby enhancing their socio-economic status.
Decision-making
Sahar Dehyouri
Volume 9, Issue 2 , Spring 2019, , Pages 89-106
Abstract
Rural areas have always played a significant role in the global economy by providing a variety of foods and raw materials. This role is much more prominent in developing countries. Rural development is also an important part of regional policies, covering agriculture, forestry, natural resource management, ...
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Rural areas have always played a significant role in the global economy by providing a variety of foods and raw materials. This role is much more prominent in developing countries. Rural development is also an important part of regional policies, covering agriculture, forestry, natural resource management, land use, and economic diversity in these areas. The present study focused on investigating rural development in rural areas of Islamshar County, Iran. Given the lack of productivity in this region and the fact that this county is so close to two metropolitan cities of Karaj and Tehran, it is necessary to examine the level of development of the villages in this county. Among various methods of ranking, the credit and point of rural development in this research were measured by AHP-based TOPSIS, factor analysis, and scale gram methods. Categorization by TOPSIS and factor analysis revealed close results considering 27 criteria for the evaluation of choices. Scale gram analysis generally confirmed these results. Also, the overall results show that the economic factor derived from the factor analysis method and the agricultural factor derived from the AHP method were acceptable. According to the viewpoint of the research population, many of the rural areas in the studied county were categorized in "deprived" group.
Decision-making
Zahra Tavakoli; Sedigheh Nabieian; Mohammadreza Zare Mehrjerdi; Seyed Abdolmajid Jalaei
Volume 9, Issue 2 , Spring 2019, , Pages 135-147
Abstract
Economic theories show that the direction and magnitude of the fluctuations of economic variables depend on the type and magnitude of the shocks they are faced with. Various reasons are noted for fluctuations in demands for imports, including productivity shocks. Accordingly, this research was aimed ...
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Economic theories show that the direction and magnitude of the fluctuations of economic variables depend on the type and magnitude of the shocks they are faced with. Various reasons are noted for fluctuations in demands for imports, including productivity shocks. Accordingly, this research was aimed at identifying the effects of Total Factor Productivity (TFP) shocks of the agricultural sector on the demand for agricultural imports during the period 1982-2014. These shocks were divided by the Blanchard-Quah technique into two groups: permanent and temporary. Then, the effects of shocks on agricultural imports were studied by the Structural Vector Auto Regression (SVAR) Method. The results showed that, in the short and longrun, temporary and permanent TFP shocks of the agricultural sector have had a significant effect on the demand for agricultural imports, and the effect of temporary shocks was stronger than the effect of permanent ones. Therefore, if the policymakers seek to reduce the demand for agricultural imports, the agricultural TFP must continuously be incremented.
Decision-making
Mehrnoosh Mirzaei; Saeid Yazdani; Mohammad Reza Nazari; Abolfazl Mahmoodi; Gholamreza Yavari; Mohsen Shokatfadaei
Volume 9, Issue 1 , Winter 2019, , Pages 55-65
Abstract
With the widening of the gap in water supply and demand in recent years and the schemes of the Ministry of Energy to restore and balance underground tables, the agricultural sector is projected to be under increasing pressure due to the rationing programs and the allocation of water resources to other ...
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With the widening of the gap in water supply and demand in recent years and the schemes of the Ministry of Energy to restore and balance underground tables, the agricultural sector is projected to be under increasing pressure due to the rationing programs and the allocation of water resources to other sectors with higher economic efficiency in water use. We explored the economic impacts of non-pricing policy of limiting water supply and the policies of water pricing, taxing, and subsidization as per each m3 water use over or below the average gross requirement of the planting pattern on the components of the agricultural sector in Qazvin Province using the data and statistics for the 2013-2014 growing season and the expansion of positive mathematical programming model with the maximum entropy approach. The results showed that the non-pricing policy of 50% limitation of water supply would have the highest economic return per m3 water use. It is estimated to be 0.23$. The highest reduction of chemical fertilizer use would be accomplished in the scenario of 50% limitation of water availability and the integrated scenario of 30% water availability limitation + 50% higher price for water. According to the comparison of employment per unit area vis-à-vis the reference year under different scenarios, the scenario of 50% limitation of water supply (20% increase per ha versus the reference year) would be the best for employment creation followed by the integrated scenario of 30% limitation of water availability. Since the non-pricing policy of limiting water availability would be more effective than the pricing policies in improving water use status and changing planting pattern, it is recommended to apply a combination of these policies in the studied region.
