کوروش روستا

The present study aimed to design a model for developing entrepreneurial behavior in agricultural cooperatives in Kermanshah province, employing an exploratory mixed-method approach. In the qualitative phase of the study, the participant team included all key individuals well-informed about entrepreneurship within the cooperatives of Kermanshah province. Thirty participants were selected using a snowball purposive sampling method. The statistical population for the quantitative phase included 530 managers and members of active agricultural cooperatives in Kermanshah province. Among them, 223 were selected using the stratified sampling method and Krejcie and Morgan's table. Data collected during the qualitative phase were analyzed using Nvivo8 software, resulting in the development of a grounded theory in the form of a conceptual model. During model analysis, research hypotheses were initially compiled and then assessed using the path analysis method in SPSS 23 and SmartPLS3 software. The findings from the qualitative phase, based on the grounded theory model, were categorized into six groups: Causative conditions (e.g., economic profits, personal incentives, etc.)Contextual conditions (e.g., cultural factors, diverse working areas, etc.)Intervening conditions (e.g., sanctions, market fluctuations, etc.)Phenomena (e.g., entrepreneurial behavior such as innovation, initiative in job tasks, etc.)Strategies (e.g., educational-promotional activities, keeping cooperatives up to date, etc.)Consequences (e.g., self-sufficiency in production, preventing cooperatives from depression, etc.).In the quantitative phase, the model emerging from the qualitative part was tested and ultimately approved. Based on the results, it is recommended that to foster entrepreneurial behavior in agricultural cooperatives, the research model be presented to cooperative members through training classes.

The agricultural knowledge and information system (AKIS) is a necessary factor for social, economic, and agricultural development and decision-making in peasant smallholdings. Given the challenges in smallholders’ access, the present study aimed to design an efficient model for AKIS for peasant smallholdings in Sistan and Baluchistan province, Iran. The research adopted a descriptive methodology in which data were collected with a questionnaire whose validity was estimated by AVE and its reliability was determined by the CR method. The statistical population was composed of all experts and executives in the fields of agricultural research, education, and extension and the subject experts in the studied province (N=497). The sample size was determined to be 217 using Cochran’s formula. The data were analyzed by SEM and using PLS and SPSS software packages. The results as to the factor loadings of the subcomponents derived from structural equation modeling show that “increasing information sources”, “farm visits”, “strengthening service centers”, “less consistency of research findings”, and “the existence of agricultural service centers” had the highest factor loadings, so they have a significant effect on the knowledge and information system model for peasant smallholdings.

The current research has been done with the aim of investigating the process of outsourcing decisions and providing a model for decision-making regarding the outsourcing of agricultural extension services. This research is of a qualitative type and has been done using the grounded theory method. Data collection has been done using semi-structured in-depth interview. The statistical population of the research included academic experts, agricultural Jihad experts and non-governmental sector experts, 30 people were selected and examined using the purposeful sampling method and snowball technique. The process of collecting information continued until the level of theoretical saturation and the threshold of usefulness of available information. Based on the core classified codes (20 categories), the major issues of outsourcing include: development and expansion of IT, weakness and inefficiency of government promotion, strengthening of the non-governmental/private sector, demand-oriented production work, expansion of the pluralist promotion system, knowledge management of users and farmers, investing in agriculture, implementing incentive-support policies, decentralizing extension activities, strengthening interactions between farmers, scientific centers and research centers, identifying supply capacities, reforming the management structure, getting feedback from the types of services provided and using it in planning , risk management, commercialization of agriculture, organizational agility of promotion, coverage level of services in rural areas, productivity and food security, efficiency of the potentials and capacity of the non-governmental sector, readiness for competitiveness in the global market have been compiled.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of academic burnout components on academic achievement among agricultural students at Ramin Agriculture and Natural Resources University (RANRU), Khuzestan province, Iran. The statistical population consisted of all senior agricultural students at RANRU (N=390) of whom 200 were selected by the stratified random sampling method (n=200). The main research instrument was a questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by a panel of experts, average variance extracted, and discriminant validity, and its reliability was established by Cronbach's alpha coefficient and composite reliability. Data were analyzed by SPSSWin23 and SmartPLS3 software. Results of structural equation modeling revealed that academic burnout components (emotional exhaustion, academic cynicism, and academic inefficacy) had significant and negative effects on academic achievement among agricultural students at RANRU. The study may be useful to teachers, counselors, managers, policy-makers, and parents who may be able to assist students to reduce burnout. It is recommended that programs be developed to create awareness and encourage students in order to reduce academic burnout.

