ROLE OF COOPERATIVE COMPANIES OF RURAL PRODUCTION IN ACHIEVEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN RICE CULTIVATION

The objective of the present paper is to review the role of cooperative companies of rural production in improvement of the economic conditions of rice planters of Gilan province. This research has been performed in 1384-86 (2005-07) and the relevant statistical universe is composed of rice planters who are/are not the members of the cooperative companies of production. The sample volume was calculated as 300 through cluster random sampling, out of which 150 ones are the members of the cooperative companies of production, and 150 ones are non-member individuals from the same or neighboring villages. This research is of descriptive, causal-comparative and correlation type. The main tool for field data collection was the questionnaire, of which the reliability has been approved through Kronback Alfa Coefficient (88%). Data analysis was fulfilled through descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage and cumulative percentages) and analytical statistics, (T test and correlation coefficient) by use of SPSS software in Windows. According to the results, the members of cooperative companies of production show a meaningful difference (statically) with non-member individuals with respect to the production rate of paddy, income gained through sale of rice, receiving in-time loans and agricultural essentials, development of mechanization, optimum use of agricultural lands, implementation of national plans, development of handicrafts, production cost and rice production know-how. Also there is a positive correlation between the rate of paddy production per hectare with income resulting from the sale thereof, the income resulting from each hectare of the rice field with the annual income of the farmer, annual income of the farmer and rate of paddy produced, taking part in training courses with the production rate of paddy. Furthermore, there is a negative correlation between the production cost of paddy with income per hectare, rice production cost and paddy produced per hectare, and production cost of rice per hectare and annual income. In general, the achieved results indicated that the cooperative companies of production were successful in increment of production rate, reduction of rice paddy production cost, increment of income earned through selling of rice, in-time provision of loans and agricultural essentials, development of mechanization, implementation of national agricultural plans (integration of lands, plantation of oil seeds, etc.), promotion of technical knowledge, increment of annual income (earned through selling of rice) of the rice farmers.

cooperative company of production, rice planter, yield, production cost, income.