Decision-making
Somayeh Shirzadi Laskookalayeh; Reza Esfanjari Kenari
Volume 8, Issue 4 , Autumn 2018, , Pages 465-474
Abstract
Frequent droughts and their consequences result in the loss of groundwater, the deficiency of nutrients, the drying of surface water resources, and substantially more exploitation of the groundwater resources, which, altogether, cause the mobilization of saline waters to groundwater tables. This will ...
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Frequent droughts and their consequences result in the loss of groundwater, the deficiency of nutrients, the drying of surface water resources, and substantially more exploitation of the groundwater resources, which, altogether, cause the mobilization of saline waters to groundwater tables. This will impair the capacity of the aquifers and the quality of the water. The VIKOR method was applied to determine the best feasible solution according to the selected criteria including the local rainfall status in different years, soil permeability, land slope, and water quality indicators, including SAR, RSC, salinity for determination of groundwater resources quality and land-use restrictions in the Kashmar Plain in the northeast of Iran. The results of sampling performed on the Kashmar Plain showed that water quality was lost as one moved from the northern groundwater tables to the southern ones. The excessive use of groundwater resources, the downfall of the groundwater level, and subsequently, the increased salinity account for the loss of the agricultural water quality and the land-use restrictions. Furthermore, the results of the model within years 2010 and 2014 showed that if the current form of indiscriminate exploitation of groundwater resources is kept, it will lead to the mobilization of the salinity to the lowly-saline upstream regions. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on sustainable management of groundwater resources, control their indiscriminate exploitation, and minimize the damage to the groundwater tables in the study site. In addition, agronomists should work on limiting the use of agricultural land by modifying the cropping pattern and on using deficit-irrigation methods.
Decision-making
Mostafa Mardani; Saman Ziaei; Alireza Nikouei
Volume 8, Issue 3 , Summer 2018, , Pages 365-375
Abstract
Sustainability in agricultural is determined by aspects like economy, society and environment. Multi-objective programming (MOP) model has been a widely used tool for studying and analyzing the sustainability of agricultural system. However, optimization models in most applications are forced to use ...
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Sustainability in agricultural is determined by aspects like economy, society and environment. Multi-objective programming (MOP) model has been a widely used tool for studying and analyzing the sustainability of agricultural system. However, optimization models in most applications are forced to use data which is uncertain. Recently, robust optimization has been used as an optimization model that incorporates uncertainty. This paper develops a framework for environmental-economic decision making that includes the environmental and economic sustainability criteria for determining an optimal allocation of agricultural areas that cover an irrigation network under uncertain data. The primary uncertain parameter of the robust model was quantity of available water for each season. Application of the proposed model to the case study of the right side of Nekooabad irrigation network in the province of Isfahan, Iran, demonstrates the reliability and flexibility of the model. The results show that that the optimal total gross margin decreases with higher robustness levels. To compensate loss of gross margin of farmers in the robust pattern, efficiency enhancement policies emphasized.
Decision-making
Zeinab Moinoddini; Hamid Mohammadi; Hosein Mehrabi Boshrabadi
Volume 8, Issue 3 , Summer 2018, , Pages 433-439
Abstract
The economy of Iran is dependent on many variables that play a role in its growth and development. On the other hand, rainfall is one of the important factors of climate change that has affected economic strategic programs including those of the agricultural sector. Rainfall variations ...
