نشریه تعاون و کشاورزی
سال چهارم شماره 16 (زمستان 1394)

This study investigated greenhouse owner’s behavioral intentions with regard to use of biological control methods. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was used for implementing this study, as it is one of the most widely used practical theories for investigating the relationship between attitude and action. The population of this research consisted of Greenhouse owners (N=300) in Bandar Abbas district. The samples were selected through random sampling of greenhouse owners (n= 110) in Bandar Abbas. The face validity of the questionnaire was approved by a research staff at Ramin agriculture and Natural Resource University. Questionnaire reliability also was confirmed through a pilot study by Cronbach alpha (0.68- 0. 83). Results indicated that attitude, perceived behavioral control and subjective norms were significant predictors of intention. Results also revealed that the greenhouse’ subjective norm was the main predictor of their intention to use biological control methods. This study provided a justification for using attitude, perceived behavioral control and subjective norms dimensions in policy and decision making that intend to encourage greenhouses owners to use biological control methods.

The purpose of the current research was to investigate the factors affecting the stable employment of cooperative and private companies in Nahavand Township and to compare these factors among private and cooperative companies. The research, in terms of its nature and method, was a descriptive-survey, and in terms of its aim, was applied. The population of this research included 250 private and cooperative companies in Nahavand, in which the sample size has been drawn, using Morgan Table, 148 cooperative and private companies have been selected, using stratified sampling. The validity was assessed by using faculty members and its constancy was determined through Cronbach’s alpha 0.762. Regarding the normal distribution of statistical sampling, the hypotheses of the research were examined by the use of SPSS software and One-sample Student t-test. The result showed that the factors such as bank facilities, members’ contributed share, banking regulation, investor attraction, teaching and teaching courses, teamwork etiquette, government’s support and supervision, the promised job, attendance at fairs and utilizing technology have had the most profound effect on stable employment across the Township of Nahavand. The comparison between the two categories of companies using independent t test showed that effect of investor attraction in private companies was more than cooperative companies and the effect of banking regulation at private companies was less than the cooperative companies.

The purpose of this study was to identify obstacles hampering the use of precision agriculture from the viewpoints of managers regarding farming production cooperatives of Dezful Township. The research used a survey method to conduct the study. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire. Its validity was gained by the use of a panel of experts and its reliability by using Cronbach's alpha (0.735) was approved.The population included 136 managers of farming production cooperatives of Dezful Township were selected through census method. To identify the obstacles, a factorial analysis with principal components model was used. Based on the results of a factorial analysis regarding obstacles hampering the application of precision farming, 5 main factors were identified, which included: the lack of economic and technical requirements, lack of requirements for cognitive domain, low socialization, lack of support services and conflicts with environmental and social conditions. After using orthogonal factor rotation varimax method, it was found that these obstacles in regard to the use of precision farming, 57.65 percent of the total variance explained.

The purpose of this research was to identify and analyze the functions of rangeland cooperative’s union in Golestan province. This descriptive research was conducted through survey methodology.The target population was all members of rangeland cooperative's union in Golestan province (N=1043). Based on the Bartllet et al. (2001), sample size was determined (n=200).To select the sample, random cluster technique was used. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by natural resources and watershed management experts in Golestan province and its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient ).95 to .98).Factorial analysis of the union’s functions extracted five factors namely as: providing information and training services, technical support, collaboration and social interactions, rangeland rehabilitation and provision of inputs that explained 74.176% of the total variance. Factorial analysis of the influencing factors on the union’s functions was led to extract four factors, including: accessibility of resources and infrastructure, social cohesion and institutional support, management capabilityandmember orientation which explained 77.241 percent of total variance. Finally, the results of factorial analysis of expected outcomes of the union’s functions revealed two factors, including sustainable utilization of therangelands and development of social and institutional capital forrangeland exploitation

The main purpose of this study was to assess the factors that influence the success of rural production cooperatives in the South of Kerman province using descriptive-correlational design with the participation of 120 members of two Rural Production Cooperatives (RPCs) in the region (one successful and one failed RPCs). Therefore, participants were interviewed with the aid of a questionnaire containing both open and closed-ended questions. Face validity was confirmed by experts, and the questionnaire was subjected to reliability testing by using data collection in the pilot study with Cronbach’s Alpha value of 0.50 to 0.97. Comparative analysis revealed that suitable environmental and socio-culture condition were the key determinants for the establishing stage. Findings also showed that the desirable economic, personal, structural, environmental, and socio-cultural situations were important in stabling stage. This is while; the village’s environment, social capital, trust and cooperative structure were key determinants in the durability stage. Discriminate analysis showed that trust and cooperative structure were the most important significant factors to discriminate cooperatives.
So, based on these findings, it is suggested that for empowering members in team working, some workshops and training courses need to be held. Also, it is essential to expand cooperative activities according to the needs of the members.

In this study the role of cooperatives in improving young graduate's employment majoring in agricultural sciences has been investigated. The statistical population of the study included 600 graduates from Bu-Ali-Sina University in Hamedan. Among them 234 people were systematically selected as samples. The questionnaire was validated for
both content and face by a panel of experts. Reliability of the questionnaires was gained through a pilot test process by a number of 25 agricultural graduates, then for calculating reliability coefficient of items in the questionnaire, a Cronbach Alpha test was used by SPSS software. The items were accordingly 91 percent for the questions of characteristics and 79 percent for the questions of affective factors. The results showed that more than 80 percent of the respondent's graduates were not members of any cooperative so far, but 73 percent of them were interested in membership in agricultural related cooperatives. The results also showed the factors such as a comprehensive support by the government, cultural and information contribution, belief and accredit to cooperation, were the most important factors in improving the employment situation of the agricultural graduates. Other factors were self-employment and entrepreneurship, training and advisory work, financial and credit support, and media support respectively.

The purpose of this study was analyzing problems of frontiersman cooperatives in Ilam Township This study was applied and a descriptive- survey method was used. The population of this study included members of frontiersman cooperatives in Ilam Township (N=6606) that by using proportionate stratified random sampling method and based on Cochran sample size formula, 364 persons were selected as the sample. Instrument of data gathering was questionnaire. Its validity was confirmed by a panel of experts. For reliability of the questionnaire Cronbach alpha coefficient was used and its value was equal to 0.84. Data analysis conducted by SPSS software. Factorial analysis with exploratory approach was used for identifying and categorizing problems of cooperatives. Findings showed that problems of administrative-political, economic, cultural, social and geographical explained 61.26 percent of total variance.