Original Article
Masoud Bijani; Aliakbar Raeisi; Naser Valizadeh; Negin Fallah Haghghighi; Maryam Neisi
Volume 11, Issue 1 , Winter 2021
Abstract
Students' academic achievement is one of main indicators in evaluating higher agricultural education. One of the most effective strategies in terms of academic achievement is to reinforce self-directness and meta-cognitive skills. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of elf-directness ...
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Students' academic achievement is one of main indicators in evaluating higher agricultural education. One of the most effective strategies in terms of academic achievement is to reinforce self-directness and meta-cognitive skills. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of elf-directness and meta-cognitive skills on the academic achievement of agriculture students in Iran. This research was a descriptive-correlational study using a survey technique. The instrument adopted in this study was a questionnaire which validity was confirmed by a group of curriculum developers and educational planning specialists in the higher agricultural education system. Cronbach's alpha coefficients were used to determine the reliability of this scale. Cronbach's alpha values for different variables showed the acceptable reliability of this instrument (0.74≤α≤0.96). The statistical population of the study consisted of the agriculture students in Iran (N=236973). The sample size was estimated to be 150 persons by using Cochran statistics and two-stage sampling method (cluster sampling and proportional stratified random sampling). The results showed that the variables self-directness, meta-cognitive skills, and social conditions had a positive and significant effect on the academic achievement among these students. In total, they could predict a significant percentage (68.1%) of variance for the variables academic achievement.
Original Article
Amir Ahmadpour; Fatemeh Abolghasemi; Hadi Moumeni Helali
Volume 11, Issue 1 , Winter 2021
Abstract
In many countries, private sector provision of agricultural extension services is recognized as a key factor in the process of agricultural development. Insufficient attention to the private agricultural extension system in Iran, despite its relative success, has made it imperative to explore and identify ...
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In many countries, private sector provision of agricultural extension services is recognized as a key factor in the process of agricultural development. Insufficient attention to the private agricultural extension system in Iran, despite its relative success, has made it imperative to explore and identify appropriate strategies to improve and develop its activities. The statistical population of the present study consisted of 40 knowledgeable and experienced experts of agricultural consultation and technical service firms as a sample of private extension systems in Iran. The research used the SWOT and TOWS methods as the basis for the AHP technique known as the hybrid A’WOT method. In the first step of the research, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of these firms were evaluated. The results of the first step were used to extract 11 strategies by the TOWS diagram. In the second step, to identify the most appropriate strategies to improve the performance of private extension firms, 12 experienced experts were sampled from the research population by the snowball technique. The research instrument was two questionnaires whose validity were determined by face and content validation methods and whose reliability were estimated by Cronbach’s alpha and inconsistency ratio Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats were assessed in the first step .Then, TOWS was employed to develop 11 strategies. In the second step of the research, the AHP technique was used to identify the most appropriate strategies. The ranking of the strategies revealed that the strategies “financial support of firms and farmers in ...
Review Article
Taher Azizi-Khalkheili; thomas Aenis; Meysam Menatizadeh; Gholam Hossein Zamani
Volume 11, Issue 1 , Winter 2021
Abstract
At recent decades, climate change and variation includes drought has had a great impact on agricultural systems and has caused serious challenges for farmers to adapt to such impacts, especially to smallholder farmers. With severe weather events and their adverse effects in worldwide especially in arid ...
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At recent decades, climate change and variation includes drought has had a great impact on agricultural systems and has caused serious challenges for farmers to adapt to such impacts, especially to smallholder farmers. With severe weather events and their adverse effects in worldwide especially in arid regions, adaptation of agricultural sector to these changes is very critical. Thus, farmers need to make complex decisions to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change or take advantages of new opportunities. One of the important aspects for policy makers to assist farmers in order to adapt to climate change effects such as drought is precise understanding of farmers’ decision-making process, along with factors that affect their decisions in facing the climate change. This article aimed to provide a conceptual framework of influencing factors in farmers’ decision-making model for adaptation to climate change and clarify the relationship between these factors. According to the results, household characteristics, economic factors, knowledge, motives and goals, perceived outcomes of adaptation, social & personal norms, perception of climate change, risk and obstacles perception, attitude toward, future perception of, and evaluation of climate change and adaptation activities can influence farmers’ decision making for adaptation to climate change
Original Article
Zahra Korani; Kiumars Zarafshani; Amirhossein Alibaygi; Seyedeh Maryam Hosseyni
Volume 11, Issue 1 , Winter 2021
Abstract
Developing the best curriculum possible to meet the needs of faculty, students, and companies involved in internships has been the focus of much research and discussion. The purpose of this exploratory research was to study and reach consensus on how internship can provide the most effective model of ...
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Developing the best curriculum possible to meet the needs of faculty, students, and companies involved in internships has been the focus of much research and discussion. The purpose of this exploratory research was to study and reach consensus on how internship can provide the most effective model of experiential learning in higher agricultural education system, using the western part of Iran as a case study. The research compares the needs of agricultural practitioners with agricultural academicians following the curriculum development theoretical framework suggested by Van Den Akker (2003). Using the Ten Phase Curriculum Model (Van Den Akker, 2003) as the theoretical framework, 34 university professors and 64 agricultural employers, all with previous experience in internship management, participated in a three phase Delphi technique. Results demonstrated the practical significance of Van Den Akker’s Curriculum Model (2003) in the context of higher agricultural education systems in general and internships in particular. Consensus was reached in that for internship course to be effective, both university professors and agricultural employers need to be engaged in design and implementation of the internship since their curricular need were so disparate. Findings indicate a more conscious and systematic perspective to internship curriculum development is needed. The respondents were extremely varied in their perspectives of what an agricultural internship curriculum should include. The findings show that comparing reflective thoughts of curriculum and working toward consensus is needed. Comparing the practitioner and academic differences in internship course requirements will lead to an improved experience for all parties involved, particularly,
Original Article
snour ahmadi; حسین شعبانعلی فمی; حسین یادآور; Hossein Kouhestani
Volume 11, Issue 1 , Winter 2021
Abstract
Nowadays, the sustainability evaluation concept of agricultural entrepreneurship has become as one of the most prominent subjects among the researchers and policymakers. Despite the existence of numerous frameworks for assessment, there is no common agreement on selecting sufficient indicators for assessing ...
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Nowadays, the sustainability evaluation concept of agricultural entrepreneurship has become as one of the most prominent subjects among the researchers and policymakers. Despite the existence of numerous frameworks for assessment, there is no common agreement on selecting sufficient indicators for assessing the sustainability of agricultural enterprises. This goal was pursued with an emphasis on applicability by adopting a descriptive-analytical approach based on a survey with the Delphi technique. For this purpose, first, a conceptual framework for the identification of components, criteria, and indicators of sustainable agricultural entrepreneurship was determined, and then the set of indices that could signify the status of sustainability in agrarian entrepreneurship activities in rural areas of Kurdistan province in Iran were extracted with the help of a panel of experts consisting of 30 entrepreneurs, university instructors, and experts on agriculture in Kurdistan. The data collected from the panel was analyzed by multi-criteria decision-making method, namely Fuzzy Topsis. The results suggested a framework of indicators for the assessment of the sustainability of agricultural enterprises in the study area. The ultimate objective of this study was to discuss and test a suggested framework to improve for broader use in similar regions.
Original Article
Ali Sardar Shahraki; Neda Aliahmadi
Volume 11, Issue 1 , Winter 2021
Abstract
As a major source of income in most countries, the agricultural sector is of a key importance among all economic activities. The improvement in productivity and efficiency is one of the main goals to accomplish economic growth and prosperity. Productivity enhancement has always been a major concern for ...
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As a major source of income in most countries, the agricultural sector is of a key importance among all economic activities. The improvement in productivity and efficiency is one of the main goals to accomplish economic growth and prosperity. Productivity enhancement has always been a major concern for all economic enterprises that produce commodities and services, and it is imperative to consider all of its aspects when planning for development. The present study aims at analyzing the variations of the productivity of production factors and measuring technical efficiency and productivity of farmers in Khash County, Iran using window data envelopment analysis (WDEA) method. So, the technical efficiency and productivity of the farmers were examined over the 2013-2016 period. The results show that the studied farmers have an average technical efficiency of 0.99, which is relatively high and indicates that the barley farmers are efficient. Also, the Malmquist productivity index reveals that the average variation of total productivity in the studied county was 1.95 over the studied period. One of the most effective factors influencing total productivity variations in agriculture is technological change. It is suggested that the new technology of agricultural technology (field integration and use of new irrigation) be used to increase the productivity and productivity of barley crops in the region.
Original Article
Abdolvahed Kaabi; kurosh roosta; Saeed Mohammadzadeh; Reza Baradaran
Volume 11, Issue 1 , Winter 2021
Abstract
Objective: Solutions to reduce the vulnerability of farmers and beneficiaries to climate change in Khuzestan province will be discussed. Methods: The present study was performed in three stages of qualitative study and one stage of quantitative study. The statistical population of the qualitative section ...
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Objective: Solutions to reduce the vulnerability of farmers and beneficiaries to climate change in Khuzestan province will be discussed. Methods: The present study was performed in three stages of qualitative study and one stage of quantitative study. The statistical population of the qualitative section consisted of 83 highly experienced farmers and those suffering from climate change, 18exemplary farmers introduced by the Jihad Agricultural Organization of Khuzestan province, 33PhDand237M.A. students in agriculture from various universities in the province as well as100agricultural experts from the Agricultural Jihad Organization. The research variables were also categorized into six solutions and three barriers (challenges) in the third stage of the qualitative investigation, and introduced for a quantitative stage. The fourth stage of the study was a quantitative stage in which the statistical population consisted of 384 farmers and farming beneficiaries in Khuzestan province. The tool for data collection in the quantitative stage of the questionnaire was based on a Likert scale. As well, the sample in the quantitative and qualitative stages was selected via convenience method. Findings: Economic losses has been affected by various such solutions as economic-financial-support by the government, as well as training-promotional, technical-agricultural and social issues. Also, environmental damages have been affected by economic-financial as well as supportive solutions by the government, training- promotional and institutional-infrastructure issues, and finally psychological-social ills and technical-agricultural damages have been affected by managerial and technical-agricultural solutions, respectively. The solutions stated in the practical dimension face barriers or challenges. Suggestions have been made to address these barriers.
