Factor Analysis of Obstacles In Regard to Nanotechnology Development in Agricultural Sector of Iran

Undoubtedly, nanotechnology can play an important role in increasing agricultural productivity as well as food security for growing population in the world. The purpose of this research was to use factor analysis in identifying obstacles regarding nanotechnology development in the agricultural sector of Iran. The research method implemented was applied- survey. The target population of this study included researchers employed in the national_ agricultural research centers/institutes (N= 187). One hundred twenty-three of them were selected by symmetrical random sampling. Data were collected by using a researcher made questionnaire which was validated by a panel of experts and the reliability was calculated by using Choronbach alpha's coefficient (α = 0.92). Factor analysis identified and grouped obstacle variables into 5 factors. A Financial issue was shown as the most important factor with 18.54 percent of variance. The next important factors were classified respectively under the titles of: instructional difficulties, management problems, research problems, relative-informative hardships that cover about 69.89 percent of obstacle variables variance. Based on the results, recommendations weremade for the development of nanotechnology in the agricultural sector.