1- Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University,
P. O. Box: 336-14115, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
2- Department of Agricultural Engineering and Mechanics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Islamic
Republic of Iran.
Abstract: (9240 Views)
The primary purpose of this research study was to determine the major factors affect-ing the implementation of national agricultural mechanization programs in Iran. The sec-ondary purpose of this study was to assess the agricultural mechanization level practiced by farmers. This project consisted of two phases. In the first phase of the study, a Delphi technique was used to gather experts' points of view on variables affecting agricultural mechanization implementation programs in Iran. The second phase of the study was de-signed to assess the agricultural mechanization level practiced by farmers growing sun-flower seeds. The Delphi technique investigation showed that the main constraints on farm mechanization were “small farm size” and “fragmentation of holdings”. The find-ings of the second phase of this research indicated that the mean agricultural mechaniza-tion level practiced on the sunflower producing farms was about 0.5 kW per ha of culti-vated land. However the amount of energy input varied between 0.0149 to 3.4973 kW. Multivariate linear regression of the study indicated that 46.9% (R2= 0.469) of the vari-ance in the level of agricultural mechanization practiced could be explained by variables such as income, total farming land, and land holdings under sunflower seed cultivation.
Subject:
Agricultural Extension and Education|Agricultural Machinery Received: 2010/01/26 | Accepted: 2010/01/26 | Published: 2010/01/26