Apicultural extension productivity in Caspian zone: A causal analysis

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Science & Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

3 Ph.D. Student, Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

Extension productivity as a process are combined of efficiency, effectiveness, intellectual orientation and attention to the standard quality levels for the system that have to be consider its goal in obtaining maximum benefits and potentials regarding to current resources and facilities. Such organized process requires an extensive awareness from all effective factors in productivity improvement and increase from which the achieved results can be available for planners, policy-makers and administrators. The purpose of this causal- correlative study was to investigate affecting factors of apicultural extension productivity in Caspian zone, Iran by applying path analysis. Research population was all beekeepers of Caspian zone (5273 people) that out of which, 315 beekeepers were selected through stratified random sampling method. The research tool included a questionnaire that validity of which was confirmed by a group of professionals. A pilot study was conducted during the Cronbach's alpha test which was calculated to determinate the reliability of data collection instrument and was found to be in acceptable range from 0.68 to 0.81. Results showed that age of beekeepers, had a negative effect and use of audio-visual equipment, personal communication channels; apiary area and adoption of innovations have a positive effect on apicultural extension productivity. Also two variables of beekeeper’s age and apiary area affect the apicultural extension productivity directly and indirectly by influencing on the use of audio-visual equipment, personal communication channels and adoption of innovations. In this analysis, beekeeper’s age and adoption of innovations had minimum and maximum direct effects respectively on apicultural extension productivity. Also, Beekeeper’s age had maximum indirect effect. Based on the findings, some executive recommendations have been presented at the end of the article.

