Agricultural Extension and Education
Aida Shahryari; Homayon Farhadian; Maryam Mahmoudi
Abstract
The main purpose of this research was to study of rapeseed production challenges, as well as providing strategies for the development of this crop in Alborz Province. This descriptive-correctional study was conducted in two stages. In the first stage of this research, due to lack of comprehensive empirical ...
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The main purpose of this research was to study of rapeseed production challenges, as well as providing strategies for the development of this crop in Alborz Province. This descriptive-correctional study was conducted in two stages. In the first stage of this research, due to lack of comprehensive empirical background on the challenges of development of rapeseed cultivation in Alborz Province, the most important challenges and strategies for the development of rapeseed cultivation were collected from the perspective of experienced experts in the Organization and Management of Jihad-e-Agriculture, elite farmers and researchers through interviews. The statistical population of this part of the study was experienced experts, elite farmers and researchers in the field of research. Respondents were selected using non-probability snowball sampling. As a result of implementation of this stage and after the validity test, 46 and 27 variables were extracted as the most important challenges and strategies for the development of rapeseed cultivation in Alborz Province, respectively. In the second stage, in order to determine the importance of each identified variable from farmers' viewpoint, a questionnaire was designed in a Likert scale format and after the implementation of the pre-test and verification of its validity and reliability was given to the respondents. The statistical population of this part of the study included all farmers who were active in rapeseed cultivation during the last three years in the study area (N=142). Based on the results of factor analysis, the identified challenges were categorized into five factors, including: "poor supporting conditions; lack of resources, inputs and infrastructures; weak performance of educational-extension institutions; inadequate farm management; and plant physiological characteristics". The identified strategies were also categorized into three factors, including: "supply of inputs and infrastructures; financial support; and provision of research, extension and educational services". Improving the performance and efficiency of the Agricultural Insurance Fund, proper training of rapeseed field management by experts, and supplying and injecting special machinery for the agricultural sector are some of the suggestions that the results of this study offers to develop rapeseed cultivation in Alborz province.
Rural Development
Homayon Farhadian; mina hoseinian
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the amount of economic, social, psychological, and family empowerment of rural women who are member in the microfinance credits in Sistan area in 2017. The main research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire which its validity was confirmed. The statistical ...
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The aim of this study was to investigate the amount of economic, social, psychological, and family empowerment of rural women who are member in the microfinance credits in Sistan area in 2017. The main research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire which its validity was confirmed. The statistical population of the study included 318 rural women who were members of Sistan microfinance credits. According to Morgan table, 170 subjects were selected through random cluster sampling. The results of data analysis indicated that the lowest power of the subjects was in the family dimension and their maximum power was psychological. In addition to, the economic, social, psychological, family, and the general empowerment of subjects in the role of the head of household were significantly more than those who were not head of household. Besides, there were a positive and significant correlation between variables economic, psychological and total empowerment of subjects and numbers of loan received by them. Moreover, the variables of times of receiving loan and income rate explained 31.2% of the changes in the total empowerment of the subjects. Encouragment of rural women to gain loan in order to improvement of business is one of the suggestions of the study.
Agricultural Extension and Education
Parisa Najafloo; Enayat Abbasi; Homayon Farhadian
Abstract
The main purpose of this study is to investigate the factors affecting grape producer's information seeking behavior in the Zanjan province. The research was a descriptive and correlational study that was conducted by using a survey method. The statistical population consisted of all grape producers ...
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The main purpose of this study is to investigate the factors affecting grape producer's information seeking behavior in the Zanjan province. The research was a descriptive and correlational study that was conducted by using a survey method. The statistical population consisted of all grape producers in 2014 cropping seasons (N =32871) in the Zanjan province. Using Krejcie and Morgan's (1970) sample-size Tale, 379 grape producers were selected as the sample population (n =379). The samples were selected through convenience sampling method. Data were collected by using a questionnaire, which was validated by a panel of agricultural extension and education and horticulture experts and the reliability was gained through a pilot test with Cronbach's alpha coefficient between 0.73 and 0.86. The data were analyzed by using the SPSS software. The results of the research showed that about 80 percent of farmers had weak to moderate information seeking behavior. Among the cities, Khoramdeh had the highest percentage of grape producers in the moderate seeking behavior cluster and the other cities had the highest percentage of grape producers in the low seeking behavior clusters. Although the grape producers in different clusters had a high level of access to the agricultural management experts, this information source was not one of the highly usable sources. In contrast, family members and other farmers play an important role in meeting their information needs. Grape producers in different clusters of information seeking behavior had different individual, professional and management characteristics