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The economy of Iran is dependent on many variables that play a role in its growth and development. On the other hand, rainfall is one of the important factors of climate change that has affected economic strategic programs including those of the agricultural sector. Rainfall variations impact many economic variables, some of which are explored here. The aim of this study was to evaluate rainfall shocks on some economic variables using a general equilibrium model that included the best scenario representing the highest rainfall, the worst scenario representing the lowest rainfall, and normal scenario considering average rainfall. To check the effect of these changes on the agricultural sector, a set of commodities produced by this section is considered separately, and other sections are considered in general. The results showed that the production of these commodities has been increased by about 14% in the best rainfall scenario. All commodities have been faced with reduced consumption from 0.3% to 10.3% in the worst rainfall scenario; this was the greatest loss of products related to the agricultural commodities. Rainfall increased the price of all commodities by 0.25-28.7%, except for industry. Both private and public investments were influenced by rainfall change.
Decision-making
Simin Dokht Ghasemian; Gholamreza Yavari; Vahid Majed; Abolfazl Mahmodi; Abolfazl Javadian
Volume 8, Issue 1 , Winter 2018, , Pages 47-63
Abstract
Citrus production has a great importance and position in Iran. The growth and sustainability of the agriculture sector is impossible without appropriate and effective risk identification and management. In this study, the main risks of citrus gardens were identified based on the Delphi method through ...
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Citrus production has a great importance and position in Iran. The growth and sustainability of the agriculture sector is impossible without appropriate and effective risk identification and management. In this study, the main risks of citrus gardens were identified based on the Delphi method through questionnaires completed by 16 experts. Then, using the TOPSIS technique, the risks involved in the horticultural industry of Mazandaran Province were prioritized during 2010-2016 and the most important risk of Mazandaran gardens was selected based on the Shannon unweighted entropy matrix. The results showed that the most important horticultural risks were related to the risks of pests and diseases, price, damage, and production, respectively. In addition, the lowest risks were related to technical, labor and credit risks, respectively. Therefore, the results indicated the significant influence of the risks of pests and diseases, price and loss in horticulture. Among the risks of pests and diseases, mealy bugs, red mites and aphids with 76, 73 and 70 percent, respectively, were of the highest risk and risks arising from financing, purchasing the product and the damage caused by drip irrigation and emitters were of the lowest risk. The risk exposure represented that risk management should be considered in these fields. In this regard, it is essential to make major reforms in risk management areas involved in orchards. Thus, the planners and policymakers must consider this issue.
Decision-making
Mohammad Abdi Seyyedkolaee; Amir Mansour Tehranchian; Ahmad Jafari Samimi; Seyyed Mojtaba Mojaverian
Volume 7, Issue 4 , Autumn 2017, , Pages 407-413
Abstract
Since some raw materials, semi manufactured, intermediate and capital goods in agricultural sector are imported, the exchange rate fluctuations can affect the cost price of products in this sector. Recently, we are facing considerable fluctuations in exchange rate that has an important impact on all ...
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Since some raw materials, semi manufactured, intermediate and capital goods in agricultural sector are imported, the exchange rate fluctuations can affect the cost price of products in this sector. Recently, we are facing considerable fluctuations in exchange rate that has an important impact on all sectors including the agriculture. As a result of an increase in import prices in agricultural raw materials, the exchange rate fluctuates. In other words, this relationship is strengthened by lower domestic supply due to the stimulation of the exports of agricultural products induced by an increase in exchange rate. The present study deals with the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on agricultural price index in Iran using MGARCH method. The results show that the past shocks of exchange rate have a positive impact on agriculture price index at the 1% significance level. Moreover, despite the fact that the current fluctuations of agriculture price index do not relate to its past fluctuations, the past fluctuations of exchange rate have a positive impact on current fluctuations of exchange rate.
Decision-making
Emmanuella Ellis
Volume 7, Issue 4 , Autumn 2017, , Pages 447-463
Abstract
Crop insurance is a risk management tool with the potential of dealing with risk more efficiently, the study uses a dichotomous contingent valuation method to elicit the willingness to pay for crop insurance among cereal farmers in the Eastern region of Ghana. The study employed descriptive statistical ...
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Crop insurance is a risk management tool with the potential of dealing with risk more efficiently, the study uses a dichotomous contingent valuation method to elicit the willingness to pay for crop insurance among cereal farmers in the Eastern region of Ghana. The study employed descriptive statistical techniques to analyse primary data obtained from 208 sampled farmers in the region. Approximately, 52.9% of the farmers expressed interest in crop insurance. A Heckman two stage approach was employed to estimate the factors influencing the WTP for crop insurance. The results revealed that farmers were willing to pay approximately GHc 69.6 per cropping season. The demand for insurance was found to be negatively correlated with the premium amounts suggesting that it is a normal good. The Probit model revealed that marital status, education, borrowing, and awareness of crop insurance influenced farmers willingness to purchase insurance. Farmers WTP amount estimated with the interval regression model was shown to be influenced by key variables such as age, crop type, farm size, farm experience, income, weather variation, savings and access to extension agents. Innovative insurance products and the appropriate distribution channels are also recommended to incite demand for crop insurance.
Decision-making
Narges Delafrooz; Sina Siavash Moghaddam
Volume 7, Issue 3 , Summer 2017, , Pages 347-356
Abstract
This study aims to segment the market based on demographical, psychological, and behavioral variables, and seeks to investigate their relationship with green consumer behavior. In this research, self-organizing maps are used to segment and to determine the features of green consumer behavior. This was ...
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This study aims to segment the market based on demographical, psychological, and behavioral variables, and seeks to investigate their relationship with green consumer behavior. In this research, self-organizing maps are used to segment and to determine the features of green consumer behavior. This was a survey type of research study in which eight variables were selected from the demographical, psychological, and behavioral dimensions. Data were gathered through researcher-made questionnaire and distributing it among the statistical population (Supermarket Chains in Rasht city). The sample size was 392. The result showed that among the demographical variables, age, sex, and education had a direct contribution with green consumer behavior, whereas income had an adverse relationship with that. Psychological and behavioral variables including personal values, religiosity, environmental knowledge and attitudes, and personal habits are key predictors of green consumer behavior. The results identified four segments, which were called intense greens, potential greens, selfish darks, and intense darks. Green product marketers and producers can determine the target market using the results and employ an appropriate combined marketing strategy for consumers' based on their respective features.
Decision-making
Mohsen Shafieyan Estahbanati; Mehdi Homayounfar; Mehdi Fadaei
Volume 7, Issue 2 , Spring 2017, , Pages 141-153
Abstract
Sustainable development is one of the most important issues that can be considered from different aspects and in different contexts including sustainable agriculture. This study aimed to investigate the main strategies related to sustainable development of rice production as an important agricultural ...
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Sustainable development is one of the most important issues that can be considered from different aspects and in different contexts including sustainable agriculture. This study aimed to investigate the main strategies related to sustainable development of rice production as an important agricultural product in Guilan Province using a SWOT analysis. To this end, different internal (strengths and weaknesses) and external (opportunities and threats) factors affecting rice production development were reviewed in the literature. Next, a questionnaire was designed based on the potential opportunities, threats, strengths and weaknesses in the literature and the initial interview of the experts; then, the experts were asked to determine the importance of factors on a five-point Likert type scale. The results showed that the rice production received the total scores of 2.14 and 2.24 for the External Factor Evaluation (EFE) matrix and the Internal Factor Evaluation (IFE) matrix, respectively, indicating the ineffectiveness of the industry’s strategies. These scores mapped the position of rice production in Guilan Province. Finally, a number of strategies for sustainable development of rice crop were outlined in order to reduce the weaknesses, avoid the threats, improve the strengths, and grasp the opportunities for the rice production of Guilan Province.
Environmental policy and management
Ehsan Gholifar; Enayat Abbasi; Gholamreza Pezeshki Rad; Hassan Salehi; Abdolmotalleb Rezaei
Volume 7, Issue 2 , Spring 2017, , Pages 191-199
Abstract
The present study was conducted to examine the development and validation of sustainable indicators related to aquaculture as a social-ecological system. By reviewing the literature, it was found about 148 indicators related to sustainable aquaculture in economic (market-oriented and responsive aquaculture, ...
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The present study was conducted to examine the development and validation of sustainable indicators related to aquaculture as a social-ecological system. By reviewing the literature, it was found about 148 indicators related to sustainable aquaculture in economic (market-oriented and responsive aquaculture, capability of risk assessment and crisis management, and financial management in aquaculture), social (participation in food security and healthy food, the role of producer and non-governmental organizations, improving the image of aquaculture, and social responsibility), environment (minimizing the impacts of aquaculture at the national level, minimizing the impacts on the environmental conditions, and biodiversity), and institutional (local development and participation in decision-making) components. The extracted components were used in the form of a questionnaire with a five-point Likert type scale according to six criteria. Questionnaires were distributed among aquaculture experts in Alborz Dam Basin in Mazandaran Province, where 32 questionnaires were returned. Research results include ranking indicators based on a total of six criteria mentioned in methodology, and ranking components, as well as their associated indicators related to sustainable aquaculture using AHP. The findings further suggested that economic and environmental aspects also were placed as the first and second ranks among 10 sustainable aquaculture indicators. Accordingly, it is highly recommended that the agencies related to the country's aquaculture development paid attention to these identified dimensions and used them in their planning.
Decision-making
Seyyed Ali Noorhosseini; Esmaeil Fallahi; Sepideh Gholinezhad
Volume 7, Issue 1 , Winter 2017, , Pages 1-14
Abstract
Aimed at identifying and prioritizing promoters and deterrent affecting seed production of medicinal plants, the present study was conducted in 2014. The Delphi method was conducted using a panel of 13 experts in Guilan Natural Resources and Agriculture Organization. In the first round of the study, ...
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Aimed at identifying and prioritizing promoters and deterrent affecting seed production of medicinal plants, the present study was conducted in 2014. The Delphi method was conducted using a panel of 13 experts in Guilan Natural Resources and Agriculture Organization. In the first round of the study, multiple-response techniques were used for content analysis. Based on the results of the first round, the second round questionnaire was featuring a Likert type scale that was then filled out by the first round respondents. Next, by comparing the conventional techniques, data were analyzed for investigation. The use of ranking techniques led largely to the same results or results with slight differences. The study recommends devoting due attention to the technical and environmental conditions such as proper storage, to avoid the wasteful harvesting of seeds at risk, and to provide favorable conditions for the domestication of medicinal plants. In addition,, the role of research, training, and information dissemination of the economic benefits would receive high importance. Furthermore, designing and implementing a legal monitoring mechanism and an active and comprehensive policy making process, as well as providing facilities and equipment necessary for the preparation, cultivation, and harvest of seeds by decision-making, executive institutions, and organizations would notably be effective to tackle the present challenges.
Decision-making
Seyyed Milad Samizadeh; Saeed Firouzi
Volume 7, Issue 1 , Winter 2017, , Pages 109-119
Abstract
Increased cost of tobacco cultivation is a major concern for its sustainable production in Iran. Therefore, the development of tobacco mechanized cultivation is a necessity. Given this, the driving and inhibiting factors of the development of mechanized tobacco cultivation were investigated by the Delphi ...
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Increased cost of tobacco cultivation is a major concern for its sustainable production in Iran. Therefore, the development of tobacco mechanized cultivation is a necessity. Given this, the driving and inhibiting factors of the development of mechanized tobacco cultivation were investigated by the Delphi technique in three rounds in Guilan Province, Iran. Nineteen experts from the Jahad Agriculture Organization of Guilan Province and the Agriculture Management Services in Rasht County and Western Guilan were selected as the research panel as recommended by the academic professors of the Guilan Province. The results were analyzed by SPSS21. In the last round, 10 superior driving and inhibiting factors were ranked based on the final experts’ consistency as the final decision. The results revealed that identification of pioneer farmers and their encouragement to mechanized tobacco cultivation and the import of the latest technologies of tobacco cultivation and their modification in accordance with regional conditions were the most important driving factors as 97.37 and 94.74% of panel experts agreed, respectively. In addition, 98.68% of experts rated insufficient research on tobacco cultivation mechanization and 96.05% of experts rated the small size of tobacco farms as the most important inhibiting factors. Accordingly, the development of supportive policies to support pioneer tobacco growers in mechanized cultivation of this industrial crop, the technical assessment for modern tobacco cultivation machinery, the reduction of imported tobacco machinery prices, and the support of research on mechanization of tobacco cultivation are some important strategies that should be considered by those involved in tobacco production in Guilan Province, Iran.