Keywords

References

Abdollahi, M. (2003). Extension and agricultural development in Iran. University of Tehran journal Social Science, 11(1), 31-65. (In Farsi).
Alibaygi, A., Mirakzadeh, A., & Baniamerian, L. (2011). Evaluation of facilitating transfer of research findings' project from the viewpoint of farmers in Kermanshah Province. Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development, 42(1), 79-91. (In Farsi).
Amirtaimoori, S., & Khalilian, S. (2008). The growth of total factors productivityof agricultural sector in Iran and its perspectivein the fourth developmentplan. Agricultural Economics and Development, 59(15), 37-52. (In Farsi).
Bates, R. (2004). A critical analysis of evaluation practice: the Kirkpatrick model and the principle of beneficence. Evaluation and Programme Planning, (27), 341-347.
Bijani, M., Malek-Mohammadi, I., & Yazdani, S. (2009). Follow up evaluation and productivity of agricultural extension activities in wheat package project in Shiraz and Marvadasht counties of Fars Province. Iranian Agricultural Extension and Education Journal, 4 (2), 67-79. (In Farsi).
Bijani, M., Mirdamadi, S. M., Malek-Mohammadi, I., & Yazdani, S. (2008). Analysis and measuring apiculture extension productivity in Caspian Zone. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 13(4): 841-857. (In Farsi).
C. Wu, C. (1997). Education in form production: The case of Taiwan. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, (3), 699-709.
Dashti. Gh. (1997). Productivity in agriculture with emphasis on livestock sub-sector. Jihad (monthly scientific social and economic magazine), 194, 18-22. (In Farsi).
Evenson, R. E. (2001). Economic impacts of agricultural research and extension Review Article. Handbook of Agricultural Economics, (1), 573-62.
Ghorbani, M., Shabanzadeh, M., & Farahmand Golian, K. (2011). Ecological and economical services value of honey bees in Khorasan Razavi province. Animal Sciences Journal (Pajouhesh & Sazandegi), 89(3), 60-71. (In Farsi).
Gray, E. M., Sheng, y., Oss-Emer, M., & Davidson, A. (2012). Agricultural productivity: Trends and policies for growth. Agricultural Commodities, 2(1), 165-179.
Heisey, P.W., & Morris, M. L. (2002). Practical challenges to estimating the benefits of agricultural R&D: The case of Plant breeding research. Proceeding of the annual meeting of the American Agricultural Economics Association (AAEA), Long Beach, California.
Holton, E. F. (2005). Holton’s evaluation model: New evidence and construct elaborations. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 7(1), 37-54.
Hosseini, S. S., Pakravan, M. R., Gilanpour, O., & Atghayi, M. (2012). Investigates effects of protection policyinagricultural sectorontotal factor productivity. Journal of Economics and Agricultural Development, 25(4), 507-516. (In Farsi).
Islamic Consultative Assembly Research Center (2012). Assessment of the performance of agricultural sector’s productivity goals within the framework of development plans. The Office of Infrastructure Studies, Retrieved August 13 2013, from http://www.majlis.ir.
Karami, E., & Fanaei, S. A. (1995). A study on different theories in agricultural extension. Cheshmeh namdar Press. (In Farsi).
Karnataka, J. (2008). Determinant of extension productivity of farm scientists. Agricultural Science, 21(1), 148-149.
Khaksar Astane, H., & Karbassi, A. (2010). The Survey of agricultural research and promotion investment in Iran. Journal of Economics and Agricultural Development, 24(1), 42-48 (In Farsi).
Kiani Abri, M., Khosh Akhlagh, R., & Nilforoshan, A. (2000). Analysis of technical and economical for honey producers in Isfahan province. Agricultural Economics and Development, 8(32), 261-272. (In Farsi).
Kogen, T. (2005). Youth dependency and total factor productivity. Journal of Development Economics, (76), 147-173.
Kokic, P., Davidson, A., & Boero Rodriguez, V. (2006). Australia’s grains industry: Factors influencing productivity growth, client report prepared by ABARE for the Grains Research and Development Corporation, Canberra.
Lin, Y. J., & Huffman, W. E. (2001). Rates of return to Public Agricultural Research in the Presence of research Spillovers. Proceeding of the American Agricultural Economic Association Meetings, Chicago.
Malek Mohammadi, I. (1996). An attitude about productivity and natural resource and Agricultural extension economy. Proceeding of First Scientific Seminar of Extension of Natural Resources, Livestock and Aquatics. 11-13 May. Tehran, Pp: 411- 421. (In Farsi).
Malek Mohammad, I. (2006). Agricultural west management extension education (AWMEE) the ultimate need for intellectual productivity. American Journal of Environmental Sciences, 2(1), 10-14.
Mohammad Gholi Nia, J., & Gorbani, M. (1999). Analyzing major sub-sector in agricultural extension economy: a new perception. Jihad (monthly scientific social and economic magazine), 220-221, 59-65. (In Farsi).
Mullen, J. D. (2007). Productivity growth and the returns from public investment in R & D in Australian broadacre agriculture. Australian Journal of agricultural and Resource Economics, 51, 35-84.
Nguyen, T., & Cheng, E. (1997). Productivity gains from farmer education in China. The Australian Journal of Agricultural & Resources, 41(4), 471-497.
Nossal, K., & Lim, K. (2011). Innovation and productivity in the Australian grains industry, ABARES research report, Canberra.
Roy, A. K., Sahoo, K. N., Saradhi, K. P., & Saha, G. S. (2002). Farm size and aquaculture productivity relationship. Asian Fisheries Science, (15), 129-134.
Sheng, Y., Gray, E. M., Mullen, J. D., & Davidson, A. (2011). Public investment in agricultural R & D and extension: An analysis of the static and dynamic effects on Australian broadacre productivity. Australian bureau of agricultural and resource economics and sciences, Canberra.
Shirzad, H. (2005). Reengineering integrated management compatible models, research, training and agricultural extension. Management Science, 69 (18), 133-165. (In Farsi).
Soltani, G. R., Shajari, S., & Salman Zadeh, S. (2009). The economic returns and distribution of social benefits of agricultural research, education and extension in Iran. Agricultural Economics, 2(4), 1-19. (In Farsi).
Spilman, D. S, & Davis, K. (2008). Innovation-based solution for increasing agricultural productivity and ending Poverty, moving from Best Practice to Best Fit. Proceeding of Advancing Agriculture in Developing Contries through Knowledge and Innovation, from www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/20080407BestFit.pdf‌.
Tao Yang, D. (1997). Education in production: Measuring labor quality & management. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, (79), 764-772.
Tolentino, A. L. (2000). Indicators for monitoring and evaluating productivity of rural-based small industries. Agricultural Report Pronation of Rural – Based Industries in Asia and the Pacific, (3), 51-64.
Wang, G., Dou, Z., & Li, N. (2002). A systems approach to measuring return on investment for HRD programs. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 13(2), 203-224.
Zhao, S., Sheng, Y., & Kee, H. J. (2009). Determinants of total factor productivity in the Australian grains industry. Proceeding of the Australian Conference of Economists, Adelaide, Australia.
 
 
 
Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research
Volume 46, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
October 2015
Pages 493-502

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics