Research article STUDY ON FACTORS AFFECTING FARMERS' TENDENCY TO ESTABLISH PRODUCTION COOPERATIVES BY FACTOR ANALYSIS IN MAHABAD (WEST AZARBAIJAN PROVINCE, IRAN)

The purpose of this study was to assess the factors affecting farmers' tendency to establish agricultural production cooperatives in Mahabad County (West Azarbaijan Province, Iran). The statistical society includes 140 excellent farmers living in Mahabad and sample size was estimated 100 by Cochran method. The data was collected through a questionnaire. The correlation between variables and factor analysis was used to recognize the factors affecting farmers' tendency. The results showed that there were positive and significant correlation between farmers' tendency to establish production cooperatives and social factors, extension-educational factors, the role of government and farmers' tendency to participate in group activities, statistically. Data analysis based on factor analysis indicated that social factors, economic factors, administrative factors, the familiarity to cooperation and extension-educational factors were the important effective factors on the farmers' tendency to establish production cooperatives in Mahabad County and these five major factors explained 80.83 % of cumulative variances.