Factors Affecting Farmers Tendency towards Joining the Production Cooperatives of the Tabas City

Considering the important position of the country's production cooperatives (i.e. the most advanced stage of cooperation) in development and stability of rural areas, the current study aims to identify and evaluate the factors affecting farmer's tendency towards joining production cooperatives in Tabas City, Yazd Province in 2007-2008. Statistical population of the study consists of 1418 individuals, 32 women and 1386 men and the sample size of 120 persons was determined using Cochrane Formula. The prepared questionnaires were distributed using simple random method. The gathered data were analyzed using SPSS 11.5 utilizing Spearman Correlation and Mann Whitney Tests in two sections, Descriptive (determining frequency and frequency percentage, mean, standard deviation and etc) and Analytic or Inferential. The most important descriptive results are: 1- Cooperative companies have suitable basis for attracting individual's participation, 2- Agricultural inputs provided by the cooperatives to the members contribute to farmer's tendency towards joining, 3- The most effective information source of the members in their profession are rural production cooperative companies. The most important analytical and inferential results are: 1- Proximity of residence and the production cooperative company has significant meaning for the tendency of individuals to become a member, 2- There is a significant relationship between the managing director and the tendency of individuals to become a member, 3- Using Mann Whitney, there are significant differences between satisfaction, need, motivation, knowing the company, capital growth (each one individually) and the individual's tendency to become a member.