Village and Development

Village and Development

Designing a Model Explaining the Role of Key Factors in the Performance of the Agricultural Supply Chain with a Qualitative Approach (Case Study: Isfahan Agricultural Logistics Park)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
A.R. Javeri 1
S. Allameh 2
N. Amrolahi 3
1 Ph.D in Management, Researcher at Isfahan Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Isfahan, Iran.
2 Ph.D. Student, Departmant of Management at Faculty of Administrative Sciences and Economics, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
3 Assistant Professor, Department of management at Faculty of Humanities and social sciences, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran.
10.30490/rvt.2025.367317.1633
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
The rapid development of the world economy has provided opportunities for the prosperity of the logistics industry and its development. The ability of a country in global trade depends on the access of economic operators to efficient logistics networks. Governments promote the development of the modern logistics industry as an important strategy to support sustainable economic development, improve the investment environment, and increase social and economic benefits. Trade logistics (TL) is an important and challenging task for developing countries because, in the way of its correct implementation, many factors are intertwined and it requires advanced technologies and high-level infrastructure. In agriculture, agricultural logistics parks play a very important role in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the agricultural supply chain and reducing the logistics costs of the entire system (Lee, 2015). Given the challenges in this direction, what elements in the establishment and development of logistics terminals can act as key factors for improving export competitiveness, facilitating international trade, and supporting sustainable economic development?
Materials and methods
The current research is based on the interpretive paradigm, which is applied and developmental in terms of purpose, and in terms of the qualitative research method, it is based on the theme analysis approach. In this research, semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Based on this, the literature of logistics and export terminals and its implementation process at the international level were examined. Then, based on these analyses, interview questions were formed, the validity of the interview questions was confirmed by academic professors and experts. The participants in this study were managers, academics, and experts in the field of agriculture in Isfahan province, who were selected using purposive sampling. An in-depth interview was conducted. In the qualitative research method, the sample size is considered according to theoretical saturation. In this research, theoretical saturation was achieved after conducting 15 interviews, but two more interviews were conducted to ensure that no new data were observed in this interview.
Results and Discussion
Theme analysis and MAXQDA software were used to analyze the data obtained from the interviews. The results of data analysis and review showed that the components affecting the export terminal of agricultural products in this research include 4 main categories, 8 sub categories and 16 concepts. The findings show that the key factors in establishing an agricultural logistics park are the quality of commercial, public, and transportation infrastructure, legal infrastructure, quality of customs logistics infrastructure and services, and quality of export infrastructure, which are presented in the form of an agricultural logistics park model.
Conclusions
Although the issue of establishing export terminals has been discussed in Iran for a long time, a handful of organizations have tried to implement this important structure in the country's logistics. In addition, due to the existing limitations, the implementation of this structure faces many complications and challenges. In this regard, identifying the various dimensions required for the successful implementation of the export terminal will provide a suitable response to the challenges. The comparative comparison of international indicators in the logistics industry, which is presented every year in the document LPI (Logistics Performance Index) by the World Bank, and the conducted interviews show that the dimensions of the quality of customs logistics infrastructure and services and the quality of commercial, public, and transportation infrastructure that are The mentioned model has been expressed in some way in the international performance indicators, but by carefully analyzing the content of the conducted interviews, new indicators have also been expressed that help to complete the model. One of the very important points in the results of this research is the interweaving and extensive connection of these categories with each other, in other words, it can be said that all these 8 categories are health factors for setting up an export terminal, and if any of them is not realized, the export terminal will lose its main function will lose.
Keywords
Agricultural Logistics Park
theme analysis
Agricultural supply chain
Isfahan
Agricultural Trade

Subjects

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