Decision-making
Nasibeh Pourfateh; Nader Naderi; Farahnaz Rostami
Volume 7, Issue 1 , Winter 2017, , Pages 121-132
Abstract
Science and technology parks have been a major driver of both the commercialization of agricultural innovation and the financial success of many farm and agribusiness firms. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to explain the factors affecting commercialization of agricultural innovation in ...
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Science and technology parks have been a major driver of both the commercialization of agricultural innovation and the financial success of many farm and agribusiness firms. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to explain the factors affecting commercialization of agricultural innovation in Kermanshah Science and Technology Park. The experts of this center were sampled by the census method (N=110). Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Research findings indicated that factors affecting commercialization of agricultural innovation in Kermanshah Science and Technology Park included support of small and medium enterprise firms, relationship of parks with universities and research centers, and consequence of commercialization for agricultural sectors and research centers.
Decision-making
Mohammad Jasemi; Homayoon Moradnezhadi; Mohammad Salavarz
Volume 6, Issue 4 , Autumn 2016, , Pages 459-466
Abstract
Finding new ways to compete in competitive markets is the essence of strategic thinking and marketing strategy. This issue has always been addressed by the experts and scholars of economics and management overrecent decades. In this regard, the present study explores the entrepreneurial strategies to ...
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Finding new ways to compete in competitive markets is the essence of strategic thinking and marketing strategy. This issue has always been addressed by the experts and scholars of economics and management overrecent decades. In this regard, the present study explores the entrepreneurial strategies to gain a competitive advantage in IlamProvincemedicinal plants. This studyemployed a mixed-methods research paradigm. In the qualitative part, Delphi method and in quantitative part the Analytic Hierarchy Process was used. The population in the qualitative part comprisedexperts in the fields of marketing, entrepreneurship and herbs in IlamProvince that among them 12 participantswere selected using purposive sampling methods. In the quantitative part, the population included 33 experts in the field of medicinal plants which were studied by census method. The data were collected using a paired comparison questionnaire and analyzed by Expert Choice11 software. Results showed that according to considered criteria in this research) differentiation strategy, ways to reduce costs, focusing on customers and market strategies, innovations and risk taking strategy) differentiation strategy plays the greatest role in gaining advantage for medicinal plants in Ilam Province.
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.
Decision-making
Mohammad Esmaiely; Mehrdad Niknami; Ali Badragheh
Volume 6, Issue 2 , Spring 2016, , Pages 205-210
Abstract
The main objective of the present work was to study the factors affecting the deployment of knowledge management in Agriculture Bank of Qom Province. It was a causative-relational study in terms of data collection. Also, it was a field study, non-experimental in terms of variables control. Sample size ...
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The main objective of the present work was to study the factors affecting the deployment of knowledge management in Agriculture Bank of Qom Province. It was a causative-relational study in terms of data collection. Also, it was a field study, non-experimental in terms of variables control. Sample size was estimated by Morgan table and the data were collected by a questionnaire. The statistical society included manager, experts and assistants of Agriculture Bank in Qom Province including 250 people. Sample size was calculated (n = 152) by Morgan table. The reliability was estimated by a pretest with 20 questionnaires filled out by a statistical population similar the studied one. The validity was confirmed by experts whose advice was taken care of about modifying or replacing some questions. Finally, Cronbach's alpha was estimated for the questionnaire to be 0.81. To achieve research objectives, the descriptive statistics of frequency, mean, variance, and standard deviation and the inferential tests of correlation and multiple regressions were conducted by SPSS Statistical Software Package. Results revealed the significant relationship of knowledge management deployment with organization culture, knowledge sources, organization memory, and information technology at the one percent level with modified determination coefficient of 0.632. In other words, 63.2% of the variation of the dependent variable was accounted by independent variables (organization culture, knowledge sources, organization memory, and information technology).
