Survey of Measuring the Importance of Agricultural Development Criteria: An Experimental Study in Southern Kerman

Subject Areas : Agricultural Extension and Education Research

Mina Faryabi ¹ , Mostafa Ahmadvand ² , Ayatollah Karami ³

1 - Yasouj University- Department of Rural Development Management
2 - Associate Professor of Rural Development Management, College of Agriculture, Yasouj University
3 - Associate Professor of Agriculture Economic, College of Agriculture, Yasouj University

Received: 2017-11-14 Accepted : 2017-11-14 Published : 2017-07-23

Keywords: Agricultural Development, Rural Development, Development Index, Weighted Ratings, Southern of Kerman,

Abstract :

Determining the importance of agricultural development criteria is crucial for accurate measurement of level of agricultural development in any area. Therefore, this descriptive-analytical study aims at determining the importance of the agricultural development criteria. For this purpose, weighing accounting process was implemented. The weighting of criteria was developed by obtaining a ratio scale based upon a paired comparison of each criterion. Thus, the study used archival documents, a questionnaire survey, and interviews. The statistical population was all managers and experts (N=150) in southern Kerman Jihad-e-Agriculture Organization. Therefore, 19 managers and specialists of the organization were involved in the study using snowball sampling technique. Data processing was done using SPSS19. Research findings indicated that agricultural development criteria could be categorized into eight criteria: development of infrastructure, institutional, human development, mechanization, livestock and animal products, animal health, horticulture and agronomy. Among them, three development criteria include: animal health development, human resources and infrastructure were the most important measures of agricultural development.