فصلنامه تحقیقات اقتصاد و توسعه کشاورزی ایران
سال پنجاه و پنجم شماره 3 (پاییز 1403)

The main aim of this study was to investigate effects of organizational justice and commitment and Islamic work ethics on agricultural Jihad staffs’ productivity. Research population was including 285 staffs from Jihad organization that 145 staffs were selected as samples through simple random sampling. Data was collected using the standard questionnaires. Face validity of the questionnaire was confirmed through a panel of experts and reliability was obtained through a pilot test and calculating the Cronbach's alpha (0.79-0.87). The findings revealed that organizational justice and commitment were moderate among staffs. Also, path analysis showed that distributive justice with total effect 0.588 and emotional commitment with total effect 0.732 had most effects on staffs’ productivity among justice organizational components. Furthermore, the variable of Islamic work ethics had a positive and significant effect on the staff’s productivity. The organizational justice and commitment components and Islamic work ethics could predict 65.7 percent of changes in staffs’ productivity. According to findings, it recommended that be done more interact with staff and used participatory management in Jihad Organization.

Nowadays, as an efficient approach, microfinance play a vital role in supporting small businesses and creating job opportunities. Therefore, microfinance pave the way for saving and development. Evidence indicates that microfinance funds face some challenges despite their achievements in credit services provided for strengthening the job status of rural residents. Therefore, the extant study was conducted to identify and analyze challenges related to rural microfinance funds in Ghalehganj County. The statistical population comprised 21.000 villagers who were members of the microfinance funds established in Ghalehganj County. The data were collected by questionnaires. Besides measures of central tendency and dispersion statistics, exploratory factor analysis were employed for data analysis. Findings introduced some challenges, including low perception towards job-creation capabilities and entrepreneurial talents, low financial power of households, undesired loan conditions, lack of skills and appropriate technology, lack of infrastructures, and production factors as the most substantial barriers to the effectiveness of associated microfinance funds in business development. The findings of this study can play an important role in giving the accurate insights to the practitioners of microfinance funds, particularly regarding to the lack of the sufficient and appropriate empirical literature in Iran.

Estahban’s dried fig is one of the most important export products in the agricultural sector and the best type of dried fig in the world. Surveys indicate that most fig exporters have weaknesses in international marketing, positioning and maintaining it, and they generally use the unsystematic method in international market selection. Meanwhile, choosing the right market is one of the primary factors of success and growth of companies in global markets, which requires the use of different criteria and the use of systematic methods in their analysis. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify and prioritize market selection criteria for large and small companies that export Estahban’s dried figs. For this purpose, 40 criteria and sub-criteria for the selection of international dried fig markets were identified and prioritized using the fuzzy hierarchical analysis method. The required information at this stage was collected by completing 17 questionnaires from large and small trading companies of Estehban’s dried figs. The results of the research showed that large and small companies have different subjective preferences for each of the model indicators. Also, the highest priority among the examined criteria in large commercial companies is given to economic factors and in small commercial companies to market potential.

