Sadegh Salehi,; Hossein Mahmoodi,; Narges Dibaei; Sara Karimzadeh
Volume 9, Issue 4 , July 2012
Abstract
This paper investigates the relationship between environmental attitudes and environmental behavior (namely, household energy consumption) in Urumia. In this study, attitudes of individuals at two levels of general environmental attitude and specific environmental attitude (energy consumption) have been ...
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This paper investigates the relationship between environmental attitudes and environmental behavior (namely, household energy consumption) in Urumia. In this study, attitudes of individuals at two levels of general environmental attitude and specific environmental attitude (energy consumption) have been studied. According to the research hypotheses, there is a positive and significant correlation between general environmental attitudes and specific environmental attitudes. General environmental attitudes were evaluated based on NEP and, methodologically, a survey method was applied with cluster sampling to choose the samples. The overall results showed that subjects for both attitudes received a high score, and there is a significant and positive relationship between general environmental attitudes and significant environmental behavior (energy consumption). The possible reasons for this result are discussed later in the paper and several suggestions are put forward for further studies.
Mohammad Ghorbani; Alireza Koocheki; Hossein Mahmoudi
Volume 6, Issue 3 , April 2009
Abstract
Organic farming and organic production methods have gained importance in agriculture from environmental point of view as well as economical and social stand points. The purpose of this study was to propose a model in order to estimate the wheat production in organic farms of Khorasan province, Iran. ...
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Organic farming and organic production methods have gained importance in agriculture from environmental point of view as well as economical and social stand points. The purpose of this study was to propose a model in order to estimate the wheat production in organic farms of Khorasan province, Iran. Production of organic wheat was obtained through surveys of 167 farms. Partial elasticity of production of different inputs were derived from Cobb-Douglass production function. The results revealed that the wheat production decreased by 18.95 percent when the chemical factors were eliminated. The drop off yield of organic fields in large farms (more than 10 ha) is higher than small (less than 5 ha) and medium (5 to 10 ha) size farms due to over-use of chemicals and fertilizers. If organic products are to develop, it is recommended that financial support (subsidy), extension education, and providing non-chemical inputs be provided to compensate the related production loss.
Majid Javanmard; Hossein Mahmoudi
Volume 6, Issue 1 , October 2008
Abstract
The aim of this study is to examine the current situation of Iranian organic fig growing and exportation. SWOT analysis was applied to the production, processing, storage, exports and structure of market competition and distribution aspects. The data were gathered using two methods, consisting of firstly ...
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The aim of this study is to examine the current situation of Iranian organic fig growing and exportation. SWOT analysis was applied to the production, processing, storage, exports and structure of market competition and distribution aspects. The data were gathered using two methods, consisting of firstly of documentary studies and secondly a survey study. The research instrument used was a questionnaire. The results have been presented in a SWOT frame, and the results from this research are divided into four categories as follows. (1) strengths - such as the supply of an effective organic figs, the supply of an small size product, lowest raining climate and product with low moisture content; (2) weaknesses - such as lack of research and development of high-yielding varieties and domestication, lack of cooled and controlled atmosphere storages facilities in region, the absence of a national logo and standards for organic products, lack of fig processing facilities, lack of well equipped and specialized laboratories, lack of appropriate processing, storage and packaging system, and having no integrated, systemic approach in organic fruits growing; (3) opportunities - such as dry farming, lower cost of production, the geostrategic conditions of Iran (the fastest growing market of organic consumption in the world, region and Iran’s reputation as a dried fruits exporter); and (4) threats - such as drought and climate change, fluctuation of fig price, irrigation of orchards, bulk selling, merging low quality and un-organic figs from other regions, limited research and development centres in this case, lack of developmental, extension and advisory services.