Studying Driving Forces and Hampering Factors Affecting Establishment and Development of Agro-Processing Industries in North Khorasan Province

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the driving forces and hampering factors affecting establishment and development of agro-process industries in Northern Khorasan province. The present study was carried out through description survey method. The statistical universe of this study was the managers of 43 agro-process industries, who had received their establishment license until 2007 from Agricultural Jihad Organization or the Department of Industries and Mining of Northern Khorasan province. Because of limited number of these industries, census method was used for sample driving and the data was gathered by questionnaires. Face validity of questionnaires was confirmed after some modifications based on ideas of experts of agro-processing industries affiliated with Agricultural Jihad Organization and the Department of Industries and Mining. Questionnaires' reliability was confirmed through computing Cronbach Alpha Coefficient which was 0.87 for driving forces and 089 for hampering factors. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software and 4 factors were nominated and extracted as driving forces and 6 factors as hampering factors of agro-process industries establishment and development by using factor analysis technique. It is revealed that contribution of driving forces for establishment and development of agro-process industries is more than hampering factors. Thus driving forces should be improved and hampering factors should be recognized and solved for development of agro-processing industries in Northern Khorasan province.

JEL Classification: Q18,L7