Promoters and Deterrents of Developing Mechanization of Peanut Cultivation In North of Iran

Subject Areas : Environmental policy and management

Reza  Zehtab Naebi ¹ (Department of Agricultural Management, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran.)
Saeed  Firouzi ² (Department of Agronomy, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran.)
Mohammad Reza  Ebrahimzadeh ³ (College of Agriculture, Yadegar - e- Imam Khomeini (rah), Shahr-e-rey Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.)

Received: 2015-08-12 Accepted : 2015-08-12 Published : 2015-03-01

Keywords: development, Peanut, Agricultural mechanization, factors,

Abstract :

The increasing cost of peanut production is a major concern in Iran. Therefore, developing the mechanization of peanut production is a necessity. In this regard, a three-phase Delphi study was conducted to identify the promoting and deterring factors affecting peanut cultivation mechanization in Guilan Province, the main peanut-producing region in Iran. After preliminary studies, 26 experts were selected as respondents for the study. Based on the final results, ‘allocating provincial and national funds to develop mechanization’ (with the agreement of 98.07% of respondents), ‘Organizing training programs to increase farmers’ technical knowledge’ (97.12%), and ‘conducting the pilot and model projects’ (95.19%) were found to be the most important promoting factors in developing peanut cultivation mechanization in north of Iran. Moreover, ‘the small size and fragmentation of peanut farms’ (with 96.15% of respondents agreeing), ‘problems with the national and provincial programs of peanut mechanization’ (95.19%), and ‘low technical knowledge of farmers and craftsmen about peanut farming mechanization’ (94.23%) were identified as the most important deterring factors in developing peanut cultivation mechanization in north of Iran. Given the small area dedicated to peanut cultivation and the low income levels of peanut farmers in north of Iran, it seems that provincial and national funding allocation and peer-planned programming to import appropriate farm machinery are the most urgent plans to improve the status of mechanization of peanut cultivation in north of Iran.

References:

1-Asoegwu, S.N., & Asoegwu, A.O. (2007). An Overview of Agricultural Mechanization and Its Environmental Management in Nigeria. Agricultural Engineering International: the CIGR E-Journal. Invited Overview 6(9), pp, 22., Retrieved September 18, 2014, from http://ecommons.cornell.edu/bitstream/1813/10680/1/Invited%20overview%20Asoegwu% 20final%203May2007.pdf   2- Balachandran, P.G. (2003). Constraints on Diffusion and Adoption of Agro-mechanical Technology in Rice Cultivation in Kerala, Retrieved from http://kkrpcds.org/publication/downloads/59.pdf.   3- Clarke, L.J., Morrison, T.A., Juricek, J., & Studenik, B. (1993). The Slovak Republic: Agricultural mechanization strategy, a review. Retrieved January 21, 2007, from http://www.fao.org/agris/Centre.asp? Content.   4- Ghosh, B.K. (2010). Determinants of farm mechanization in modern agriculture: A case study of Burdwan districts of west Bengal. International Journal of Agricultural Research, 5(12), 1107-1115. [DOI via Crossref]      5- Hsu, C., & Sandford, B.A. (2007). The Delphi Technique: Making Sense of Consensus Practical assessment. Research & Evaluation, 12(10), 1-8.   6- Khajehpour, M.R. (2004). Industrial plant. Isfahan University of Technology. Publications Unit, Jihad e daneshgahi of Isfahan. (In Persian).   7- Loveimi, N., & Almasi, M. (2003). Investigation of the status of mechanization in north of Ahwaz county. Iran Journal of Science and Technology of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Water and Soil Sciences, 7(2), 227-239. (In Farsi).   8- Maiti, R., & Ebeling, P.W. (2002). The peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) crop. USA: Science Publisher, pp. 376.   9- Najafi, B. (1990). Investigation of present status and farmers views to the agricultural mechanization. University of Ahwaz, Iran Scientific Journal of Agriculture, 14(1, 2), 18-31. (In Persian).   10- Olaoye, J.O. (2007). An Evaluation of Farm Power and Equipment Ownership and Management in Niger State, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Technological Development, 5 (1, 2), 94 – 102.   11- Olaoye, J.O., & Rotimi, A.O. (2010). Measurement of Agricultural Mechanization Index and Analysis of Agricultural Productivity of some Farm Settlements in South West, Nigeria. Agricultural Engineering International: the CIGR E-journal. 12(1), 125-134. Retrieved from http://www.cigrjournal.org   12- Ou, Y., Yang, D., Yu, P., Wang, Y., Li, B., & Zhang, Y. (2002). Experience and Analysis on Sug-arcane Mechanization at a state farm in China. 2002 ASAE Annual International Meeting/ CIGR 15th World Congress Sponsored by ASAE CIGR, Hyatt Regency Chicago, Illinois, USA July 28- 31.   13- Rasouli, F., Sadighi, H., & Minaei, S. (2010). Factors Affecting Agricultural Mechanization: A Case Study on Sunflower Seed Farms in Iran. Journal of Agricultural Science Technology, 11, 39-48.   14- Ravi Kumar, H.S., Janakiraman, N., Sheshadri, T., Venkate Gowda, J., & Vijaymahantesh (2012). Integrated Organic Nutrient Supply Systems on Growth and Yield of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Environment & Ecology, 30 (1), 118-121.   15- Roy, N., & Bazbaruah, M.P. (2002). Agricultural growth and regional economic development (A Study of Barak valley). Mittal Publication, New Delhi.