Abstract
The increasing cost of peanut production is a major concern in
Iran. Therefore, developing the mechanization of peanut production
is a necessity. In this regard, a three-phase Delphi study
was conducted to identify the promoting and deterring factors
affecting peanut cultivation mechanization in Guilan Province, the
main peanut-producing region in Iran. After preliminary studies,
26 experts were selected as respondents for the study. Based on the
final results, ‘allocating provincial and national funds to develop
mechanization’ (with the agreement of 98.07% of respondents),
‘Organizing training programs to increase farmers’ technical knowledge’
(97.12%), and ‘conducting the pilot and model projects’(95.19%)
were found to be the most important promoting factors in developing
peanut cultivation mechanization in north of Iran. Moreover, ‘the
small size and fragmentation of peanut farms’ (with 96.15% of respondents
agreeing), ‘problems with the national and provincial
programs of peanut mechanization’ (95.19%), and ‘low technical
knowledge of farmers and craftsmen about peanut farming mechanization’
(94.23%) were identified as the most important deterring
factors in developing peanut cultivation mechanization in north of
Iran. Given the small area dedicated to peanut cultivation and the
low income levels of peanut farmers in north of Iran, it seems that
provincial and national funding allocation and peer-planned programming
to import appropriate farm machinery are the most
urgent plans to improve the status of mechanization of peanut cultivation
in north of Iran.