One of the basic strategies to strengthen the sustainable livelihood of local communities against environmental crises, including climate change, is to increase the resilience of these communities against disruption and chaos created in ecological systems. therefore The present research was conducted with the goal of gardeners' sustainable livelihood resilience model to climate change in Hamadan province. The research method was descriptive-correlational and causal-relational. The statistical population included the gardeners of Hamedan province (N=53785). The sample size was 380 people using the Krejcie and Morgan table, and the stage sampling method was used. In this research, the situation of sustainable livelihood resilience model of gardeners in Hamedan province in the face of climate change was analyzed by using questionnaire tool and using statistical software SPSS22 and SMART PLS3 and the reliability and validity of the model were confirmed according to the calculated indicators. In total, based on the average of 3.22 out of 5 (sd=1.01), it can be concluded that the livelihood resilience of gardeners in the face of climate change in Hamedan province is evaluated at an average level. The results of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) indicate that environmental norms (β=0.691) and adaptation capacity with climate fluctuations (β=0.606) have a positive and significant effect on the resilience of sustainable livelihoods, the environmental attitude variable It has a positive and significant effect on environmental beliefs (β=0.617), place attachment has a positive and significant effect on adaptation capacity (β=0.610) and the environmental attitude of gardeners in the face of climate change (β=0.567). Also, based on the results, the variable of environmental awareness has a positive and significant effect on adaptation capacity with climate fluctuations (β=0.536) and the variable of environmental beliefs also has a positive and significant effect on environmental norms in the face of climate change (β=0.667). In total, based on the findings, 0.72 of the changes in the dependent variable of sustainable livelihood resilience are directly or indirectly explained by the independent variables of environmental attitude, environmental awareness, environmental beliefs, environmental norms, place attachment and adaptation capacity. The results of this research can be useful and practical for decision-makers in the field of agriculture, especially horticulture, from the point of view of environmental psychology. The findings of this research can be used for policy making and planning and decision-making in order to develop resilience and stabilize the livelihood of gardeners in Hamedan province in the face of climate change.

Managing the pollution of water resources while allocating water resources appropriately to different sectors can lead to socio-economic and environmental developments. Surface water sources have a high pollution load in the south of Tehran Province due to the upstream discharge of domestic and industrial wastewater. However, these sources are used for irrigation in the agricultural sector, leading to environmental problems. As a measure to solve this problem, a plan is to build surface water treatment plants before using the water for agricultural and industrial purposes. This study investigates the economic and environmental effects of the using treated wastewater in the south of Tehran Province. This study employed a hydro-economic model under conditions of uncertainty. The results indicate that under the existing conditions, the net system benefit will decrease in pursuit of the economic-environmental optimal state. So that for reducing each ton of nitrate input to water resources due to the reduction of the level of economic activities, the net system benefit is reduced by 36167 million rials. This decline in benefit can be compensated by adopting solutions such as the application of treated wastewater, using the fertilizer potential of water sources or increasing the treatment level of the wastewater generated in industrial and municipal sectors.

The challenge of economic development is to ensure human welfare. Many studies in developing countries have focused on trade liberalization to achieve this goal. Therefore, this study assessed the impact of reducing import tariffs in the agricultural sector on households’ welfare. The study utilized a computable general equilibrium model and Afghanistan's social accounting matrix data, and measured welfare effects using the Hicksian Equivalent variations index. The findings showed that as the import tariff gradually decreased until its full elimination, household expenses increased across various scenarios. The equivalent changes, which reflect the difference between primary and secondary consumption expenditures, were positive after implementing the scenarios. The study found that reducing the import tariff rate in the agricultural sector by 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 percent increased equivalent changes by 1339, 4427, 7494, 10996 and 10996 million Afg., respectively, indicating an improvement in household welfare. The fourth and fifth scenarios had a greater welfare effect than the first. Based on the study results, it is recommended that the Afghan government focus more on trade liberalization instead of reducing agricultural tariffs. The study also suggests that, along with trade liberalization, the government should shift its focus from domestic production to meeting food needs through imports to ensure household well-being.

All countries consider food security to be an important development objective, and reducing food insecurity is seen as a crucial political goal for all people. One of the ways to study food insecurity is using indirect measures such as consumption behavior. This article examines the concept of urban household food insecurity in Alborz province of Iran and depicts the findings of food insecurity indicators. Household food insecurity scale, household hunger scale and coping strategies were used to obtain information. In a statistical population (1000 households) random classification method among the cities of the province, data were extracted by means of standard questionnaires and in the field. The dispersion coefficient ranking method was used to investigate the difference in food insecurity in the cities of Alborz province. In the next step, the level of food insecurity in all defined indicators was drawn using remote sensing technique and conventional color spectrum. What was obtained from these classifications showed that in the difference of prevalence estimates, firstly, the statistical population is different in food insecurity indicators. Secondly, each indicator has a different sensitivity range of food insecurity severity and these ranges do not overlap. Third, the classification of the prevalence of food insecurity depends very much on the selected spatial and temporal cut-off. Based on this, it is not possible to estimate food insecurity using a unique accepted standard measure. Accordingly, it is recommended to use more than one indicator. In addition, the use of images to show this information facilitates the accuracy, disaggregation and correct interpretation of the information.

