Identifying the Factors Creating Citrus Waste in Fars Province Using Structural Equation

Increasing trend of food waste is one of the serious problem in many countries. The purpose of this study is identifying the factors creating citrus waste in Fars province using exploratory factor analysis and structural equation. Data were collected using stochastic sampling and completing 221 questionnaires between farmers in Fars province in 2013. According to the results of exploratory factor analysis, effective factors on citrus waste in Fars province are abbreviated to 7 factors: "unsuitable infrastructures", "pests and atmosphere", "unsuitable management of inputs consumption such as water and pesticide", "unsuitable management after harvest", "unsuitable storage and transport of production", "harvest management and supply" and "unsuitable management of inputs consumption such as fertilizer and trees species". According to the results of confirmatory factor analysis, total of coefficients are significant. Results of the final model revealed that pests and atmosphere, unsuitable infrastructures, unsuitable storage and transport of production, and unsuitable management after harvest are the effective variables on citrus waste in Fars province.

JEL Classification: C38

Keywords:
Citrus, Waste, Structural Equation, Exploratory Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis