سیدداوود حاجی میررحیمی

According to the geographical and agricultural conditions, production of flowers and ornamental plants have a suitable situation in Iran. Alborz province is one of the potential areas in this field. Thus, this study aimed to analyze flower and ornamental plants development strategies in this province. The statistical population of study consisted of growers of flower and ornamental plants in Alborz province (N= 1260), out of which 135 people determined as sample using Cochran sampling formula and simple sampling technique. A questionnaire was the main tool of study. Validity of the questionnaire was approved by a panel of experts and construct validity using AVE Index. In order to measure the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability (CR) were calculated. The data were analyzed by SPSS22 and Smart PLS softwares. The finding revealed that, "facilitation-support" and "production process improvement" strategies were in the highest ranks and "research and technology" and "agricultural education and extension and human resources development" strategies were in the lowest ranks for development of the flower and ornamental plants industry. The results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that, flower and ornamental plants development strategies' measurement model consist of seven main elements: "marketing and sales", "agricultural education and extension and human resources development", "infrastructure and facilities development", "production process improvement", "expert development", "research and technology" and "facilitation-support" was homogeneous and the reliability of the Indicators was approved.

The flower and ornamental plants industry, play an important role in the agricultural economy of Iran and many countries of the world; nevertheless, this industry is facing many barriers and challenges. Alborz province has an appropriate capacity for the development of flower and ornamental plants industry; accordingly, the main purpose of this descriptive - survey research was to identify the barriers and challenges of flower and ornamental plants industry development in Alborz province. The statistical population of study consisted of flower and ornamental plants growers in Alborz province (N=1260), out of whom 135 people determined as sample using Cochran's sampling formula and simple sampling technique. A questionnaire was the main tool of study. Validity of the questionnaire was approved by a panel of experts and construct validity using AVE Index. In order to measure the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability (CR) were calculated. The data were analyzed by SPSS22 and Smart PLS software. Prioritizing of barriers and challenges showed that, “high price of the product” and “policy making, planning and supportive” were in the highest ranks and “human resources” and “research, education and extension” were in the lowest ranks. The results of confirmatory factor analysis indicated that, barriers and challenges’ measurement model consist of 10 main elements: “high price of the product”, “infrastructure / technology”, “production quality”, “financial”, “human resources”, “research, education and extension”, “marketing and sales”, “consumers”, “export” and “policy making, planning and supportive” was homogeneous and the reliability of the indicators was approved. Accordingly, it is recommended to identifying and solving barriers and challenges through a comprehensive and holistic approach.

Despite the important role of fish consumption in providing the needed protein by the body and health of people and the existence of many benefits in their production, the consumption of seafood in the country is low. So, this study was conducted to investigate the rate and factors affecting the per capita consumption of fish in West Azerbaijan province (urban and rural areas). The present applied study is non-experimental in terms of controlling variables and in terms of data collection method was a survey. The statistical population of this study included all urban and rural households in West Azarbaijan province. The sample size was determined based on the Cochrane 2096 formula and with proportional assignment, 1440 people in urban areas and 657 people in rural areas were selected as the sample. The main research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire which its validity was confirmed using a panel of experts. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was also used for the reliability of the measuring instrument, which was at an acceptable level. In the present study, the results were presented in two parts, descriptive and inferential, using SPSS18 software. The results showed that the average per capita fish consumption in urban areas was 7.60 kg per year and in rural areas was 7.48 kg. Regarding the per capita consumption, it shows that the highest amount belongs to Urmia city equal to 8.94 kg per year and the lowest was in Naghadeh city with 6.21 kg per year. The results of the study of factors affecting fish consumption using multiple regressions showed that the variables of price, awareness and fish diversity have the greatest impact on consumption in West Azerbaijan province and according to the R2; these variables totally explained 37% of the dependent variable.

The Extension and Services Centers of Agriculture aim to create the necessary basis to fulfill all the duties and responsibilities of the Ministry of Jihad-e Agriculture in rural and agricultural environments. These centers are responsible for ensuring that the farmers are continually satisfied with the services being delivered. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to evaluate the service quality in Extension and Services Centers of Agriculture in Alborz Province using the SERVQUAL Model. This study was conducted using the survey method, and a modified SERVQUAL standard questionnaire was applied as a research tool. The validity of the instrument was confirmed by a panel of experts, and its reliability was determined by Cronbach’s Alpha (over 0.7) for different scales of the questionnaire. The target population consisted of existing farmers and users visiting the seven service centers in the province. Based on Cochran’s formula, the sample size was determined to be 180 persons who were chosen by random sampling method. The result of this study showed that there is a significant difference between perception and expectation in all dimensions of service quality (reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy, and tangibles). There was also a significant difference between the satisfaction levels of respondents with respect to the different dimensions of service quality. Finally, some recommendations have been proposed to the decrease the gap between the perception and expectation of services.

Education-extension programs have fostered one of the most fundamental tools for objectives of agricultural development. The livestock sub-sector in Qom province is Priority and one of the most active economic and effective activities. This study has been done in order to regulation and improvement of education extension programs for special extension rural ranchers to examine their views on this issue. This research was conducted by survey research. The statistical population is rural herders who have participated in a extension concerned with livestock. The results show that overall satisfaction levels of rural animal breeder about the extension-education programs is above average. The highest satisfaction rate is in contexts of "technical power of experts and extension workers", "access to target" and "educational content". The lowest levels of satisfaction are "features and external conditions", "rural people participation rate" and "education- extension program Information". On the other hand, the four variables of education, socioeconomic status, participation in education-extension programs and the businesses that earning more income, has created a significant difference in rural rancher's satisfaction. Regression analysis showed that three independent variables “know Sample livestock breeders", "The area of farm land" and "to encourage children to choose livestock" have been significant effect on rural livestock breeders satisfaction about education-extension programs. The most important research recommendations are: increased investment and providing credit and inputs to rural livestock breeders to improve their economic situation, the development of other jobs related to agriculture and livestock breeders, improving the quantity and quality of rural participation in the planning, implementation and evaluation of education-extension programs.

The purpose of this research was the analysis of relationship between demographic characteristics of students and their satisfaction about educational quality in Imam Khomeini Higher Education Center. Research method of this study was descriptive and correlational method. Statistical population of study were students who involved in Imam Khomeini Higher Education Center (N=2264). Sample size was determined by Cochran’s formula (n=168). Sampling method was stratified random sampling. Research instrument was questionnaire. Face and content validity verified by faculty members of agricultural extension and education. Also, reliability of instrument was determined by Cronbach's alpha (α = 0.71-0.87). Descriptive results showed that student satisfaction about “quality of educational management and rules” was highest priority but their satisfaction about “quality of educational facilities and infrastructure” was lowest priority. Generally, satisfaction level of students about educational quality was assessed relatively favorable. Inferential statistics results showed that there is a positive and significant correlation between variables such as age, job background, average, satisfaction of major and satisfaction of educational quality.

Reengineering the governmental construction in developing countries for enhancement of government organization power and enhancement of non-government section role in agricultural development causes advent new capacities of entrepreneurship human resources and prudence their position in managing and these evolution. The agricultural higher education system in order to preserve responsible in training these sources should launch by increasing educational planning quality toward training entrepreneur person. By attention to the problems and challenges of higher education system of applied scientific in education in this resources, recognizing the approaches of developing the student’s entrepreneurial capabilities is necessary. This issue was approved by statistics of graduate’s entrepreneurship in this higher education centers. Therefore, preserving the efficiency of this system is essential to know developing solution of student entrepreneurial abilities and planning to perform them. The main problem was lack of the related information in the greatest agricultural education center (Imam Khomeini higher education center). With regards the purpose of research, it has been done by survey method. The statistical population was 1595 of agricultural students studying in this center in 2012. The sample population was determined 195 people by the Cochran formula. The measurement instrument was questionnaire. The validity and reliability of questionnaire were confirmed. The results showed that average score the affects methods of entrepreneurial abilities development are more than the middle (3.53 of 5). In addition, the main factors of “give consulting services” and “planning for reform entrepreneurship skills” determine and explain the 20.48 and 19.48 percent of changing variance. At the end, results proposed creating professional business consulting corridor in agricultural applied- scientific higher education centers and planning the comprehensive plans for improvement student’s abilities about business and entrepreneurship via combining entrepreneurship topics in technical and specialized agricultural courses.

Continuous assessment and development of student’s entrepreneurial capabilities and planning isessential for maintaining the effectiveness of Imam Khomeini Higher Education Center (IHEC). Lackof recognition the student’s entrepreneurial abilities was the main issue in the country’s agricultural scientific-applied higher education centers. On the basis, the main objective of this research was determined the capabilities evaluation in the IHEC. The statistical population were students of IHECthat attending in 2012-2013 academic year (N=1595). The sample size was determined by Cochran's formula (n=195). Validity and reliability of the research instrument were carried out. The research method was survey. The results showed that the average of student's entrepreneurial competence was moderate (3.31 from 5). On the other hand, variables of field of study, level of education, gender, marital status, place of birth, employment status, agricultural experiences, passing entrepreneurial lesson, time of starting study, and average of lessons passed, have not created significant differences on entrepreneurial competence of students. However, place of resident (urban or rural), entrepreneurial experience, attendance at entrepreneurial courses, and entrepreneurial experience of parents have made a significant difference in entrepreneurial competence of students. At the end, it should be recommended that more emphasis should be placed on topics concerning "communication" and "business base" components in reviewing the content of entrepreneurship course. Also, agricultural scientific-applied higher education' planners should pay attentions on both qualitative and quantitative in extra- curricular courses of educations such as business and increasing the student's visits of entrepreneurs business units seriously.