Examining the effective factors on the kiwifruit export of the west of Guilan using: DEMATEL Method

The export of non-oil products, particularly agricultural products has a significant effect on foreign exchange earnings in Iran. Therefore, it seems essential to study the effective factors and its extent on the agricultural products export. In this research, the effective criteria on kiwifruit export is identified using Delphi technique. Then, using DEMATEL method, inter-affected and inter-effective relations of the criteria is explained and eventually effective factors on agricultural products export are extracted. The statistical population, in this research, consists of export companies and sorting companies located in Talesh and Astara. The main data collection tool is a questionnaire. In this regard, using Delphi technique in two stages, 9 criteria as effective factors on kiwifruit export are identified. According to the results from the analysis of the criteria using DEMATEL technique, it is determined that among the 9 selected criteria, product price is the most affected criteria and the most weighting coefficient in the whole system, as well as being the leading factor on export. However, the economic factors are the most effective ones. Findings indicate that controlling the economic factors on kiwifruit export allows for access to many markets and can also improve the foreign income.