ISSN 2329-9797
Research Article
International Journal of Agricultural Economics and Extension ISSN 2329-9797 Vol. 7 (2), pp. 001-009, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Morteza Yaghoubi1*, Javad Shahraki2, and Mohammadali Fattahichitgar3
1Department of Economics, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran.
2Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Sistan and Bluchistan, Iran.
3Department of Agricultural Economics, Tarbiat Modares University, Iran.
Accepted 09 September, 2018
Abstract
This paper investigates the attitude of shrimp growing managers toward current problems in 2010. The region is located in Chabahar city of Sistan and Baluchistan province, Iran. The population of this study included 36 to 61 farms. Data was collected through fishery organization, cooperative department and also interviews with decision-making units (DMUs) managers. The validity of the questionnaires was evaluated by experts and faculty members of the University. Cronbach alpha coefficient was used in order to assess the reliability of questionnaire scale, which measured as an acceptable coefficient more than 0.7 in all of the parts. The managers' attitudes were investigated toward financial affairs, human resources, competitiveness, existing infrastructure, laws and government policies. At last, the main obstacles and problems were identified in these farms. Regarding the results about ranking of market and competitiveness, it is better to create domestic market by accompaniment of government, so that it could provide the producers with better conditions. Furthermore, it increases per capita shrimp consumption in country. On the other hand, to maintain and even expand competitive global markets, allocating subsidies for shrimp exports, besides improving road asphalt at non-residential Guatr and reducing the costs of shrimp production are suggested. Bad market conditions and non-optimal allocation of financial resources are drastic obstacles for developing these pools. These problems should be taken care of via low-interest loans and advertisements about shrimp consumption benefits. Moreover, improving manpower productivity is a way to reduce the gap of shrimp productivity of Iran comparing to shrimp exporters in other countries. Therefore, special training courses to boost manpower productivity in Guatr restrict are recommended.
Key words: Managers' attitude, Chabahar, production, shrimp.
Morteza Yaghoubi*, Javad Shahraki, and Mohammadali Fattahichitgar
Page: 1 - 9
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJAEE/1067Research Article
International Journal of Agricultural Economics and Extension ISSN 2329-9797 Vol. 7 (2), pp. 001-007, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Evaluation of drainage system of forest roads in Iran: Darabkola forest roads
Saeede Scandari1* and Seyyed Ataollah Hosseini2
1Department of Natural Resources, University of Agriculture and Natural Resources Sciences, Sari, Iran.
2Department of forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Agriculture and Natural Resources Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Accepted 22 November, 2018
Abstract
It is necessary that forest roads be constructed according to standards considering the importance of forest roads in the forestry plans and sustainable management. The Standard Drainage system is one of the most important technical buildings in the forest road construction. Darabkola forests have been located in the central part of the northern margin of Alborz Mountains in watershed basin 74 which have been established in 1.5 km distance of sari. Darabkola forest’s area is 2612 ha. The effective factors on road drainage such as road width, cross and longitudinal slopes of road, slope of excavation and embankment ranges, longitudinal slope of ditch and basal area of ditch were measured in each 40 m of 1.5 km of forest road length. Then the sample point's locations were recoded using GPS (Global Position System) and the related map was prepared. The Culverts diameter and the Culverts distance of each other was measured in the current drainage system and the culverts location was also recorded using GPS. In addition, road route was tracked and recorded using GPS to obtain more accuracy. Finally, the drainage system of study forest road was compared with accepted standards. Results showed that there is significant difference between the current drainage system of Darabkola forest roads and accepted standards in some cases and the drainage system of these roads was evaluated in the medium situation.
Key words: Culvert, drainage system, forest roads, global position system (GPS), Iran.
Saeede Sc, Seyyed Ataollah Hosseini, ari*
Page: 1 - 7
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJAEE/1066Review
International Journal of Agricultural Economics and Extension ISSN 2329-9797 Vol. 7 (2), pp. 001-008, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Review
Reviewing theory, practices and dynamics of agricultural cooperatives: Understanding cooperatives’ development in Namibia
Benisiu Thomas* and Martha Mweneni Hangula
Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Namibia, Namibia.
Accepted 02 December, 2018
Abstract
This paper reviews the principles of cooperatives as outlined by the International Cooperative Alliance. The evolution of agricultural cooperative thought, theory, and purpose as well as problems associated with cooperatives are reviewed from the standpoint of how cooperatives can provide benefits to their members. Globally economists, social theorists, and politicians have drawn considerable attention to the early dynamic development of cooperatives for their achievement of self-help through group action. Given the new perspectives on cooperative theory and the scope of changes in how cooperatives operate and are structured, cooperatives have even greater potential for coordinating self-help actions, but this potential needs the support of cooperative education services. The development and growth of cooperatives in Namibia, as in many other countries worldwide, have gone through substantial structural transitions in an effort to adjust to a rapidly changing economic environment characterised by increasing globalisation, economic crises, environmental uncertainties and agricultural industrialisation. The main problems and future of cooperatives, specifically agricultural organisations, are also highlighted in this paper.
Key words: Agricultural cooperatives in Namibia, new institutional economics, transaction costs, property rights, agent theory.
