Challenges Of Precision Agriculture Application In Pistachio Orchards: Factor Analysis From Iranian Agricultural Experts' Perspective

Yıl 2022, Cilt: 19 Sayı: 3, 473 - 482, 13.09.2022

Mehrnaz Yaghoubi Mehrdad Niknami

https://doi.org/10.33462/jotaf.972740

Cited By: 1

Öz

Iran's agriculture is globally well-known for its pistachio product. However, traditional management approaches and poor application of proper new technologies have brought reduced productivity and environmental hazards. In the information age, in order to transition from traditional to modern horticultural model, the application of precision agriculture model is appropriate. Therefore the purpose of the present study is to determine the challenges of precision agriculture application in pistachio orchards in Semnan province. The research method was survey. The statistical population were 187 horticultural experts of Semnan and counties' agricultural research center. By of Cochran formulae, 124 people were selected as sample. It was used a stratified random sampling method. In field study step, it was used the questionnaire as the main research tool. It was confirmed the face and content validity and reliability of research tool. The results of prioritizing the challenges of application of PA in pistachio orchards showed that the respondents’ point view, the lack of economic justification for PA from the point of view of gardeners in the area, fragmentation of lands and lack of integrated land management, lack of the technical infrastructure required for PA in orchards had the highest priority. Also, shortage of PA researches and the gap between research and extension, poor management of gardeners in the use of precision agricultural technologies, lack of providing consulting services to gardeners were identified as the least priority. Exploratory factor analysis results have demonstrated the exploitation of four factors, including investment and supportive, structural, human resource development and supply, finally organizational and program challenges.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Precision agriculture, Sustainable agriculture, Pistachio, Exploratory factor analysis, Iran

Kaynakça

• Adrian, A. M., Norwood, S. H., & Mask, P. L. (2005). Producers’ perceptions and attitudes toward precision agriculture technologies. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2005.04.004
• Allahyari, M. S., Mohammadzadeh, M., & Nastis, S. A. (2016). Agricultural experts’ attitude towards precision agriculture: Evidence from Guilan Agricultural Organization, Northern Iran. Information Processing in Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inpa.2016.07.001
• Bagheri, N; Bordbar, M. (2013). Identify the Challenges Facing the Development of Precision Agriculture in Iran. Agricultural Extension and Education Research, 6(2), 97-107 (in Persian).
• Barnes, A., De Soto, I., Eory, V., Beck, B., Balafoutis, A., Sánchez, B., Vangeyte, J., Fountas, S., van der Wal, T., & Gómez-Barbero, M. (2019). Influencing factors and incentives on the intention to adopt precision agricultural technologies within arable farming systems. Environmental Science and Policy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2018.12.014
• Barnes, A. P., Soto, I., Eory, V., Beck, B., Balafoutis, A., Sánchez, B., Vangeyte, J., Fountas, S., van der Wal, T., & Gómez-Barbero, M. (2019). Exploring the adoption of precision agricultural technologies: A cross regional study of EU farmers. Land Use Policy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2018.10.004
• Center of Information and Communication Technology. (2018). Agricultural Statistics. Ministry of Agriculture- Jahad of Iran (In Persian).
• Eskandarzadeh M, Rashidpour L, S. M. A. (2016). Feasibility of precision agriculture technologies application in Rafsanjan Pistachio production from the Agricultural Experts perspective. Agricultural Extension and Education Research, 8(31), 59-74 (in Persian).
• Far, S. T., & Rezaei-Moghaddam, K. (2018). Impacts of the precision agricultural technologies in Iran: An analysis experts’ perception & their determinants. Information Processing in Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inpa.2017.09.001
• Fountas, S., Pedersen, S. M., & Blackmore, S. (2005). ICT in Precision Agriculture – diffusion of technology. Sciences-New York. https://doi.org/10.13140/2.1.1586.5606
• Griffin TJ, Lowenberg DM, Lambert J, Peone T, & D. S. (2004). Adopting, profitability, and making better use of precision farming data. Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University.
• IPA. (2011). Annual Report of Iranian Pistachios.
• Izadi N, Hayati, D. Ataei, P. (2015). Assessing Extension Advisory Services Experts’ Capabilities toward Education and Development of Precision Agriculture. Agricultural Extension and Education Research, 7(28), 15-26 (in Persian).
• Izadi N, Hayati, D. (2013). Factors Affecting Precision Agricultural Knowledge: The Case of Consulting Extension Advisory Service Members in Shiraz County. Iran Agric Exten Edu J, 8(2), 35-48 (in Persian).
• Izadi N, Hayati, D. Ataei, P. (2015). Assessing Extension Advisory Services Experts’ Capabilities toward Education and Development of Precision Agriculture. Agricultural Extension and Education Research, 7(28), 15-26 (in Persian).
• Kanter DR, Bell AR, M. S. (2019). Precision Agriculture for Smallholder Nitrogen Management. One Earth Commentary, 1(22). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2019.10.015
• Karcik, H., & Tasan, M. (2018). Determination of Heavy Metal Contents in Some Organic Certified Dried Nuts. Journal of Tekirdag Agricultural Faculty, 15(02), 101–111.
• Kountios, G., Ragkos, A., Bournaris, T., Papadavid, G., & Michailidis, A. (2018). Educational needs and perceptions of the sustainability of precision agriculture: survey evidence from Greece. Precision Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-017-9537-2
• Li, W., Clark, B., Taylor, J. A., Kendall, H., Jones, G., Li, Z., Jin, S., Zhao, C., Yang, G., Shuai, C., Cheng, X., Chen, J., Yang, H., & Frewer, L. J. (2020). A hybrid modelling approach to understanding adoption of precision agriculture technologies in Chinese cropping systems. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2020.105305
• Mishra A, Sundaramoorthi K, Chambara R, B. M. (2003). Operationalization of precision agriculture requirements; Bayesian confirmatory factor analysis. Agricultural Technology, 7(3), 575–597.
• Mishra A, Sundaramoorthi K, Chdambara R, & B. D. (2003). Operationalization of precision farming in India. Map India Conference. http://www.gisdevelopment.net/applicati on / agriculture / overview / pdf / 127.pdf
• Mondal, P., & Basu, M. (2009). Adoption of precision agriculture technologies in India and in some developing countries: Scope, present status and strategies. In Progress in Natural Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnsc.2008.07.020
• Ozpinzr, S., & Cay, A. (2018). The Role of Agricultural Mechanization in Farming System in a Continental Climate. Journal of Tekirdag Agricultural Faculty, 15(02), 58–72.
• Pandit, M. (2012). Adoption and non-adoption of precision farming technologies by cotton farmers. In Selected Paper prepared for presentation at the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association’s; AAEA Annual Meeting.
• Shirkhani M, Pezeshki Rad GR, S. H. (2017). Evaluation of Agricultural Experts’ knowledge toward Precision Agriculture in the Province of Tehran-Iran. Iranian J Agric Econ Devel Res, 47(3), 657-672 (IN Persian). https://doi.org/10.22059 / IJAEDR.2016.60237
• Subrata Kr. Mandal and Atanu Maity. (2013). Precision Farming for Small Agricultural Farm: Indian Scenario. American Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 3(1), 200–217.
• Tohidyan Far, S., & Rezaei-Moghaddam, K. (2017). Determinants of Iranian agricultural consultants’ intentions toward precision agriculture: Integrating innovativeness to the technology acceptance model. Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssas.2015.09.003 TPOI. (2019). The Report of Pistachio.
• Yazdanifar A, Noorullah Nouri Vandi A, O. A. R. (2016). Obstacles Hampering the Use of Precision Agriculture in Farming Cooperatives in Dezful Township. Cooperation and Agriculture, 4(16), 57-73 (in Persian).
• Yost, M. A., Sudduth, K. A., Walthall, C. L., & Kitchen, N. R. (2019). Public–private collaboration toward research, education and innovation opportunities in precision agriculture. Precision Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-018-9583-4
• Zare Mehrjerdi MR, Khodaei M, Zia Abadi M, F. F. (2016). Feasibility of precision agriculture technologies application in Rafsanjan Pistachio production from the Agricultural Experts perspective. Agricultural Extension and Education Research, 8(31), 1-10 (in Persian).