Analysis of Deterrent and Facilitating Factors for the Production of Healthy and Organic Agricultural products: A Qualitative research in Mazandaran province

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Agricultural Extension & Education, Faculty of crop sciences, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran

Abstract

By producing of healthy and organic agricultural products could be help the sustainability of the ecosystem and the health of society, but this bitter truth should be also accepted that organic and healthy farmers has been confronted with many obstacles for this production. Therefore, identifying the production of healthy and organic agricultural products deterrent barriers and its facilitating factors from farmers’ perspective is very important. The current qualitative research was conducted using the content analysis method to achieve this purpose. In this study, in order to collect data, in-depth and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 farmers in the area of healthy and organic production, and statistical samples were selected in a purposeful way and continued until the theoretical saturation point was reached. Instrument data collection were semi-structured and in-depth interviews with farmers who had the experience of organic agricultural or were a healthy product producer (n=11). Then Data collected were analyzed using MAXQDA Analytics Pro 2020 software. These Data were organized in three stages of open coding, categorization and abstraction. To evaluate the validity and reliability of this qualitative study, four criteria of Credibility, Transferability, Dependability and Confirm ability were used. The results showed that 55 percent of farmers with a healthy production certificate were men and 45 percent were women. Regarding the current situation of production in the province, 25 initial codes were identified in four main categories. The results of the analysis of interviews with farmers regarding deterrents showed that 57 initial codes identified in seven categories: economic and market, government-supportive, attitude-cultural, natural, productive and technical, research and development and education, legal and individual-professional were summarized. Also, 16 initial output codes related to promotional factors were extracted. According to the results of the research, it is suggested that the direction of the government's agricultural policies should be directed towards the environmental and social goals of producing healthy and organic products.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Extended Abstract

Introduction and objectives

Healthy, sustainable and inclusive food systems are vital to achieve the world’s development goals. Agricultural development is one of the most important tools to end extreme poverty and feed a projected 9.7 billion people by 2050. However, feeding this population involves an increase in agricultural production, many restrictions exist in the use of natural resources, energy, and farmlands. Modern agriculture has reduced resource constraints and increased agricultural productivity. Nevertheless, the use of chemical inputs such as pesticides and chemical fertilizers has created serious environmental and health problems. So that, organic agriculture is well known as a feasible solution for modern agriculture crisis. Organic agriculture is defined as a production system that promotes human, plant, animal, and soil health, sustains ecological systems and biodiversity, ensures fairness regarding the environment and life opportunities, and preserves the health of future generations and the environment. Meanwhile, farmers should be considered as the most important actors and producers of healthy and organic products in this field. In order to expand organic agriculture, the factors preventing and promoting the production of healthy and organic agricultural products by organic farmers should be investigated.

 

Method

This research was conducted with the aim Analysis of deterrent and facilitating Factors for the Production of Healthy and Organic Agricultural products in Mazandaran province. This Descriptive - Qualitative research study was conducted to achieve the above-mentioned purposes by content analysis method. Instrument data collection were semi-structured and in-depth interviews with farmers who had the experience of organic agricultural or were a healthy product producer (n=11). Then Data collected were analyzed using MAXQDA Analytics Pro 2020 software. These Data were organized in three stages of open coding, categorization and abstraction. To evaluate the validity and reliability of this qualitative study, four criteria of Credibility, Transferability, Dependability and Confirm ability were used.

 

Finding

The results revealed that 55 percent of farmers with a healthy production certificate were men and 45 percent were women. Regarding the current situation of production in the province, 25 initial codes were identified in four main categories. The results of the analysis of interviews with farmers regarding deterrents showed that 57 initial codes identified in seven categories: economic and market, government-supportive, attitude-cultural, natural, productive and technical, research and development and education, legal and individual-professional were summarized. Also, 16 initial output codes related to promotional factors were extracted. According to the results of the research, it is suggested that the direction of the government's agricultural policies should be directed towards the environmental and social goals of producing healthy and organic products.

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Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research
Volume 54, Issue 2
July 2023
Pages 417-438

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