Determining the Development Guidelines of the Mazandaran Province's Agricultural Sector

مجله اقتصاد و توسعه کشاورزی

Article 4, Volume 34, Issue 4 - Serial Number 50, January 2021, Pages 421-445   

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: 10.22067/jead.2021.17798.0

Authors

H. Amirnejad^* ; S.A. Hosseini Yekani; S.M. Mojaverian; F. Kashiri Kolaei; M. Taslimi

Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: The resistive economy, in the sense of managing the current situation in the country, minimizes the risks. In other words, establishment of the necessary institution in Iranian economy by using a set of policies, laws, and executive measures in such a way to minimize its risk against harmful shocks and disturbances, especially foreign and international ones, would provide the ground for the country to achieve sustainable economic progress. One of the most important methods in this regard, in creating the infrastructure of a resistive economy, is development of the agricultural sector. In fact, due to the distinctive features of the agricultural sector, this sector can be considered as the driving force of the economy within the framework of the resistive economy. To achieve such an economy, the challenges and potentials facing this sector must be identified while determining optimal investment for the basic sectors. Due to the capabilities of agricultural production in Mazandaran province, in this study, for identifying the problems and opportunities in the subsectors of agriculture and horticulture, a type of SWOT analysis was used in which relative weights are calculated through a linear mathematical programming model. Finally, by using the QSPM approach, prioritization strategies were developed for each subsector.
Material and Methods: In the SWOT analysis, the AHP approach was used to extract the pairwise comparisons of internal and external factors from the opinions of the interviewed experts in the subsectors of agriculture and horticulture. SWOT analysis has been used to determine strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, and the combination of linear programming. Therefore, AHP approach is used to calculate the weight for criteria and alternatives at each level. In this research, a two-step linear programming method has been used to calculate the priority vector. In the first step, according to the pairwise comparison matrix, a formulation that provides a consistency limit is used. In the second step, according to the compatibility limits obtained in the previous step, for calculating marginal weights of the criteria, another linear programming model is used. After calculating the relative weights of each of the components of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, as well as determining some strategies, using expert opinions, the QSPM approach has been used to prioritize strategies. For this purpose, the attractiveness coefficients of each strategy were extracted according to the Swot components and by multiplying the attractiveness coefficients by the relative weights, the total score for each Swot component was calculated for each strategy and finally with the total score of the Swot components, a total score for each strategy was calculated. Finally, Excel and GAMS software were used to estimate the results.
Results and Discussion: According to the results of SWOT analysis in the agriculture and horticulture sector, among the important strengths in Mazandaran province, this subsector can be ranked first in the production of various products, variety of climatic conditions and suitable water resources, the existence of fertile and suitable lands and variety of products. In contrast to the above strengths, weaknesses such as traditional and small units of exploitation, lack of guaranteed purchase and non-payment of debts on time by the government and cooperatives, low irrigation efficiency and low productivity of inputs (land, labor, etc.), lack of proper marketing system and the weak role of the government are some of important challenges in the subsectors of agriculture and horticulture in Mazandaran province. The opportunities facing the subsectors of agriculture and horticulture include the existence of ports and export terminals, existence of suitable fields for the construction of processing industries, improvement and establishment of fruit and vegetable terminals, and the existence of agricultural sub-graduates. The most important factors that threaten the activity of subsectors of agriculture and horticulture are related to the problems of financing and bank interest rates, land-use change and land trade, excessive import of agricultural and horticultural products, and small number of related processing industries. The results of prioritizing strategies through the QSPM approach also showed that according to aggressive strategies, in the subsectors of agriculture and horticulture, strategies like "Increased aggressive racial reform research ", "Establishment of fruit and vegetable export terminals" and "Development of processing industries", in the subsector of livestock  strategies like "Export development and entry into global markets", "Product and market development", "Establishment of facilities for export to the Caspian littoral states" and "Improvement of livestock breeds to increase production" , and in the subsector of fisheries "Aquaculture Development", "Development of Fisheries Industry", "Private and public sector support and investment" and "Establishment of facilities for export to international markets" are among strategies for strengthening the economy of the province and the country that can be considered.
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it is suggested that more attention in terms of capital support, and regional policies should be given to the subsectors of agriculture and horticulture in this situation. Also, appropriate measures should be taken to increase the productivity of the agricultural sector in line with the resistance economy. It is also suggested that solutions such as guaranteed purchase, providing facilities for small and job-creating projects, use of agricultural researchers and graduates for improving and implementing of racial reform research, support and development of processing industry of agricultural products, market development and increasing exports of agricultural products, should be used.

Keywords

Development Strategies; QSPM; Mathematical Programming; Agriculture and Horticulture; Mazandaran

References

1. Abdolshah M., Fazli Besheli B., Fazli Besheli S., and Norouzi A. 2017. Strategic planning for agriculture section using SWOT, QSPM and blue ocean- case study: eshraq agro-industry Company. International Journal of Agricultural Management and Development 8(2): 149-162.
2. Abdullahi A., and Karimzadeh M. 2014. Explaining the position of theories of international trade in resistance economics, National Conference on Strategy Analysis of the Supreme Leader's Perspectives on Economics and Management, Islamic Azad University, Babol Branch. (In Persian with English abstract)
3. David Hunger J., and Wheelen T.L. 2010. Essentials of strategic management (5^th Edition), Pearson.
4. Hatef H., Kakhki M., and Sarvari A. 2011. Investigating the relative export advantage of Iran's major horticultural products and predicting the indicators of that time period (1961-2011). Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development (Agricultural Sciences and Industries), 25(2): 227-236. (In Persian with English abstract)
5. Jayachandran S., Sharma S., Kaufman P., and Raman P. 2005. The role of relational information processes and technology use in customer relationship management. Journal of Service Research 13(3): 311-330.
6. Karim M.H., Safdari Nahad M., and Amjadipour M. 2014. Development of agriculture and resistance economics, oil alternatives. Quarterly Journal of Strategic and Macro Policies 2(6): 103-127. (In Persian with English abstract)
7. Kumar P., and Nain M.S. 2013. Agriculture in India: A SWOT analysis, Journal of Applied Research 3(7):4-6.
8. Li F., and Ying X. 2011. Study on development strategy of DIY farm based on SWOT analysis. Asian Agricultural Research 3(8): 8-10.
9. Malekan M., and Javadieh Z. 2014. The role of the media in institutionalizing the resistance economy. Media Magazine 25(2): 87-100. (In Persian with English abstract)
10. Movahed A., and Kahzadi S. 2010. Analysis of factors affecting tourism development in Kurdistan province using SWOT model, Journal of Urban Research and Planning 1(2): 85-102. (In Persian with English abstract)
11. Mupondo N.C., Kusotera B., Mwembe D., and Maposa S. 2013. Use of multistage optimisation technique in formulation of strategies to reduce customer churn problem facing internet operators in Zimbabwe, Science Journal of Applied Mathematics and Statistics 1(2): 7-24.
12. Noori J., Abbaspour M., and Maghsood Lu Kamali B. 2006. Environmental ssessment of strategic policies of Iranian industrial development using the approach of analysis of SWOT strategic factors, Journal of Environmental Technology 29: 25-38. (In Persian with English abstract)
13. Patha P. 2016, Swot analysis of Punjab agriculture. International Journal of Advanced Research 4(4): 871-875.
14. Sahoo P.P., Sarangi K.K., Sangeetha M., Shasani S., and Saik N.H. 2018. SWOT analysis of agriculture in Kandhamal District of Orissa. India. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 7(8): 1592-1597.
15. Salem C., and Namazi A. 2007. The role of the agricultural sector in the economic development of Yazd province. Village and Development Quarterly 10(1): 23-39. (In Persian with English abstract)
16. Shafieian Astahbanati M., Homayounfar M., and Fadaei M. 2017. Identifying sustainable development strategies for rice production in Gilan province using SWOT matrix. International Journal of Agricultural and Development Management 7(2): 141-153. (In Persian with English abstract)
17. Srivastava P.K., Kulshreshtha K., Mohanty C.S., Pushpangadan P., and Singh A. 2005. Stakeholder-based SWOT analysis for successful municipal solid waste management in Lucknow. Waste Management 25(5): 531–537.
18. Tabideh Chi A. 2018. Identification of agricultural development strategy in Hamadan province, Master's Thesis, Institute of Higher Education for Civil Engineering and Development, Faculty of Abadani and Rural Development. (In Persian with English abstract)
19. Tirgari Seraji M. 2013. Aid to the agricultural sector in the formation of the resistance economy. Congress of Progressive Pioneers Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Volume 3. (In Persian with English abstract)
20. Tohidloo Sh., Azami M., and Rushati M. 2016. Investigating the relative advantage of production and employment in the agricultural sector of the country's provinces. Journal of Agricultural Extension and Education Research 10(4): 47-58. (In Persian with English abstract)
21. Wajszczuk K., and Wawrzynowicz J. 2013. A SWOT analysis of software for agriculture in Poland. International in Agribusiness, 10.
22. Wan Y., and Yan S. 2011. SWOT analysis of agricultural product logistics development- A case study of Shaanxi province. Asian Agricultural Research, USA-China Science and Culture Media Corporation 3(12): 1-4.
23. amar.org.ir
24. jkmaz.ir
25. mazandaran.mporg.ir
26. Yu SH., Yang X., and Li G. 2013. SWOT analysis and countermeasures on development of sweet potato industry in Zayn country. Asian Agricultural Research 5(5): 40-43.