The present study aimed to design a model for the professional competencies of greenhouse production unit managers in South Khorasan, Iran. The research was of applied type in terms of purpose and descriptive-correlational in terms of data collection, which was conducted by survey method. The statistical population consisted of 117 managers of greenhouse production units, who were surveyed through census because of their limited population. A questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. SPSS and Smart PLS software were employed for data analysis. For all competencies, Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability were estimated to be greater than 0.7. The analysis of structural equations with partial least squares (PLS) supported all hypotheses. Finally, the model of professional competencies was identified with seven competencies including managerial, individual, business environment, theological-ethical, technical and professional, academic, and general agriculture competencies, among which the managerial and individual competencies were the most important ones from managers' viewpoints. It is, therefore, suggested that managers need to continually update and modify their management skills and information in order to make right decisions in dealing with new and different issues and reach the ultimate goal of production.

Solutions to reduce the vulnerability of farmers and beneficiaries to climate change in Khuzestan province will be discussed.

The present study was performed in three stages of qualitative study and one stage of quantitative study. The statistical population of the qualitative section consisted of 83 highly experienced farmers and those suffering from climate change, 18exemplary farmers introduced by the Jihad Agricultural Organization of Khuzestan province, 33PhDand237M.A. students in agriculture from various universities in the province as well as100agricultural experts from the Agricultural Jihad Organization. The research variables were also categorized into six solutions and three barriers (challenges) in the third stage of the qualitative investigation, and introduced for a quantitative stage. The fourth stage of the study was a quantitative stage in which the statistical population consisted of 384 farmers and farming beneficiaries in Khuzestan province. The tool for data collection in the quantitative stage of the questionnaire was based on a Likert scale. As well, the sample in the quantitative and qualitative stages was selected via convenience method.

Economic losses has been affected by various such solutions as economic-financial-support by the government, as well as training-promotional, technical-agricultural and social issues. Also, environmental damages have been affected by economic-financial as well as supportive solutions by the government, training- promotional and institutional-infrastructure issues, and finally psychological-social ills and technical-agricultural damages have been affected by managerial and technical-agricultural solutions, respectively. The solutions stated in the practical dimension face barriers or challenges. Suggestions have been made to address these barriers.

One of the main problems of agricultural cooperatives in Kermanshah province is the weakness in the development of entrepreneurial behaviors. If these entrepreneurial behaviors develop in agricultural cooperatives, it can be expected that their innovative products and services be developed and expanded. These can pave the way to raise of rural agricultural development programs in Kermanshah province. Present study focused on analyzing components of entrepreneurial behavior development in Kermanshah province's agricultural cooperatives using inductive approach of grounded theory. Required information was obtained through semi-structured interviews with a selected sample of entrepreneurship experts in agricultural cooperatives of Kermanshah province (n= 30). The samples were selected using purposive snowball sampling technique. The written texts obtained from the interviews were analyzed using the conventional coding process of grounded theory. Thus, the findings included different open (49 codes), axial, and selective codes. Based on axial classified codes (15 codes), the main axes of entrepreneurial behavior development in agricultural cooperatives of Kermanshah province were divided into two categories of factors promoting and inhibiting the development of entrepreneurial behavior. Promoting factors were including economic benefits, personal incentives, financial and human support, management support, diversified fields of work, development of new markets, and the level of cooperation and involvement of institutions with the cooperative. Inhibiting factors were including cultural factors, internal conflicts, insufficient knowledge, inadequate financial support, administrative bureaucracy, sanctions, market volatility, and climate change. Finally, conceptual axes were identified and merged to develop the entrepreneurial behaviors of agricultural cooperatives in Kermanshah. Through this process, a model was developed for entrepreneurial behavior development in agricultural cooperatives of Kermanshah province. Therefore, based on the findings, it is suggested to increase the awareness of managers and members about promotion of entrepreneurial behavior in agricultural cooperatives through educational and extensional courses.

