List of articles (by subject) Farm Structures
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Open Access Article
1 - Theoretical and Experimental Study of Potato Shoot Gasification in Fluidized- and Fixed-Bed Gasifier
مجتبی جاویدی قراچه مهدی خجسته پور محمدعلی ابراهیمی نیک ون ازلینا ون اب کریم قانیA bench-scale updraft gasifier was used as a fluidized- and fixed-bed gasification unit in three modes (fluidized-bed at equivalence ratios (ER) =0.2 and 0.25, and a mode in fixed-bed). The experiments were done in five different temperatures (650, 700, 750, 800 and 850 MoreA bench-scale updraft gasifier was used as a fluidized- and fixed-bed gasification unit in three modes (fluidized-bed at equivalence ratios (ER) =0.2 and 0.25, and a mode in fixed-bed). The experiments were done in five different temperatures (650, 700, 750, 800 and 850oC). To obtain the required data to develop a thermodynamic equilibrium model, the proximate and ultimate analysis were carried out on potato shoot as feedstock. Since the developed model is a temperature-based model, it gives different outcomes in different temperatures. The model gave a completely exact result to predict CH4 in fluidized-bed at ER=0.25. The average error for the difference between each produced gas in experiments and the model showed the best result of the model for CO with the error of just 0.7%. Regarding each experiment data difference with the model data, the model was more accurate to be used in fluidized-bed, especially at ER=0.25 than the other two modes. Moreover, the best performance of the model was obtained for CO, N2 and CO2, according to the average errors. Since the maximum amount of high heating value (HHV) and carbon conversion efficiency (CCE) was observed at higher temperatures, it can be contended that the model has better performance at higher temperatures. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
2 - Analysis of Factors Affecting Canola Plantation Development in Tabriz and Marand Counties, Iran
قادر دشتی باب ا... حیاتی نوشین بخشی محمد قهرمانزادهThis study identifies and analyzes factors influencing canola plantation development in Tabriz and Marand Counties. The Censored Model was used to analyze cross-sectional data collected from 372 farmers using a questionnaire. Due to the weakness of the Tobit Model in se MoreThis study identifies and analyzes factors influencing canola plantation development in Tabriz and Marand Counties. The Censored Model was used to analyze cross-sectional data collected from 372 farmers using a questionnaire. Due to the weakness of the Tobit Model in separating factors affecting the adoption decision of farmers and factors affecting the rate of adoption, the Heckman Model was employed to separate the contributions made by these factors. The results of Estimated Probit Model in the first stage of the Heckman Approach showed that machinery ownership had an important effect on canola adoption, as a 1% increase in machinery ownership had led to 0.158% increase in canola adoption probability. Contact with extension agents, farm income proportion, education, and farmers’ experience influenced canola plantation probability positively, and the age and number of fragmentations had a negative impact on it. The significance of inverse Mill’s ratio indicates that the factors affecting the decision to start planting and the amount of canola plantation are not the same. The Heckman’s second step estimation results indicated that the loan amount, canola relative benefit, and family labor had a positive effect, and that machinery cost and farm distance from the road had a negative effect on canola acreage. Relative benefit was the most effective element, as 1% increase in relative benefit results in a 0.342% increase in canola plantation. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
3 - Analysis of Farms Performance Using Different Sources of Irrigation Water: A Case Study in a Semi-Arid Area
حیات لیونبوی تارک بنابدلوآهاب عزیز حسیب عبدلعلی بوللیImproving production efficiency is the main objective of government action to avoid efficiency losses and to increase the income of farmers. The aim of this study was to analyze performance levels of farms in the irrigated perimeter of Tadla in Morocco, according to the MoreImproving production efficiency is the main objective of government action to avoid efficiency losses and to increase the income of farmers. The aim of this study was to analyze performance levels of farms in the irrigated perimeter of Tadla in Morocco, according to the source of irrigation water. Thus, technical, allocative and economic efficiency were analyzed for farms in this area. To estimate the efficiency indices, the approach adopted is based on Data Envelopment Analysis method. Sixty samples of farms were chosen according to the mode of access to irrigation water. The results showed significant variability in technical, allocative and economic efficiency between the observed farms. The source of irrigation water is an important determinant of farm performance in the Tadla region. Thus, the average of economic efficiency varies between 45% and 83% according to the source of irrigation water. In terms of water valuation, farms that use only groundwater achieve a better value of irrigation water (2.19 MAD1 /m3) in comparison with those that combine between surface and groundwater and those which are limited to the use of surface water. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
4 - Factors Affecting Pistachio Export Earnings Instability and its Effect on Agricultural Exports
