Obligations of Applying Information Technology and Communications in Developing Agriculture of Iran by Insisting on Developing Agricultre

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1 World Journal of Agricultural Sciences 7 (4): , 2011 ISSN IDOSI Publications, 2011 Obligations of Applying Information Technology and Communications in Developing Agriculture of Iran by Insisting on Developing Agricultre Mohammadi Mohammad and Badragheh Ali Department of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Eslam Shahr Branch, Iran Abstract: The goal of present research is to recognize obligations of applying information technology and communications in developing agriculture of Iran. Statistical population of the present research are experts, managers and faculty members of university all through Iran that by using Cochran formula the volume sample is approximated as 200 persons, that by using ratio simple sampling method the desired sample is consist of 6 provinces in which they include 40 faculty members, 52 developing managers and 108 experts. Tools for gathering data include questionnaire that was certified by Alpha Kronbach. Based on results of present research the Wilcoxon there was significant difference from viewpoint of responding between suitable status and present status for applying information technology and communications in Iran. Based on results of factor analysis, the obligations of applying information technology and communications are classified in 6 classes including program obligations, managerial obligations, technical obligations, organizational obligations, executive-cultural obligations and function obligations in which totally these factors explain 66.2% of total variance. Key words: Information Technology and Communications Obligations Factor Analysis Wilcoxon Iran INTRODUCTION having competition atmosphere among informational systems, costs of buying and maintaining hardware and The term Information Technology and software, costs of up to dating content of networks, lack Communications refers to technology based on of having specified policy in the field of cooperation computer and Internet with the goal of offering between governmental and private sector in the field information and communicational services to vas group of of application of information technology and users. This concept covers field of related technologies communications [2-4]. At present time accessing to including telephone. Internet is located at top of this class information and improving vital obligations for permanent of technologies covers mechanisms for transferring development of agriculture seems necessary. Under information in different forms including issue, picture, condition that information technology and audio and video [1]. Required knowledge and information communications are being used at rural conditions they of utilizing agriculture can be divided into 3 classes of can improve grounds of communications, increasing technical information and knowledge, managerial partnership, sharing bilingual and bilateral information information and economical information. Efficiency of and having more access to governmental information. this information and knowledge goes back to issues Therefore the issue of popularizing virtual information including quality of productive knowledge and and technology is observed in the next decade. information, ability of function, addressee basis and Meanwhile it is observed that rural person have problem problem basis. Some of the challenges of developing for accessing to vital information for making decisions. system include: Impediments of educating and training Thus it is necessary that having access to information developing factors, lack of knowledge and skill of will be demand basis rather than being supply basis. The developing factors by this technology, lack of having main challenge not only is improving access to rural suitable infrastructures in developing centers, lack of persons to this technology but also improving balance in having suitable information for creating informational the field of local development. Emergence of Internet as banks, lack of legal network, finical impediments, lack of communicational tool is regarded as great potential for Corresponding Author: M. Mohammadi, Department of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Eslam Shahr Branch, Iran. 458

2 bilateral communications between ar away sections that are offered through global vast network [5, 6]. Information technology and communications has offered modern horizon of informational societies that are knowledge basis. Maybe one of the most important applications of this phenomenon in the present age is to offer more opportunities for production, accessing and circulating information and knowledge. It is obvious that benefiting potentials and abilities of this phenomenon in all sections including popularizing agriculture necessitates selecting mechanism, anticipating and recognizing all inclusive aspects and related topics that are effective on this issue from inside and outside. For doing so only through comprehensive view point and supplying necessary needs it can be expected to use opportunities and potential capacities of information technology and communications. Therefore it seems logical that for designing system of information technology and communications to attention to this point for developing agriculture, since by negligence to this point all of the attempts will face with failure. According to importance of this issue in the present article it is dealt with information technology and communications. Basically entering and absorbing information technology and communications in developing agriculture is a gradual process that needs arranged and stage approach including training, development and offering service [7]. Strategic obligations of information technology and communications for organizations offering services to village including developing agriculture either for users and rural persons include the following item: Creating capacity, offering training and educational programs, creating suitable infrastructure for distance communication, improving communicational capacities (increasing bandwidth), supplying hardware and required software, arrangement, increasing English language proficiency of users, selecting and executing required laws and required policies in the field of higher usage of this technology at technical, serice, administrative and financial affairs, creating culture, creating motivation and anticipating incentives, revision at organizational structure, creating specialized units and appointing person in charge of information technology and communications for developing agriculture, anticipating organizational post, supplying expert human work force, offering maintenance services, support and up dating subsidiary units at different levels, creating ability of access for all personnel to equipments regardless to their occupational status, time, place, sex, recognizing suitable tools for information technology, having contact with researches and other beneficiary related to villages for producing content, inaugurating website in Persian language in accordance with need of addressees, selecting step by step policy and logical hierarchy for application of information technology and communications, integrity of services and organization in charge of village affairs, creating and inaugurating ports [8, 9]. Among other requirements are need to managers that have knowledge, culture, thought, high commitment while investment and offering facilities based on logical point of view or each region, organizational unit and type of activities and programs. Besides everyone knows that partnership of addresses in all stages of a program including development of information technology and communications is among fundamentals, since on this basis, they own all of the users, tools, programs and projects and they can work with more enthusiasm and motivation. Of course this partnership shall not be only at personal level; rather partnership of the related institutes to agriculture and rural affairs is mandatory. It shall be mentioned that eliminating administrative bureaucracy, selecting policy of freedom in the field of supplying information technology and communications services at rural regions, creating competition atmosphere among persons offering services, attempt for creating technology and native tools, decreasing tariffs and costs of having communication, supervision and assessment over offered services and compiling executive and operational strategies are among other obligations [10-12]. Other obligations are effective on specifying application of information technology and communications over developing agriculture that include: Concentration of clarity, exact definition and explaining realistic goals for program, executing law of thinking ownership rights law, decreasing rights and customs tariffs in the field of information technology and communications, developing application based on need of addressees not being project basis, integrating traditional and modern medias, benefiting from all social centers of villages as communicational centers, attention to needs of different groups in the field of supplying content, encouraging private sector in the field of investment, creating local network, entering native knowledge into informational and communicational networks [13-16]. Doubtlessly recognizing obligations of applying information technology and communications for development of agriculture in Iran is performed in the way of achieving to success and stability first of all needs to perform research and comprehensive activities. On this basis and in the way of goals of this research it is attempted to recognize fundamental and effective obligations. 459

3 MATERIALS AND METHODS persons(71.2%) with Bachelor's Degree and 15 persons(28.8%) with Master's Degree and in the group Statistical population of the present research are of experts in the field of developing there were 73 faculty members of developing department and educating person(67.7%) with Bachelor's Degree and 35 agriculture in Iran, managers and experts in the field of persons(34.4%) with Master's Degree. Based on results developing agriculture all through Iran. Based on of research that are mentioned at table in the group of Cochran formula the volume sample is approximated as faculty members 42.5% of sample under study were 200 persons that include 40 faculty members, 52 mangers educating in the field of development and training in the field of developing and 108 experts in the field agriculture and other respondents were graduated from of developing. In this research, it is used from ratio simple other field of agriculture. In the group of managers in the sampling method for selecting sample. In accordance with field of developing, 65.4% of respondents were educated vastness of statistical population in 29 provinces of in the field of agriculture and other respondents were Iran and also limitations of research and based on division educating at other field of studies. In the group of experts of adjacent provinces(6 districts) that are utilized via in the field of developing, 79.6% of persons under study development system, among each district one province were educated in the field of agriculture and other was randomly selected and in each province in respondents were educated at other field of studies. accordance with volume sample the ratio of manager and Among faculty members from view point of weekly using expert was specified. On this basis, the following computer, the highest frequency was group with 16h and provinces were selected: Khorasan, Kohkiloyeh and over with 17 persons. In the group of managers the Boeirahmad, Tehran, Zanjan and Khuzestan. Tools for highest frequency was 11-15h group with 14 frequency gathering data were questionnaire that its reliability and in the group of experts the highest frequency was was certified by university professors and experts of 6-10h weekly with 31 frequency. Results of research Ministry of Agriculture and its permissibility was certified indicated that in the group of faculty members, 2 persons by Alpha Kronbach. The calculated Alpha for different weekly used Internet and its facilities and respectively sections of questionnaire were higher than 0.7. This 6,14,11,7 as low, medium, high and very high amount used questionnaire was consisting of 3 sections. The first from Internet and its facilities. In the group of managers section included personal identifications of respondents. in the field of developing, 7 respondents weekly did not The second section included present status and use from Internet and its facilities and 13,19,8,5 persons suitable status of applying information technology and respectively used from Internet and its facilities as low, communications for respondents and the third section medium, high and very high amount. In the group of included obligations of applying information technology experts in the field of developing, 32 respondents did not and communications form respondents. It shall be weekly use from Internet and its facilities and 29,28,12,7 mentioned that method of filling out this questionnaire experts indicated that they have used from Internet and were face to face meeting, sending via post for some its facilities as low, medium, high and very high. In the provinces and sending via for some faculty group of faculty members in our sample under study, 3 members. members mentioned that they have used from computer and its facilities for fulfilling their duties meanwhile 7,16,14 RESULTS mentioned that they have used from computer and its facilities for fulfilling their duties as low, medium, high In the group of faculty members there were 35 and very high amount. In the group of managers in the male(87.5%) and 5 female(12.5%), in the group of field of developing, 4 persons mentioned that they have managers there were 100 male respondent and in the never use from computer and its facilities for fulfilling group of experts there were 80 male(74.1%) and 28 their duties and respectively 15,12,16,7 managers female(25.9%). Average age of faculty members was mentioned that they have use from computer and its 45.9, managers in the field of developing 44.7 and experts facilities for fulfilling their duties as low, medium, high in the field of Based on result of research that is and very high amount. 9 faculty members mentioned mentioned in table in the group of faculty members that they have monthly they have not investigated to there was 8 persons(20%) with Master's Degree and clientage affairs via and respectively 10,18,3 person 32 persons(80%) with PhD Degree and in the group of mentioned that 1-25, 26-50, person investigated to managers in the field of developing there were 37 clientage affairs via . In the group of managers in 460

4 the field of developing 26 persons mentioned that they Wilcoxon Test: Comparing Present Status and Suitable have not investigated to clientage affairs via . In the Status of Information Technology and Communications same group respectively 16,8,2 persons mentioned that in Developing Agriculture. monthly they have investigated to1-25, 26-50, In order to compare present status and suitable clientage affairs via . In the group of experts in the status of information technology and communications in field of developing 79 respondents did not investigated relation to role of permanent agriculture in Iran it is used to clientage affairs via , meanwhile in the same from Wilcoxon test. Results of research indicated that in group based on results of research respectively 27,2 all cases they were significant difference among present persons monthly investigated to 1-25, clientage status and suitable status of applying these technologies affairs. Results of research in relation to English language from view point of responding i.e. these technologies are proficiency of respondents indicate that in the group of not suitably used in Iran. faculty members 8 respondents had low English language proficiency and respectively 15,3 persons had high and Factor Analysis of Obligations of Application of very high English language proficiency. In the group of Information Technology and Communications for manager in the field of development 15 persons had low Developing Agriculture: In order to study obligations of English language proficiency and respectively 25,7,5 application of information technology and persons had low, medium and high English language communications for developing agriculture, it is used proficiency. In the group of experts in the field of from factor analysis and in order for facilitation in developing 67 persons did not have English language interpreting factor and simplifying their structures it is proficiency and respectively 20,18,3 persons had low, used from structures of factor circulation with Rimax medium and high English language proficiency. method and variables that have greater factor load were Table 1: Results of Wilcoxon Test Average Z value Level of significance Recognition of Beneficiaries from Persons Offering Service Suitable Available No of Visit and Transactions of Development Agencies Suitable Available No of Field Meetings Suitable Available Discipline Training Suitable Available Bilateral Mutual Relationship Suitable Available Recognizing from Bottom to Top of Developmental Needs Suitable Available Facilitating Information Integrity and Local and Global Knowledge Suitable Available Networking and Organizing Agriculture Association Suitable Available Offering Suitable Information with Local Development Suitable Available Diversity of Development Methods and Canals Suitable Available Transferring Modern Findings or Previous Findings Suitable Available Meeting Occupational Needs Suitable Available Compatibility with Environmental Changes in relation to Developing Agriculture Suitable Available Partnership of Developing Research Activities Suitable Available Partnership of Research in Developing Activities Suitable Available

5 Table 1: Continued Average Z value Level of significance Partnership of Farmers in Research Activities Suitable Available Partnership of Farmers in Research Activities Suitable Available Link and Network between Research, Development and Agriculture Suitable Available Counseling Network Suitable Available Networks for Exchanging Information Suitable Available Network of Exchanging Hardware Technological Materials Suitable Available Training during Service for Agencies of Developing Agriculture Suitable Available Quality of Exchange and Communication with Developing Institute and other Beneficiary Suitable Available Access to Informational Resources Suitable Available Circulation of Information Suitable Available Demand Basics in Offering Services Suitable Available Ability in Facing with Challenges of Development Suitable Available Attracting Partnership of other Beneficiaries(Except Researches and Agricultures) Suitable Available Quality of Developing Message Suitable Available Capacity and Volume of Communication with Other Beneficiaries Suitable Available Decentralization Suitable Available Decreasing Administrative Bureaucracy Suitable Available Access to Services of Developing without Time and Spatial Limitation Suitable Available Different Offering Service to Addressees Suitable Available Accepting Developing Message Suitable Available Performance of Agricultural Crops Suitable Available Quality of Agricultural Crops Suitable Available Guaranteeing and Quality of Agricultural Crops in Next Years Suitable Available Table 2: Factor Analysis of Obligations for Application of Information Technology and Communications Row Name of Factor Special Amount Factor Load Cumulative Factor Load 1 Program Obligations Managerial Obligations Technical Obligations Organizational Obligations Executive-Cultural Obligations Application Obligations KMO: Bartlett s: Sig:

6 used at analysis. For doing so 40 types entered into factor technology and communications for developing analysis in which 6 factor of program obligations, agriculture and increasing its efficiency, creating facility managerial obligations, technical obligations, of having equal access to information technology and organizational obligations, executive-cultural obligations communications for public regardless to their and applied obligations were recognized as 9,5,8,5,7,6. occupational status, time, place, sex, formation, wisdom, As it can be seen from table results of factor analysis knowledge in developing agriculture, attracting for obligations of application of information technology partnership of addressees in all stages of developing and communications for development of permanent application of information technology and agriculture, is classified within 7 factors in which totally communications in developing agriculture. This factor 6 factors explained total variance of Program explained of total variance. obligations as first factor with special amount only explained nearly % of total variance that indicates Technical Obligations: The third recognized factor in the high importance of this factor. Other factors by their present research, was technical factor that included: importance respectively including managerial obligations, Creating suitable infrastructures of distance technical obligations, executive-cultural obligations and communication at different organizational level for application obligations, respectively explained 4.915, development, supplying suitable software, compatibility 4.430, and 3.526% of total variance. In the aforesaid with developing agriculture, improving capacities for table each of the factors have received name and are volume of exchanging information, supplying suitable indicted with related variables and factor load. hardware that is compatible with developing agriculture, creating native technologies, creating local networks, Program Obligations: From view point of respondents, creating capacity via training and educating required skills program obligation is regarded as most important factor. for information technologies and communication among This factor included: Some type of supervision and agencies for developing, inaugurating Persian websites correct and continuous assessment in all stages and compatible with needs and priorities of addressees based levels, amending some cultural and social procedures in on region, cultural and lingual diversity that could explain social, educational and developing organizations, 4.915% of total variance. compiling strategic, executive and operational programs of information technology and communications and exact Organizational Obligations: The forth factor in this execution of them in the field of developing agriculture, research is organizational obligations. This factor selecting stage policies or planning via logical hierarchy included: Revision types in organizational structure, in application of information technology and creating specialized units and appointing person in charge communications, improving English language proficiency of information technology and developing agriculture, of agencies in the field of developing agriculture, anticipating organizational posts special for information encouraging private sector for investment and activity in technology unit and communications, executing and the field of offering information technology and selecting legal obligations in the field of more using from communications services, executing thinking ownership information technology and communications at technical, law in the field of productions of information technology service, administrative and financial organizations for and communications for developing agriculture, having developing agriculture, supplying required expert human continuous communication with research sector and work force in the field of information technology and other key beneficiaries for exchanging information and communications that could explain 4.430% of total communication, decreasing tariffs and costs of variance. communication, could explain % of total variance. Executive-Cultural Obligations: The fifth factor is type of Managerial Obligations: The second factor among utilizing from all social-rural centers as center of obligations of applications of information technology information technology and communications, creating and communications for developing agriculture in Iran trust and security in personal and organizational from view point of responding was managerial factor that atmosphere for using information technology and included: growth of agricultural scientific productions communications, creating culture of sharing information (applied recommendations), interested and obligated and science of agriculture, integrating services of managers in the field of developing information institutes and organizations responsible for villages and 463

7 Factor load for each of the aforesaid factors are offered at following table Name of Factor Variable Factor Load Program Continuous and correct supervision and assessment in all stages and levels Amending some cultural-social approaches in social, educational and organizational structures for institutes in the field of developing Compiling strategic, executive and operational programs of information technology and communications and their exact execution in the field of developing agriculture Selecting stage policies and planning via logical hierarchy in application of information technology and communications Improving English language proficiency of agencies in the field of developing agriculture Encouraging private sector for investment and activity in the field of services of information technology and communications Executing thinking ownership law in the field of productions of information technology and communications for developing agriculture Having continuous contact with research section and other key beneficiaries for exchanging information and communication Decreasing tariffs and costs of communication Managerial Growth of scientific agricultural products (applied recommendations) Interested and obligated managers for developing information technology and communications in developing agriculture and increasing their efficiencies Creating facility of having equal access to information technology and communications for public regardless to their age, sex, occupation Formation of wisdom and knowledge in developing agriculture Attracting partnership of addressees in all stages of developing application of information technology and communications for developing agriculture Technical Creating suitable infrastructures for distance communication at different organizational levels Supplying suitable, compatible and arranged software in institute of developing agriculture Improving capacity of volume of exchanging information and communication with developing agriculture Supplying suitable, compatible and arranged hardware for developing agriculture Creating native technologies Creative local networks Creating culture via training and educating required skills for working with information technology and communications among developing agencies Inaugurating Persian language websites compatible with needs and priorities of addressees based on region, cultural and lingual diversity Organizational Revision at organizational structure and creating specialized units and appointing person in charge of information technology and communications in developing agriculture Anticipating organizational posts at units of information technology and communications Creating motivation for using information technology and communications among human work force for developing agriculture, selecting and executing legal obligations in the field of higher usage of information technology and communications in the field of technical, service, administrative and financial affairs for developing agriculture Supplying required expert human workforce for information technology and communications Executive-Cultural Benefiting from all social rural centers as center of information technology and communications Creating trust and security at personal and organizational atmosphere for using information technology and communications Creating culture of sharing information and knowledge of agriculture Integrity of services of institutes and organizations responsible for villages and agricultural affairs via creating central portal Creating culture for correct usage of information technology and communications among all agencies Attention to ethical aspects in the field of development and using from information technology and communications Offering services of maintenance and support from organizational users for developing agriculture Application Addressees basis in top of programs and supplying content of advancing Selecting policies of freedom for offering services of information technology and communications Eliminating bureaucracy Recognizing suitable technology and its applications Creating competition atmosphere for supplying services of information technology and communications Integrating modern and native media for offering developing services

8 agricultural affairs via inaugurating central portal, creating culture for correct usage of information technology and communications among all agencies of developing agriculture at different levels, attention to ethical aspects of development, using information technology and communications and offering service and maintenance and support services to organizational users for developing agriculture that could explain 3.8 total variance. Application Obligations: The sixth and last obligation is application obligations that could explain 3.526% of total variance. This factor includes the following types: addressee basis in programs and supplying developing content, selecting policy of freedom in services of information technology and communications, eliminating bureaucracy, recognizing suitable technology and its application, creating competition atmosphere for offering information technology and communications services and integrating modern and native media for offering developing services. Managerial Technical Executive- Cultural DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Results of Wilcoxon test indicated that there was significant difference between present status and suitable status of application of information technology and communications in Iran, which this significant difference goes back to level of literacy and culture of farmers and their familiarity with these kind of technologies on one hand and lack of having suitable and arranged planning on behalf of planners and agencies in the field of information technology and communications. For solving this problem it is necessary to offer training for farmers about this technology and also attention of planners in relation to importance of these technologies and selecting suitable technology for each region. Results related to factor analysis indicate that obligation of application of Fig. 1: Obligation of Application of Information Technology Program Organization al Application information technology and communications are classified within 6 groups of factors including planning, managerial, organizational, technical, application, executive-cultural in which these factors besides their variances can explain each of the factors that are shown in Figure 1. According to Results of Factor Analysis the Following Suggestions Are Offered: According to factor of applications of technical obligations of information technology and communications for permanent development by insisting on developing agriculture it is suggested: To create suitable infrastructures of distance communication at different organizational levels for developing and supplying hardware and software. Within managerial obligations in order for permanent development of agriculture it is suggested: To select suitable solutions for increasing interest of managers and experts for developing application of information technology and communications in research affairs and developing required facilities for having access to information technology and communications from view point of social, time and spatial and sex of users. Within executive-cultural obligations is suggested: To use from all available facilities and potentials including social centers of villages as centers of information technology and communications and to create suitable culture for using these technologies among farmers through training. Within program obligations is suggested: To have supervision over all levels and stages of developing technology and to prepare suitable grounds for presence of private sector. Within application obligations it is suggested: To use addressee basis as priority of programs and to use from modern and native media for offering integrative services. Within organizational obligations it seems necessary for revising over organizations responsible for this field, so that suitable grounds for attracting experts will be prepared and also it is necessary to created required motivations for using this technology among agencies and users. REFERENCES 1. Accascina, G. and V. Gruet, Information and Communication Technology As a Development Tool. Journal of Information, pp: [on line]available at: ICT4D-Pasific.pdf. 465

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