Branding of organic agricultural products is an essential requirement that plays a vital role in the economic growth and development of societies. In the field of the creation and development of organic agricultural brands, there are many development and driving factors that require careful planning. The present research, has been conducted to identify the driving factors of organic agriculture branding in Tabriz County. This research is mixed and practical and based on the survey. First, based on the Foundations Data Approach, necessary qualitative content was collected, then quantitative data was collected based on survey strategy (questionnaire). The population was specialists and experts who were first using targeted sampling and then using the snowball method; a half structured interview was conducted with 17 people until theoretical saturation was reached. In this method, data analysis was done in three ways: open coding, central coding and selective coding. To check the reliability, transferability and verifiability and validity criteria, were used. Based on the analysis of the qualitative stage, the central and selective branding codes were identified, and a questionnaire was shown in the framework of the matrix of cross-effects between regulatory factors and to evaluate the influence and effectiveness of driving factors, the matrix of cross-effects was conducted, using MicMac software. Based on the results, 16 drivers were identified as the key drivers that had the most impact on branding, among which the media, single organization, financial and credit support, and public sector infrastructure play the most crucial role in branding organic agricultural products.

Drought-tolerant fodders extension, including sorghum, is of great importance to the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture. Regarding, the limited adoption of fodder sorghum in Iran, this research was conducted to develop strategies for improving fodder sorghum consumption in Tehran province. The statistical population of the qualitative phase was the key informants of sorghum, 18 of whom were selected for in-depth interviews using the purposeful snowball sampling method. Grounded theory was applied to extract strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Two questionnaires were prepared to measure the importance and intensity of external and internal factors, by 10 and 6 experts, respectively. Analyzing the external and internal environment, 21 strategies including eight (SO) strategies, four (WO) strategies, six (ST) strategies, and three (WT) strategies were extracted. Analysis of the strategic space showed (ST) strategies for adopting sorghum among dairy farmers in Tehran province had a higher priority. These strategies were "increasing the information of experts and farmers about the possibility of using sorghum Speedfeed variety in specific cattle or as a percentage of the ration in industrial cattle"; "increasing the information of experts and farmers about sorghum agronomic strengths"; "using sorghum in the ratio of cattle breeds with lower milk yield special milk quality such as Jersey or Simmental or native cattle"; "promoting agronomic strengths of sorghum, especially among farmers owning agricultural land"; "promoting agronomic strengths of sorghum by establishing model sites in dairy farms owning arable land" and "explaining the importance and strengths of sorghum for officials and decision-makers".

The influence and expansion of modern retail markets such as malls and hypermarkets in Iran have changed the families’ buying behaviors and lifestyle regarding the purchase of food products. To this end, this study was aimed at investigating the factors influencing the consumers’ behaviors in relation to various retail formats for food products in Tehran in 1400. To this end, based on random sampling, 210 questionnaires were completed and Multivariate Probit Model was used. The dependent variable included seven formats including mall, hypermarket, supermarket, minimarket, shopping stall and small markets and fresh markets. Based on the results of the model, the risk minimization factor decreases the probability of traditional purchase. The services and convenient shopping increases the probability of buying in formats such as mall, stalls and small stores and vendors, and the index of price sensitivity reduces the probability of people buying from malls and increases the number of vendors. Also, based on the estimated results, there is no competition between different formats of traditional and modern food retail in Iran. Thus, it is suggested that the characteristics of target markets be taken into account when it comes to geographically localizing the modern and traditional forms.