Examining the Incentive and Deterrent Factors of Agricultural Agents’ Skill Development

The purpose of the present study is to recognize and explain the incentive and deterrent factors of agricultural agents’ skill development in Iran, using grounded theory. In this study, in order to gather data, a detailed interview was conducted on 18 top agricultural agents. The main criterion to determine the sample size was to achieve theoretical saturation point. All the persons of the studied sample size were selected through a purposeful approach and snowball sampling method. Coding and analyzing the data were executed during three stages and finally, incentive and deterrent factors of agricultural agents’ skill development were determined. According to the results of this research, incentive factors of skill development, including procedural and structural design, precise determination of duties, authorities and the scope of performances, providing grounds, updating the program, bridging the gaps, evaluating the institutionalization and integrity of the program, and institution building and procedural and structural reconsideration, are procedural and deterrent factors of skill development, including policy, partnership, educational, human resources, support, infrastructure, environmental-organizational, psychological and supervisory factors.