Factors Affecting Waste Reduction in Potato Production in Ardabil Province

In the process of developing agricultural sector due to increasing population and restrictions on production resources, the need for optimal use of resources and improving the productivity of production factors is of great importance. In this regard, the process of reducing waste production has been considered as one of the most important pillars in modern agriculture, which can play a significant role in increasing productivity resulting from reduction of production losses in the agricultural sector (and in general, in improving the living conditions of farmers). The purpose of this research is to investigate the factors affecting the amount of potato wastage reduction in Ardabil province. The data of this research are about 94-95 years and the statistical population of the study is potato producers in Ardebil province. Sampling was done in a multi-stage and proportional manner. From the total population of the study, using the Cochran formula, 172 agricultural units were randomly selected. The main tool of the research was a questionnaire whose validity was confirmed based on the views of the faculty members of Mohaghegh Ardabili University. To determine the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach s alpha coefficient was used. The coefficient of this questionnaire was 0.71 to 0.88 for different parts of it. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. The research findings showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between the amount of waste reduction and varieties of potato cultivar, production, income and profit per hectare and access to the market in the level of one percent. In the regression analysis, five variables participation in the trainin-extension programs, potato cropping area, production per hectare, land ownership and potato cultivation history were analyzed and explained the total of 71.2% of the variance of the dependent variable.

Keywords:

waste , waste of production , potato , Ardabil Province