The present study was conducted to examine the development and validation of sustainable indicators related to aquaculture as a social-ecological system. By reviewing the literature, it was found about 148 indicators related to sustainable aquaculture in economic (market-oriented and responsive aquaculture, capability of risk assessment and crisis management, and financial management in aquaculture), social (participation in food security and healthy food, the role of producer and non-governmental organizations, improving the image of aquaculture, and social responsibility), environment (minimizing the impacts of aquaculture at the national level, minimizing the impacts on the environmental conditions, and biodiversity), and institutional (local development and participation in decision-making) components. The extracted components were used in the form of a questionnaire with a five-point Likert type scale according to six criteria. Questionnaires were distributed among aquaculture experts in Alborz Dam Basin in Mazandaran Province, where 32 questionnaires were returned. Research results include ranking indicators based on a total of six criteria mentioned in methodology, and ranking components, as well as their associated indicators related to sustainable aquaculture using AHP. The findings further suggested that economic and environmental aspects also were placed as the first and second ranks among 10 sustainable aquaculture indicators. Accordingly, it is highly recommended that the agencies related to the country's aquaculture development paid attention to these identified dimensions and used them in their planning. پرونده مقاله

This research investigated the effectiveness of IPM/FFS project from economic, technical, social-communicative, environmental and psychological aspects in a descriptive-correlational design based on the survey method. The research population consisted of 70 greenhouse producers that had implemented IPM/FFS project in Tehran and Alborz provinces, Iran. Using Krejcie and Morgan (1970)'s sample size table and stratified random sampling method, 55 greenhouse producers were selected as the research sample. A questionnaire was the main tool for data collection. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of agricultural extension and education experts and its reliability was confirmed by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficients (0.77≤a≤0.86). The results showed that the IPM/FFS project has affected social-communicative, psychological, environmental, technical and economic factors, respectively. There were positive and significant relationships between effectiveness of the IPM/FFS project and education, the duration of IPM implementation, satisfaction with governmental support and the characteristics of IPM/FFS learning sites whilst the effectiveness of IPM/FFS project was negatively and significantly related to age and greenhouse area under IPM project. According to multiple regression analysis, the characteristics of IPM/FFS learning sites, education and satisfaction with governmental supports could account for 66 percent of variance of the effectiveness of IPM/FFS project. Finally, as implementation cost of integrated pest management is usually beyond greenhouse producers’ financial ability, it is suggested that the government provide greenhouse producers with more economic supports (e.g. granting loan and special facilities and guaranteed purchase of organic products). پرونده مقاله

Higher education has recently faced new challenges and responsibilities such as higher expectations to contribute to national and regional developments, considerable cuts in public funds, and the highly competitive educational markets. Previous research has suggested a positive association between the development of human capital and capacity to deal with these challenges in higher education institutions. Yet, there are few empirical studies on the factors that constitute faculty members’ development. The main purpose of this study was to investigate faculty members’ development components in Agricultural Higher Education in Iran. Specifically, it aimed to explore the differences among faculties of agriculture on the components of their faculty members’ development and analyzed academics’ perceptions toward the current and desirable status of their development. Furthermore, this research examined the faculty members’ perceptions of the most influential component of their development. The population was 1837 faculty members and 280 of them were selected using the stratified random sampling method. The results showed that the faculty members perceived their individual development as higher than and equal to average. There was also a significant difference between universities on the components of their faculty members’ development based on their size except for their individual development. The analysis also suggested wide gaps between the status quo and desirable situations of each component of development as perceived by the faculty members. Furthermore, the faculty members perceived their professional development as the most influential component of their development. Recommendations are made to improve faculty members’ development in agricultural higher education particularly in Iran. پرونده مقاله

Delphi is a powerful technique used to seek answers to appropriate questions. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the Delphi technique as a research method. This paper discusses the scientific merit of the Delphi technique by investigating on 41 studies of Journal of Agricultural Education from 1981 to 2013, and 2 studies of Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology. The results showed that there is no general agreement on using indexes in different rounds of Delphi technique; however, according to the frequencies of using indexes in different studies, the following suggestions are presented. The favourable number of panel of experts is between 10 to 20. Purposive sampling method is used for selecting the panel members. Usually a three rounds of Delphi method is used. One question is designed in round one. Mean and standard deviation indexes are used for passing from round two to round three and agreement level of 70 present is used for achieving expert's consensus in round three. پرونده مقاله

Since climate change has negative consequences for agricultural production and people's livelihoods, there is an increased need for flexibility in agricultural systems. The cultivation of medicinal plants is crucial for livelihoods and water resource conservation, making it an effective strategy to achieve resilience in agricultural systems and reduce vulnerability. This study explores the effect of cultivating medicinal plants on the livelihood capitals of women and men farmers in eastern Iran. The statistical population included 7,172 farmers, with 368 selected as a sample using the Krejcie and Morgan table through stratified random sampling. The study instrument's validity was confirmed by subject matter experts, and its reliability was established using Cronbach's alpha. Data were analyzed with SPSS software. Comparing the livelihood capital of women and men resulting from the cultivation of medicinal plants showed that men had higher social, human, and economic capital than women. The study's results assist policymakers and executive managers in developing effective livelihood capitals and guide farmers in choosing activities that maximize livelihood capital and performance. Finally, suggestions are made for farmers in developing countries and those affected by climate change. پرونده مقاله