نشریه تعاون و کشاورزی
سال سوم شماره 10 (تابستان 1393)

This study examined the factors inhibiting the development of agricultural cooperatives in DehloranTownship by the use of grounded theory. This was a qualitative study. Therefore a grounded theory approach was used to interpret and analyze data. Data were gathered through conducting Individual interviews, implementing focus group meetings and non- participatory observations with the cooperative members, directors, leading farmers and agricultural experts. The validity of the research findings was gained through the use of triangulation approach. Based on the research findings lack of proper management of the cooperatives, lack of collaboration among cooperative members, lack of awareness and knowledge of members regarding the principles, philosophies and concepts of cooperatives as well as lack of training for the cooperative's staff and administrators, lack of laws and regulations, weak financial situation among members, lack of governmental supervision were the most important inhibiting factors on the development of agricultural cooperatives in DehloranTownship. A proper and efficient management functions, providing proper training for farmers and having a systematic and long term plans for cooperative activities are recommended.

This research analyzed the effect of management practices and the effectiveness of range management cooperatives on conservation, reclamation and utilization of rangelands in the Golestan province. The Cooperatives which had at least 5 years of operations were selected. A survey research was used to conduct this study. The population consisted of (N=1043) members from 21 range management cooperatives in Golestan province. A classified random sampling technique was used to select (n=280) members. Data was collected using a questionnaire. Results showed that the effectiveness of cooperatives on conservation, reclamation and utilization of rangelands gained a mean score of 3.35. Respondents indicated that factors such as controlling stocking rate in rangelands, implementing shrub planting and preventing rangeland transformation to barren lands, are pretty effective. Correlations showed that all the management activities except three factors namely consisting of relation with other cooperatives, the amount of relation with members and establishment of cooperatives in an appropriate location, had positive and significant relation with range management cooperatives effectiveness. Factor analysis classified factors in to four groups. The first factor group was economic-social welfare, which explained 28.48 of total variance. Based on the findings and to increase the effectiveness of the cooperatives, it is recommended that range management cooperatives should take serious attempt to entice greater trust and satisfaction of members, provide drinking water for livestock and planting trees to increase forage.

This study used the SWOT matrix in order to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of agricultural production cooperatives in Iran. SWOT matrix provided appropriate strategies so that the goals as well as objectives of the agricultural production cooperatives could be accomplished. Two-stage cluster random sampling method used to determine Sample size using a two-stage cluster random sampling method determined as follows: In the first stage, each of the three weather climates at three different provinces were selected. In the second stage, within each Province, 10 production cooperatives were randomly selected. Finally, 360 specialists and scholars in these cooperatives were random selected and interviewed. The results showed the most important strength and weakness of cooperatives was improvement in the level of management and the lack of strong leadership in cooperatives, respectively. The most important opportunities and threats faced the cooperatives were government support from the cooperative sector and insufficient and unclear governmental policies and regulations regarding the development and expansion of agricultural cooperatives, respectively. Also the findings revealed that the best strategy for agricultural production cooperatives was competitive strategy which includes promoting the production level and boosting farmer's income in order to reduce economic dependence on the government, organizing small enterprises and integrating business activities.

The purpose of this study was to identify failure factors on agricultural production cooperatives in Khuzestan province. The population of this study included 3700 members of cooperatives. A multi-stage cluster sampling method was used to select respondents. Also, questionnaire was used to gather data. Panel of experts was used to verify the content and face validity of the questionnaire. A pilot-test with 30 subjects was implemented. Overall alpha coefficient for all sections of the questionnaire was 0.7. The findings indicated that there was a significant relationship between the age, family members, and attitude toward cooperative type of activities, training quality, social participation, social status, and member's length of experience inagricultural production cooperatives in Khuzestan province with failure scale in 99% level. Also, between the crop yield and income of the members with failure scales in 95% level there was significant correlation. The findings of the regression analysis showed a significant relationship between the six independent variables and the only dependent variable (failure reasons of the cooperatives). These six independent variables were: attitudes toward cooperatives activities, training quality, social participation, social status income and crop yield were most important independent variables that had a significant effect on the dependent variable. In this study 78.6 percent of the dependent variable changes were explained by these variables.

The purpose of this research was to identify and prioritize factors influencing the development of agricultural cooperatives. All agricultural cooperative members (N=88) were included in this study. They were selected through simple random sampling method. Data were collected using an instrument developed by the researchers to accomplish the objectives of the study. Face and content validity were established using a panel of experts. The reliability of the instrument was determined through chornbach's alpha Coefficient (0.85). The data were examined by using AHP technique (Analytical Hierarchy Process) and Expert Choice Software. Based on the results, educational factor was the main factor by ratio of 425 and the personality factor by ratio of 355, social-cultural factor by ratio of 329, management factor by ratio of 275 and economic factor by ratio of 204 were the most important factors for development of agricultural cooperatives in Iran, respectively.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the problems of courses in agricultural cooperatives in Zanjan province. Correlation – descriptive method used in this study. Agricultural cooperative managers in Zanjan province formed the population of the study. The sample size was estimated using Cochran formula (n=80). The questionnaire was used to collect data. The validity of the questionnaire was approved by a panel of academic experts. Pilot-test and calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficients were used to measure the reliability (0.88).Based on the results of the factor analysis main educational problems of agricultural cooperatives were summarized into 5 factors including: Low-flexibility and teacher-centered education or lack of knowledge, limited space and limited use of new technologies for training, instructional ineffectiveness due to budgetary constraints, teacher shortages and lack of funding, time and cost of learning to be poorly supervised adaptation educational needs of the community. These five factors together explained 65.44% of variance of educational problems. The comparison mean results showed that there was significant difference between view of women and men about educational problems including limited-time, limited use of new technologies in education, lack of education and limited space for addressing large classes.