Martha Mweneni Hangula, Benisiu Thomas*
Page: 1 - 8
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJAEE/1065Research Article
International Journal of Agricultural Economics and Extension ISSN 2329-9797 Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Comparison of Akaike information criterion (AIC) and Bayesian information criterion (BIC) in selection of an asymmetric price relationship
Henry de-Graft Acquah
Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 00233245543956.
Accepted 09 December, 2018
Abstract
Information criteria provide an attractive basis for model selection. However, little is understood about their relative performance in asymmetric price transmission modelling framework. To explore this issue, this research evaluated the performance of the two commonly used model selection criteria, Akaike information criteria (AIC) and Bayesian information criteria (BIC) in discriminating between asymmetric price transmission models under various conditions. Monte Carlo experimentation indicated that the performance of the different model selection criteria are affected by the size of the data, the level of asymmetry and the amount of noise in the model used in the application. The Bayesian information criterion is consistent and outperforms AIC in selecting the suitable asymmetric price relationship in large samples.
Key words: Model selection, Akaike’s information criteria (AIC), Bayesian information criteria (BIC), asymmetry, Monte Carlo.
Henry de-Graft Acquah
Page: 1 - 6
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJAEE/1063Research Article
International Journal of Agricultural Economics and Extension ISSN 2329-9797 Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-008, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
An investigation of educational needs of Guilan- Iran's tea–planters
Mohammad Karim Motamed1*, Farisa Irannejad1, M. Rezaei2 and Kurosh Rousta3
1Department of Rural Development, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
2Rice Research Institute of Iran, Rasht, Iran.
3Department of Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, Azad University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran.
Accepted 07 April 2018
Abstract
Agriculture has various roles on the development of Iran in different aspects. The most obvious roles are: food preparation, rural's migration prevention to urban areas, preservation of economical and political independence and material preparation for many industries. Tea is one of the crops among agricultural productions which it is still confronted with a series of poor natural and managerial barriers and lack of modern technology as well because of its key role including the most popular drink among Iranians, job creation, currency loss prevention and so on. This research was conducted with the goal of investigation of educational needs of Guilanian tea-planters in 2006 in Guilan province, Iran. 80% of domestic tea in Iran is produced in Guilan province. Statistical population of this research is farmers who are known as tea-planter according to the local norms. Among 67681 Guilanian tea-planters, 280 ones were selected randomly using Cochran's cluster test (formula) to represent the whole population. Independent variables of this research are: age, educational level, range of income, under-cultivation level, social participation, sex (gender), participation in educational and extensional activities, and the use of communicative channels and their relationship were also considered and contrasted with educational needs of tea-planters. The major device for data collection was questionnaire, which was determined after its validity and reliability. For data analysis and interactions existed among variables, descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, variance…) and inferencing statistics were used. The results obtained through the test of theories cleared that there was a meaningful and negative relationship among educational level, economical situation, under-cultivation level, connection of tea-planters with the extension agents of Agricultural Jihad with their educational need. There was also a meaningful and positive relationship between the contact of tea-planters studied and other tea-planters in the area and their educational needs. There was no meaningful relationship among age, use of communicative channels, use of educational and extensional classes, connection of tea-planters with local leaders and factory owners, tea-planter's use of radio and TV and studying of extensional periodicals with the range of educational need. Educational needs of the tea-planters who participated in educational-extensional activities or those who participated in cooperations and unions were less than that of tea-planters who didn't participate in such activities, cooperatives, and unions.
Key words: Tea, educational needs, tea-planters, educational and extensional activities.
M. Rezaei and Kurosh Rousta, Mohammad Karim Motamed*, Farisa Irannejad
Page: 1 - 8
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJAEE/1060Research Article
International Journal of Agricultural Economics and Extension ISSN 2329-9797 Vol. 6 (12), pp. 001-008, December, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Are Kenyan smallholders allocatively efficient? Evidence from Irish potato producers in Nyandarua North district
Gideon A. Obare1,2*, Daniel O. Nyagaka3 Wilson Nguyo1 and Samuel M. Mwakubo4
1Department of Agricultural Economics and Business Management, Egerton University, Kenya.
2Food Security Center, University of Hohenheim, Germany.
3Research Extension Liaison Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Kenya.
4Department of Economics and Agricultural Resource Management, Moi University, Kenya.
Accepted 12 January, 2018
Abstract
Irish potato production in Kenya has been on the decline, yet this crop is a major staple and a source of cash from sales. Using a random sample of 127 smallholder farmers in Nyandarua North district this paper applied a dual stochastic efficiency decomposition technique and a two - limit Tobit model, after disaggregating economic efficiency components using a dual stochastic frontier function, to analyze resource allocative efficiency in Irish potato production. This is in view of the unclear determinants of declining potato production trends in Kenya and considering that the Irish potato is a major staple and cash crop. The paper establishes that Irish potato production in Nyandarua North district is characterized by decreasing returns to scale with a mean allocative efficiency of 0.57. It was further established that farming experience, access to extension and credit, and membership in a farmers’ association positively and significantly influenced allocative efficiency. Implications of the study results are drawn.
Key words: Efficiency, productivity, stochastic frontier functions, Irish potato, Kenya.
Gideon A. Obare, * Daniel O. Nyagaka Wilson Nguyo and Samuel M. Mwakubo
Page: 1 - 8
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJAEE/1059