Specialists attitudes toward factors affecting on development of nuclear research in agriculture

This study provides an insight into affecting factors on the development of nuclear research in agriculture from scientists and researchers perspective and also explores the correlations between them.  A questionnaire was developed and distributed to 165 scientists and researchers who work in Nuclear Science and Technology Research center and Biotechnology Institute, Tehran, Iran. Collected data were analyzed using the statistical package SPSS. Statistical measurements were used for description (standard deviations, means, percent and frequencies). For promotion of agricultural research, accurate inspection of government on research activities and governmental policies were identified as the main factors for governmental supports and political factors, respectively. The majority of researchers believed that investing in specialists’ education and using of external researchers in order to exchange information are the top socio-economic and communication factors, respectively. There was a significant correlation between governmental supports, political factors, socio-economic factors, communication factors, years of employment, knowledge of researchers about nuclear technology in agriculture, participation level in agricultural projects with development of nuclear agricultural research. Backward regression of the study indicated that 75% (R2= 0.75) of variance on development of nuclear agricultural research could be explained by variables.   Key words: Communication factors, governmental supports, nuclear research, political factors, socio-economic factors.