One of the most important factors that result in rural development is preparing good conditions for rural entrepreneurship. The development requires enough attention to the motivations of those who intend to start entrepreneurship. Choosing entrepreneurship, taking risks, dealing with different problems, and tackling obstacles necessitate very strong motivations. The study was conducted to identify the pull and push motivations perceived by rural entrepreneurs of handicrafts. The statistical population of the study was rural entrepreneurs of handicrafts sector in South Khorasan Province, from among of which 22 participants were selected using snowball sampling. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews from November 2017 to June 2018. Analyzing the data using Colaizzi method let to seven major theme: Job problems, social barriers, improper resources productivity as push factors and social motivations, achieving economic progress, facilitating employments, and personal-psychological characteristics as pulling motivations. The results show that local entrepreneurs having the significant factor of interest in their own hometown and culture and preventing forgetting the handicrafts of the regions, are so motivated to do entrepreneurial works in spite of various problems. So, it is recommended that officials support productive employment and maintain art and culture in rural areas by facilitating starting new jobs and giving especial facilities to the active people of the sector.

The purpose of this study was to explain the economic, social and political structure of poverty in the village of Shamshir with a fundamental theory approach. The main question of the research was what factors explain the economic, social and political structure of poverty in Shamshir village? Research in terms of applied purpose, qualitative research method, methods used to collect data; Observation, unstructured interview, note-taking and focus group and data analysis method is the foundation of data theory. The research sampling was done using purposive sampling approach and theoretical sampling method and rural poor were interviewed under the auspices of the Imam Relief Committee and the Welfare Department of Paveh city. Interview data were analyzed in three stages of open, axial and selective coding to classify concepts and categories. Open codes containing 70 concepts and central codes including 24 categories were identified in the form of six dimensions of paradigm model including causal conditions, contextual conditions, main phenomenon, implicit conditions, strategies and consequences. Finally, government support, private and cooperative companies, and the economic policies of the government and other institutions are strategies to reduce poverty in Shamshir village.

Present study conducted with the aim of explaining the distinctive Professional competencies performance of managers in greenhouse production units in Southern Khorasan. The research method was applied in terms of purpose, and descriptive-correlational in terms of collecting data. The study was conducted through the survey method. The statistical population of the study was 141 greenhouse owners from greenhouse cucumber production Units who were selected through the census method due to the limited statistical population. The instrument used for collecting data in this study was a questionnaire. At the time of research, 117 active greenhouses and information were collected and the statistical analysis was using of the discriminant analysis. The results of the analysis showed that out of the 23 independent variables examined, only 8 variables including observing the technical principles of growing operation, observing ethical beliefs, observing managerial competencies, observing the basic/generic competencies, the method of preparing the planting bed, the number of extension-training courses, the method of preparing the terrace and the planting operation, and the experience in greenhouse cultivation could maximally differ between successful and unsuccessful managers of greenhouse cucumber production Units in order of priority based on focal correlation coefficient.

The first step to cope with the drought and its consequences is understanding of drought and its effects in various dimensions. Understanding of effective strategies and solutions can be used. Present work was conducted with the aim of studying Farmer's perception of drought consequences in South Khorasan Province. The statistical population of research was the south Khorasan villagers as third dry province in the country. Informed people were selected by snowball method and the data was collected through in depth interviews and direct observation. Data analysis was performed based on Colaizzi method. Based on this method, Farmer's questioned concepts about consequences of drought were classified in three distinct sections, including economic consequences, environmental consequences and socio- psychological consequences. Then each section and its mentioned concepts were interpreted and appropriate recommendations and suggestions were presented and finally the results of research were compared with figures published by governmental organizations and agencies as well.

The goal of this study was to assess the greenhouse owners’ attitudes toward of actors of knowledge and agricultural information system، and finding the factors affecting participation in this process. Methodology of this study was survey، descriptive - analytical. A sample of 122 greenhouse owners in the South Khorasan province was selected through census sampling. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews. Results showed that the attitude of greenhouse owners towards extension experts، researches and private advisors is positive، while their views about universities and higher education institutes is more negative. Also the results of assessing the relationship between personal، professional and economical characteristics of greenhouse owners، and their views and attitude towards knowledge and agricultural information system have shown that there is no significant statistical relation between age، education variables and greenhouse owners attitude toward knowledge system and agricultural information; while there is a negative significant relationship at 95% between greenhouse cultivation experience، the production rate per unit area and greenhouse owners’ attitude towards knowledge and agricultural informationsystem. Kruskal-Wallis test results also showed that there is no significant difference between type of resource utilization، information source and attitudes of greenhouse owners towards agricultural knowledge and information systems.

The purpose of this present study is recognizing suitable extension methods and techniques influencing utilize knowledge, attitude and skills of natural resources perimeter sustainable management of Natural Resources. In this research sustainable management of natures resources is to struggle for prevention of changing renewable nature resources to lands agricultural, prevention of use more from capacity growth of natures resources, sapling to generate, seed and sapling to sow and excavation, observance laws concern use of nature resources and to collect products forest and pasture. The methodological approach in the research is a descriptive – correlation study of the survey typ. The target population includes around 54330 families of farmers, who are active in upon nature’s sources. Studied sample populations were calculated basis on Cochran formula with 287 persons and method of stratified sampling was use. The collection of information has been done by filling out of questionnaire. In order to prepare this questionnaire, the view points and recommendations of members of the faculty agricultural and nature resource Islamic Azad University branch of Birjand and some experts in nature resource. Reliability of research questionnaire was calculated by alpha cronbach coefficient of different parts of questionnaire was more than 0.80 which shows a high level of reliability. The results of descriptive findings showed that farmers knowledge perimeter sustainable management of natural resources with mean 22.4 and standard deviation 8.9 was at about average level, attitude perimeter sustainable management of natural resources with mean 55.93 and standard deviation 10.62 was at about positive relatively level, also farmers skills perimeter sustainable management of natural resources with mean 22.49 and standard deviation 8.9 was at about average level. Attitude perimeter sustainable management of natural resources with mean 55.93 and standard deviation 10.62 was at about positive relatively level, also farmers skills perimeter sustainable management of natural resources with mean 22.4 and standard deviation 8.9 was at about average level. The result of stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that arrangement %67, %65 and %58 of the variability in farmers knowledge, attitude and skills perimeter sustainable management of natural resources could be explained by variables of independents.

The effects of agricultural information on the technical knowledge of the greenhouse owners in South Khorasan province are dealt with in this study. Research A descriptive-correlational methodology was ployed، and in terms of time، it was limited to the activities of the elements of knowledge and agricultural information as obtained from greenhouses during 2009. The study population consisted of greenhouse owners in South Khorasan Province، as based on Agricultural Organization statistics، The number of individuals being over 122. In this study، a Census method was utilized to achieve the required information. Research findings suggest that the technical knowledge at the level of greenhouse owners is low. There is a significant positive relationship in information sharing between greenhouse operators، researchers، extension agents، academic members، fellow farmers، vs. technical knowledge of the operators. At 95 percent level، a positive and significant relationship exists between technical knowledge of greenhouse operators، vs. education، farming experience، experience in greenhouse cultivation، cultivation of crops and greenhouse production per unit area. The results of regression analysis in determining the estimating equation of the effective professional and individual characteristics on technical knowledge of greenhouse owners indicates that education، history of greenhouse cultivation، work history and cultivation of agricultural crops، respectively، were the most important variables contributing the most to the technical knowledge of greenhouse owners، and explaining about 39 percent of the change in the variance of these variables.

Agricultural insurance is among new tools that have operated more efficiently for reducing the risks in the agriculture sector. Given that wheat is one of the strategic products among agricultural crops, to reduce its production risks through insurance of agricultural products, is highly important. However, acceptance of wheat insurance by the farmers faces some problems and bottlenecks. With regard to the fact that experience of the risk in the past years would be one of the factors influencing acceptance of insurance in the years to come, the present study was conducted in the calendar years 1384-1385 (2005-2006) to 1386-1387 (2007-2008) with an aim to making an assessment of effects of natural risks (cold and frost, floods, high temperature, heavy rains, drought, diseases, etc.) on the acceptance of wheat insurance among farmers in South Khorasan Province. The present study has used correlation-descriptive method and statistical population of the study comprises 158 wheat cultivators of South Khorasan Province who were selected through application of Cochran formula. Cities of the province were divided into three categories with regard to their wheat cultivators and one city as selected from each category. In order to increase reliability, some 200 questionnaires were distributed among farmers in Birjand, Sarayan and Sarbishe townships. The data collected from the questionnaires were analyzed with the application of SPSS software. The results showed that there is a meaningful difference between those who accept the insurance and those who reject it in terms of revenues obtained through agricultural activities, the damage sustained by factors such as hail, cold weather and drought. Also, it showed that there is a meaningful relation between variables such as record of the occurrence of damage in the farm, revenues obtained from agricultural activities, damage caused by hail and frost, the frequency of risks, farmers’ prediction of risks and assessment of fitness of premium with the variable of insurance acceptance. In this research, through application of logistic regression it as found out that the five variables including the extent of damage caused by hail, cold weather, drought, heavy rains and also history of wheat cultivation are the most effective meaningful factors on the acceptance of wheat insurance. With the application of factor analysis, seven obstacles were identified in the acceptance of wheat insurance including, educational and information bottlenecks, specialization and belief bottlenecks, bottlenecks concerning inappropriate compensation of damage, administrative bottlenecks, economical bottlenecks, bottlenecks pertaining to previous experiences and available facilities and, finally, legal bottlenecks which, in the process of acceptance of insurance, impede farmers to accept insurance.

Developing identity for women, acquiring independence for them and active participation in different socio-economic affairs is an important factor in motivating of this huge human force in social production cycles. One of the most effective methods for developingpersonality and promoting intellectual and mental capabilities of women and therefore their active participation in group activities is involvement in cooperatives. Cooperatives can enhance women by promoting their knowledge and scientific capacities.

Development of students’ organizations is one of the Ministry of Education executive policies, with the purpose of encouraging students’ participation and their social and conceptual capabilities. School cooperatives as a type of these organizations face issues & problems in execution and organizing. Therefore this research has been carried outwith the purpose of investigating the extension & development patterns of school cooperatives in 2009. This research is applied, quantitative and somewhat prospective.The research’s statistical population includes students that are a member of school cooperatives board of directors that were placed into census because of limited numbers. Questionnaire and interviews were used to collect data and validity of these was approved by experts, managers and researchers. Research reliability was also measured by Cronbach Alpha coefficient which was assessed approximately 79%. The results show that it was observed no significant

The purpose of this study is to examine the factors affecting land fragmentation in Khomeinishahr County. These factors were classified into four categories: socio-cultural, economic, farming, and physical; then the relations of each factor to land fragmentation were examined. The statistical population of this study was the farmers of Khomainishahr county. Using random sampling and Cochran formula 115 farmers were selected and data were collected through a questionnaire. The result of correlation analysis indicated that age, agricultural record, the size of lands, the area under cultivation, number of products under cultivation, the type of farming system, and average cost of production had a positive and significant relationship with land fragmentation. The average income per hectare, the distance of land to water source, and the distance of land to village had a negative and significant relationship with land fragmentation. Also no relationship observed between the level of literacy and the number of farmer household members with land fragmentation.

The present research in this regard has been done with the aim of identifying and examining the extension mechanisms effective on the risk management of wheat Production in Khorasan Razavi Province. This study is of the survey kind with a population of around 19536 farmers who produce wheat of Khorasan Razavi Province, have been involved in cultivation of water wheat in the agricultural year of 2005-2006, and have done the farming operation under the supervision of experts. From among this population, 400 farmers were selected by using stratified sampling method with proportionate scale and studied. In order to obtain information from interview, questionnaire tool were used and its sustainability was approved by Cronbach's Alpha coefficient. The results of the research showed that the most threatening risks of wheat production according to their priority include natural and economic risks and the most important strategies used against them according to their priority include technological and financial strategies. The results factor analysis showed that in stage identifying wheat production risks, abundant and group mechanisms; in stage assessment of wheat production risks effects, individual and group mechanisms and using indigenous organization; in stage identifying strategies and tools, group mechanisms, designing radio and TV program; in stage appropriate methods of selecting tools and risk management sterategy, individual mechanisms and utilizing indigenous knowledge, and in analyzing decision making process, individual and group mechanisms with emphasis on indigenous knowledge are effective on the management of wheat production risks.

Land is one of the most effective factors in agricultural sector production. The existence of small ownership units is a limiting factor in the productivity and production return in agricultural sector, due to the lack of effective application of technology, machinery and agricultural factors of production. The goal of this paper is to examine factors affecting farmer's participation in land consolidation project implementation in Shirvan-and-Chardavol county. In this study the data were collected by a questionnaire, and descriptive and inferential statistics were drawn in the form of univariate and multivariate analysis. The results indicated that farmer's level of education and their awareness and understanding of land consolidation are the most important factors that influence owner's tendency to participate in the project and the high cost of implementation is the main impeding factor. In order to enhance farmer's participation in the project, the study recommends informing the farmers through mass media, organizing them in rural organizations, and extending credit and financial facilities to them.