محمدرضا زارع مهرجردی آسیه عزیزی زهرا کرونیAmong agricultural products in Iran, pistachio is one of the major export products that can produce foreign currency. The present study evaluated factors affecting pistachio export earnings instability and its effect on agricultural export during the studied period. For MoreAmong agricultural products in Iran, pistachio is one of the major export products that can produce foreign currency. The present study evaluated factors affecting pistachio export earnings instability and its effect on agricultural export during the studied period. For this purpose, export earnings instability index was calculated using "average absolute difference between export earnings and its trend". The Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) was used for estimating models over period 1973-2010. The results indicated that pistachio commodity concentration index had negative effect, but pistachio product instability and gaps of exchange rate had direct relationship with pistachio export earnings instability. Also, the results of the estimation of agricultural export function indicated that pistachio export earnings instability had negative and significant impact on export agriculture. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
5 - Rural Development Factors with an Emphasis on the Role of Cooperatives in Guilan Province, Iran
حسین اصدق پور زهرا امیریRural development is a process involving local people in solving their problems. As a strategy designed to improve the social and economic well-being of rural populations, rural developmentundoubtedlysupportsnation-widedevelopmentina country like Iran with a rural-based MoreRural development is a process involving local people in solving their problems. As a strategy designed to improve the social and economic well-being of rural populations, rural developmentundoubtedlysupportsnation-widedevelopmentina country like Iran with a rural-basedsociety. Theconstitutionof the Islamic Republic of Iran stipulates that rural development should be viewed as a key function of the government. This paper aimsto determine factors that constitute rural development in GuilanProvince(North of Iran).The presentstudyexamined75 rural development indices derived from official documents.Theywerethenstandardized and classified according to six factorsusing the numerical taxonomy approach:humanresources, infrastructure costs, socio-cultural costs, economic performance, location and natural resources, and rural management. Share of each factor was rated by statistical analysis. The results of the analysis showed a negligible change in rural management and economic costs,whileother factors remained constant and no change was made to theimpact status and rankof the six factors germane torural development. The studies recommendsrevisingthe economic structure and rural management of the province basedon cooperatives. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
6 - Factors Affecting Farmers' Satisfaction: Case of Agricultural Production Cooperatives in Guilan Province, Iran
محمد طالقانی مهران مهدی زادهThe aim of this study was to identify and prioritize factors affecting farmers’ level of satisfaction in agricultural production cooperatives ofGuilan Province, Iran. To this aim, library studies were conducted, and 15 factors affecting farmers’ satisfaction MoreThe aim of this study was to identify and prioritize factors affecting farmers’ level of satisfaction in agricultural production cooperatives ofGuilan Province, Iran. To this aim, library studies were conducted, and 15 factors affecting farmers’ satisfaction were identified. Next, they wereprioritized byfield studies using a questionnaire. The statistical population consisted of members of agricultural production cooperatives in Guilan Province. The sample comprised93 farmers who were recruitedusing the Cochran formula. The questionnaires were distributed among farmersfrom12 cooperatives usinga mix of random and proportional sampling methods and 100 questionnaires were collected. The content validity of the questionnaire was established and its reliability was estimated to be 79 percent using a Cronbach's alpha. To prioritize the factors, the researchers calculated means cores by using SPSS. Results indicated that empathy and cooperation among members, giving advice and guidance to members in case of problems, as well as effective communication with the local community are, respectively, the three factors that have the strongest effect on farmers' satisfaction in the studied region. In addition, the results showed that satisfaction of the majority of the members of cooperative activities was at a moderate level. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
7 - Recognizing the Reasons for Success of Growth Enterprises at Agriculture Sector of Semnan Province, Iran
فرهاد لشگرآرا علیرضا ترابی مریم امیدی نجف آبادیSmall and medium enterprises play a significant role in economic and industrial development in the developed and developing countries. The main purpose of the study was to investigate the key factors in the effective of growth enterprises. The statistical population of MoreSmall and medium enterprises play a significant role in economic and industrial development in the developed and developing countries. The main purpose of the study was to investigate the key factors in the effective of growth enterprises. The statistical population of this study according to assessment of Agri-Bank of the Semnan Province includes the managers of enterprises in agricultural sector of Semnan Province who were evaluated as successful enterprises (1932 agricultural units). For determining the sample 125 persons were selected by using Cochran’s formula through stratified random sampling. The main tool for collecting data was questionnaire. The results indicated that 6.4% of agricultural growth enterprises were fully successful, 79.2% were successful, and 13.6% were rather successful. According to the results, there was a significant difference between the achievement levels of growth enterprises in different educational groups with confidence level of 95%. In addition, regression analysis showed that seven variables of initial capital, current production value, years of activity, number of personnel, firm size, investment amount, and business history altogether explained 47.7% of variance in the growth enterprises. Manuscript profile