Background: Skin cancers are among the most prevalent malignancies in Iran. According to statistics, it is the most common cancer in the population of Ilam, west of Iran. The present study aimed to assess threat APPRAISAL of skin cancer among rural farmers of Ilam in 2013-2014.Method: In this cross-sectional study, we used multistage random sampling. We collected the data through distribution of a researcher-developed questionnaire among 248 farmers from the rural areas of Ilam in June 2013. The items of the questionnaire were based on the protection motivation theory, and covered components included perceived vulnerability, perceived severity, and rewards.Result: We found a generally lower perceived vulnerability and severity and higher rewards among the farmers; 14.5 and 30.6 % of the farmers displayed higher perceived vulnerability and severity, respectively. Only 15.7% of the farmers were low in extrinsic and intrinsic rewards for unprotected behaviours. We found 149 people (60.1%) had unacceptable levels of threat APPRAISAL; 2 people (0.8 %) had borderline levels; and 97 people (39.1%) had acceptable levels. Also, there was a significant relationship between perceived vulnerability, severity, income, and education level of the participants (P<0.001), but an insignificant relationship was found between family size, threat APPRAISAL (P<0.747), family size and perceived threat (P<0.247).Conclusion: The overall findings of the present study indicated unacceptable levels of psychological perception about skin cancer in farmers, which highlights the importance of designing, implementation, and evaluation of educational interventions related to the issue.

Introduction: Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers around the world as well as in Iran. Identifying the farmers' perceptions about skin cancer might be effective in the design of intervention programs for preventing it. Therefore, this study aimed to survey the threat APPRAISAL to skin cancer in the farmers of the Chaldoran County in Iran.Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 238 subjects were selected from the FARMERS’ rural regions by multistage random sampling. To collect the data, a reliable and valid questionnaire based on protection motivation theory structures was used. Descriptive statistics (frequency, relative Frequency, mean and standard deviation) and analytical statistics (One Way ANOVA) was used to analyze the date. The level of significance was considered less than 0.05.Results: The mean ± standard deviation age of participants was 35.40±8.79 years old. A statistically significant association between perceived threat with education level (p=0.001) and threat APPRAISAL with education (p=0.04) was observed (p<0.05).50.04% of subjects had a low threat APPRAISAL to skin cancer. Perceived severity was high only in 15.5% of the individuals.23.1% of farmers had high extrinsic and intrinsic rewards to inconsistent behaviours of skin cancer. Threat APPRAISAL status of farmers showed that 119 people had unacceptable levels; 26 people had borderline levels; and 99 people had acceptable level behaviours.Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that farmers did not consider themselves to be vulnerable to skin cancer. Therefore, design and implementations of appropriate intervention programs to inform the farmers seems essential in the relevant field.

We conducted this study in the Agogo Traditional Area of the Ashanti region of Ghana where there are numerous cases of conflicts between crop and animal farmers as a result of insufficient pasture for livestock, especially during the dry seasons. This has drawn the attention of various stakeholders in agriculture to the need for supplement feed through pasture establishment. The study examines FARMERS’ perception and the financial viability of pasture establishment for small ruminant production. The specific objectives of the study are as follow: to identify the cost and returns for the establishment of an acre of pasture, to assess the financial viability of pasture establishment on ‘cut and sell’ basis, to investigate FARMERS’ perception of pasture establishment for cattle production, to conduct a SWOT analysis of the establishment of pasture in Agogo. The study purports to analyze in detail, farmers' perceptions about the nature of the proposed 'Fodder Bank' policy and its likely effect on crop and livestock production, and whether the proposed policy could generate adequate monetary returns to induce its adoption at the farm level. The study seeks to provide evidence in support of SDG goals 2 (Zero hunger) and 12 (Responsible consumption and production) of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. To the authors' best of knowledge, this is envisage to provide valuable information to support policy initiatives intended to tackle the root cause of farmer-herder conflicts. The Asante Akim North Municipal is one of the 27 administrative Districts in the Ashanti Region. Its capital is Konongo- Odumasi. The population for this study comprises livestock and crop farmers in Agogo. Asante Akim North Municipal was purposively selected for the study because it is noted for its agrarian abilities and massive production of food in the Ashanti region. The multi stage sampling was employed in this study. At the first stage, Asante Agogo traditional area was selected purposively due to the fact that majority of the inhabitants engage in agricultural activities (GSS 2010). At the second stage, three communities in Agogo namely, Hwidiem, Ananekrom and Bebuso were selected purposively. At the third stage, quota sampling was used to obtain a specific number of farmers from each of the three communities to sum up to 150 respondents as shown in table. Simple random sampling technique was then used to engage the selected farmers in these communities. A sample size of 150 respondents were obtained using the Slovin’s formulae which is a scientific method of obtaining the sample size for a given population. Structured questionnaires consisting of open and close ended questions were used to gather primary data from respondents through face-to-face interviews. Interviews were conducted using the local dialect mostly to enhance communication and to clear all language barriers but English was used where the respondents could give accurate answers in English Language. Data per the questionnaires from respondents were concerning their perception of pasture establishment and the assessment of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of pasture establishment. Secondary data was sought from books, journals, dissertations and the internet. Useful and relevant information on the appropriate materials and their costs for establishing pasture was also obtained from the Agogo MoFA office, and the KNUST Department of Animal Science. Descriptive statistics such as percentages, tables and means were used to analyze the socio-economic characteristics of respondents. It was revealed in the study that majority of crop farmers have had their crops destroyed by ruminants especially cattle at least once. Additionally, the study showed that pasture establishment is one way through which crop farms destruction by livestock can be prevented as about 99% of farmers responded in the affirmative. The results for the financial viability of the venture under the assumptions used gave relevant results with BCR of 1.18 and NPV of GHC 3,160. The Internal Rate Return of the venture is estimated at 40.1% and a Pay Back period of 2.61 years. Therefore, it will be economically prudent for investors to commit resources towards establishing pasture. The perception index for commercial, economic and financial concerns of pasture establishment was 3.7 which is skewed toward agree. The statement that had the highest positive perception index was about the fact that pasture establishment will increase the quality of meat. This implies that respondents perceive that the commercial, economic and financial results of pasture establishment will be positive. The perception index for the social category was 3.66. The statement with the highest positive assertion by respondents is the fact that pasture establishment will help control the movement of animals. The perception index of 3.66 which is skewed towards agree means that pasture establishment will attract the support from the community and also bring more benefits to the society. In the category of technical concerns of pasture establishment, the overall perception index for this category is 3.15, which means that the respondents perceive they have a fair technical know- how concerning pasture establishment even though the venture requires technical know-how. In the category of institutional concerns, support and involvement in pasture establishment, the statement with the highest perception index is that MoFA will support farmers with the necessary resources in its capacity. With reference to the chi-square test, the study can conclude that there is a significant relationship between the type of farmer and the perception that support can be drawn from farmer-based associations, and the perception that pasture establishment will increase livestock production as well as the general sales of farmers. Lastly, the study revealed that there is a significant relationship between the educational background of the farmer and the perception that it is not difficult to select planting materials for pasture establishment. Farmers in Asante Akim Agogo should adopt the establishment of pasture since it is financially viable. The establishment of pasture in Asante Akim Agogo should be encouraged since it has the potency to reduce the farmer - herder conflicts and ensure food security. For successful pasture establishment, technical know-how is essential.

Background and Objectives: Construction and development of irrigation and drainage networks in downstream of dams is a very important infrastructural project and its execution could enhance water use efficiency in agricultural activities, especially in water scarcity and drought condition. But, we cannot neglect their unwanted social and environmental side effects. Even, some social and environmental disadvantages of such projects are more than their advantages and may lead to social dissatisfaction.Regarding current drought, water scarcity, and low surface water use efficiency in Korbal plain of Doroodzan dam downstream in Fars province, Regional Water Organization has tried to develop irrigation and drainage networks. Whereas, impact assessment of every project which is executed in natural context in order to enhance its benefits and diminish its disadvantages is quite necessary, investigating farmers APPRAISAL towards irrigation networks development project in downstream of Doroodzan dam was the main objective of this research.Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive-analytical, non-experimental and applied research and survey technique was used to collect data. Statistical population was all those farmers whom have been covered by the project (1029 farmers). Based on two stages random sampling method, 269 beneficiaries were selected as sample group. In first stage four dikes (Amir, Feysabad, Tilakan and Mavan) were considered. Then in second stage, phase of the project (social and participation study phase, execution phase and construction phase) for each dike were considered. After that, all villages classified towards those characteristics and finally sample farmers selected from each phase and each dike, randomly. Questionnaire was data collection instrument and its face validity was confirmed by a panel of relevant experts and a pilot study was done to determine its reliability. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was between 0.54-0.91 Results: According to findings, most of beneficiaries appraised environmental, social and economic impacts of modern irrigation and drainage networks in mediate and desirable level. Besides, findings revealed that some moderate variables of the research had significant effect on the project impact assessment. Based on the causal model which proposed in this study, four attitudinal variables have had direct and indirect effect on the dependent variable. The results of path analysis showed that among those four attitudinal variables, farmers, attitude toward construction of irrigation canals, attitude toward the future of agricultural activities, and their attitude toward the water price had the most direct causal effect on the project impact assessment as dependent variable, respectively. Social participation had the greatest direct influence on dependent variable among the other variables.Conclusion: According to path analyses results, it can be concluded those beneficiaries who had more social participation, more contribution in local decision- making, more crop under cultivation, had more positive attitude towards canals construction, and had more positive attitude towards future of agricultural activities and water current price, and those who were elder, have evaluated the project impacts more positively.

Small farm landholdings couples with scattered plots have created a major challenge in agricultural development in Iran. Land fragmentation provides an appropriate strategy to overcome current problems in Iranian farming systems. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to shed light on development pathologies in terms of land rehabilitation, reconsolidation, and improvement in Miandarband region in Kermanshah Township. Using purposeful sampling, rural farmers in Jelogiresofla, Safieabad, and Sarabshele villages were interviewed through focus group sessions. A grounded theory approach as suggested by Strauss and Corbin was used as a frame of the study. Open coding, axial and selective coding was utilized as a basis of data analysis. The summary of findings was presented through visual techniques such as problem tree and matrix ranking. Results revealed that land improvement in Miandarband region is faced with the following challenges: environmental problems such soil degradation, technical problems inherent in land improvement, lack of attention to traditional beliefs among farmers, a reductionism view to rural development among policy-makers, lack of FARMERS’ participation, weak human resources, lack of commitment among project administrators, and economic loss. The result of this study has implications for rural development projects. Land improvement pathologies pointed out in this study can be used as a basis for future projects in Kermanshah Township.

Mutual funds are one of the most important financial institutions which play an undeniable role in transferring excess funds toward companies.In Iran, for the first time and under the Provisions of the securities market act (ratified in 2005), mutual funds were established, launched and introduced to capital market realm since March 2008.The main objective of this study is to provide empirical finding to answer this question that whether performance of mutual funds is good enough in comparison with market return or not.Risk-adjusted performance measures which were applied in this research are: sharp ratio, Jensen's alpha, Treynor ratio and Sortino ratio for the period of March 2008 up to the July 2010.In accordance with the findings of the research, with ANOVA, there is not significant difference between risk-adjusted performance measures of mutual funds and the market return. Also, based on the Sharp ratio, Treynor ratio and Sortino ratio, there is no significant difference between the performances of mutual funds and the market return. But, Jensen's alpha didn’t refuse existence of any significant difference between different mutual funds.