Determination of effective factors on the stability of oilseed production in Iran with partial least squares approach

The present paper aims to assess the factors affecting the stability of oilseed production in Iran. This research is applied in terms of objective and is descriptive in terms of nature and is correlational and in terms of method is surveying. The statistical population of this research includes all farmers and producers of all types of oilseeds, rapeseed, soybean, sunflower, sesame and safflower in the studied provinces (Fars, Golestan, Mazandaran, Ardabil, Qazvin), which planted and produced a variety of oilseeds in the 2014-2015 period (22,936 people). The data of this study was collected from a very high to very low collection through a pre-designed questionnaire containing 144 questions in the form of a 5-point Likert scale. The factual and content validity of the questions was reviewed and approved by experts. Using the Cochran formula, the sample size was 380 people selected by proportional sampling method. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of all variables was higher than 0.7, which indicated the internal coordination of the items and confirmation of the reliability of the questionnaire. In this study, structural equation modeling approach to analysis of partial least squares (SEM-PLS) was used with software Smart pls3. The results indicated that the coefficients of the effect of satisfaction on social dimensions (0.134), satisfaction with environmental dimensions (0.949), educational and extensional factors on social dimensions (0.480), educational and extensional factors on economic dimensions(0.521), educational and extensional factors on environmental dimensions (0.589), policy-making factors on social dimensions (0.266), policy-making factors on economic dimensions (0.194), policy-making factors on environmental dimensions (0.327), Information sources on social dimensions (0.051) and attitudes on social dimensions (0.11) were significant.