Agricultural Extension and Education
Masoud Yazdanpanah; Fatemeh Salari
Abstract
Pistachio is a valuable export product, but its export is faced with serious challenges due to aflatoxin. Given the importance of growers’ role in the prevention of aflatoxin in pistachio, the aim of this article is investigating pistachio growers’ intention regarding prevention of aflatoxin ...
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Pistachio is a valuable export product, but its export is faced with serious challenges due to aflatoxin. Given the importance of growers’ role in the prevention of aflatoxin in pistachio, the aim of this article is investigating pistachio growers’ intention regarding prevention of aflatoxin through the health belief model. The research population consists of 330 of pistachio growers in the Sirjan city in the Kerman province. Amongst the 330 samples, 120 of them were selected through simple random sampling. A questionnaire was the research tool and its validity of the questionnaire was approved by a panel of experts. Its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach alpha reliability coefficients (0.7 to 0.9). Also, the results of regression analysis revealed that the variables showing guide to action were the main predictor of growers’ intention. In addition to self-efficacy and perceived barriers, this variable can predict nearly 36% of the variance of pistachio growers’ intention regarding the prevention of aflatoxin. The results could be used for policy making and planning in relation to strategies to prevent the production of aflatoxin in pistachios.
Agricultural Extension and Education
Masoumeh Forouzani; Masoud Yazdanpanah; Fatemeh Taheri
Abstract
In recent years, fresh water has been increasingly reduced and saline water has been one of the options to help the continuity and stability of agricultural activities. Hence, long-term sustainability of saline water irrigation depends on how to manage it at the fields. Optimal management requires identifying ...
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In recent years, fresh water has been increasingly reduced and saline water has been one of the options to help the continuity and stability of agricultural activities. Hence, long-term sustainability of saline water irrigation depends on how to manage it at the fields. Optimal management requires identifying the factors affecting it. In this regard, this study used the descriptive–survey method to analyze the factors affecting the optimal management of saline water based on the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework. The statistical population of the study consisted of all the farmers of the Karun County (N=19720). By using the table of Krejcie and Morgan, the sample size was determined (n= 120). The sample was chosen through the simple random sampling method. Data were collected using a questionnaire. The questionnaire's face and content validity were approved by a panel of the agricultural extension and education experts and its reliability was confirmed by calculating the Cranach’s alpha coefficient (0.65-0.83). The data was analyzed by using the SPSS software. At the first stage the variables was converted to standard scores in order to construct livelihood assets indices. Then, principal component analysis was ran to assign the weights of the indicators. The results showed that farmers' management behavior in using saline water was dominated by technical management manners. Social capital and physical capital were known as the most and least livelihood assets of farmers, respectively. Also, there were statistically significant differences in farmers' management behavior based on their livelihood assets.
Agricultural Extension and Education
Fatemeh Rahimi; Masoud Yazdanpanah; Masoumeh Forouzani; Saeed Mohammadzadeh; Rob Burton
Abstract
The goal of this study is to investigate farmers’ intentions and behavior regarding water conservation in the Aleshtar County based on social capital. The statistical population in this study consisted of 6000 farmers living in the Aleshtar county A sample of 360 farmers were selected from this ...
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The goal of this study is to investigate farmers’ intentions and behavior regarding water conservation in the Aleshtar County based on social capital. The statistical population in this study consisted of 6000 farmers living in the Aleshtar county A sample of 360 farmers were selected from this population based on Krejcie and Morgan’s Table. Sampling was done by using the stratified random sampling method. Regression analysis of social factors indicated that trust in public institutions, external communication and value of life are the most important factors to predict the intention for agricultural water conservation. The results revealed that these variables on the whole could predict 40 % of the variations in intentions for agricultural water conservation. Furthermore, tolerance of variation and external communications were significantly useful to predict farmers’ water conservation behavior as well. Totally, if these variables are used, we can predict 41% of variations in farmers’ water conservational behavior. Finally, based on the research results, suggestions for better use of water by farmers have been provided.
