The Role of Farming Corporations in Empowerment of Member Farmers: A Case Study of Southern Area of South Khorasan Province, Iran

This study aimed at investigating the role of farming corporations in improving the empowerment indexes of their member farmers in a survey method. This applied study was conducted in a descriptive-correlation method. Data was collected through a questionnaire that was developed by researchers and it was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.90). Statistical society included all the member farmers of two corporations selected in a propositional-random sampling method out of the seven corporations established in southern areas of South Khorasan Province of Iran (N=599). The sample size was determined through Krejcie and Morgan table (n=234). Study results showed that the farming corporations were placed in the average and high levels in the fields of technical and professional skills (Mean=3.59), the psychological empowerment (Mean=3.3) and the economic empowerment of farmers (Mean= 2.97), respectively. They have been successful in improving the empowerment indexes. In addition, the results showed that there was a significant positive relation between farmers' attitudes and their satisfaction to the consults of the corporations, awareness of the corporations, job experience in agriculture and their capabilities.