The Role of Organic Farming for Improving Food Security from the Perspective of Fars Farmers

This study was designed to evaluate the role of organic farming in improving food security from the perspective of farmers in the Fars province of Iran. The research method was practical in terms of its purpose, non-experimental in terms of the data collection, and correlational in terms of the data analysis. The study population comprised 622 farmers who were members of plant pathology clinics in Fars province of which 187 of them were selected as the sample size by the use of Cochran’s formula through a proportional stratified sampling method. The research tool was a questionnaire for which validity was confirmed by experts and its reliability by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (0.704–0.982). The results revealed that farmers (45.5%) viewed their food security at an average level. The estimated standardized regression coefficients in the model showed that, from the farmers’ perspective, the most effective capabilities in improving food security were technical (0.747), health and safety (0.735), and the optimization of production (0.628), respectively.


Introduction
One of the most important problems of the world in the 21st century is food security [1]. In Iran, on one hand, providing food for the growing population requires a tremendous increase in the level of agricultural production [2] and, on the other hand, given the importance of food security and the irreparable damage due to excessive use of agricultural chemicals, attention has been paid to organic farming [3].
The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) defines organic farming as a production system that maintains soil health, ecosystems, and humans. According to Lampkin, organic farming can be defined as "an approach to agriculture which aims at social, environmental and economic sustainability and animal welfare by minimizing the use of external resources, maximizing the use of locally-derived renewable resources and agro-ecosystem management and using the market to compensate for internalizing external costs" [4,5]. Organic farming is based on minimizing the use of external inputs, fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides [6].
As defined by the World Food Summit in 1996, "food security" exists when all people at all times have adequate physical and economic access to enough safe and nutritious food to meet their needs for a healthy and active life [7]. Food security is a complex process that involves dimensions such as availability, access, utilization, and stability [8].
Owing to the high population of 7 billion people in the world, the dispute over the ability of organic farming to feed the world is high. Generally, large biotechnology companies, especially those that benefit from the use of pesticides and genetically-modified seeds, have raised the question of whether organic farming can feed the world or not. According to the FAO, the applicability of organic farming Agricultural practices coupled with the widespread usage of chemical synthetic materials have a negative impacts on agricultural production and human welfare. According to the evidence, the main goal of the current agricultural model in Iran on increasing production has failed to be successful in improving food security and environmental conservation and, subsequently, the need to change the model is felt. Since organic farming is in progress only in some parts of Iran, it can be argued that it is high time to consider the issue of organic farming in Iran seriously.
In general, Iran is in its primary steps of transitioning to organic products. Owing to its span, climate variety, and soil fertility, Fars province is considered as the major agricultural productive area in Iran with 74,000 hectares (ha) of organic crop farming, such as vegetables, figs, almonds, grapes, pomegranates, saffron [28]. Despite what is expected, based on the latest information on food security in the country, it is revealed that Fars province is relatively insecure in terms of the food security situation [29]. Considering the importance and potential of this province in agriculture, its pivotal role in providing food security and production of organic products in the region, as well as a relatively low level of food security, the aim of this study is to identify the role of organic farming in improving food security from the perspectives of farmers. Therefore, the objectives of the study are to: (1) survey and address the effect of social capability (capacity building, creating jobs) of organic farming in improving food security; (2) survey and address the effect of economic capability (optimization of production, economic benefit, income creation) of organic farming in improving food security; and (3) survey and address the effect of environmental capability (technical, protection, health and safety) of organic farming in improving food security from the viewpoint of Fars farmers.

Materials and Methods
The methods of analysis used in this applied study involved quantitative research and non-experimental (descriptive) research design. The population of the study comprised 622 farmers who cultivate strategic products, such as wheat, maize, and rice, which play a key role in food security, and were also members of plant pathology clinics. These clinics have official statistics of their cultivation and their numbers. In this research, organic products are products that have passed through the laboratory in order to determine the residual chemical content before being supplied to the consumer. These farms are also under the supervision of plant pathology clinics. In fact, samples of products from these farms were taken randomly by representatives of the University of Medical Sciences and the Standard Office in Shiraz and sent to the laboratory for determination of the remaining pesticides, and then applied for certification.
The sample was determined using Cochran's formula n = Nt 2 s 2 /Nd 2 + t 2 s 2 . In the relation, N is the statistical population, and t is the acceptable confidence coefficient obtained from the Student's t table.
In addition, S 2 is the variance of the studied feature in the population, and d is the desired probability accuracy (half the confidence interval), so n = 622 × 3.88 × 0.306/(622 × 0.0025) + (3.84 × 0.306) = 267, and since n/(N) = 0.47 < 05/0, therefore, the adjustment formula was used in the following examples. n = N/(1 + n/N) = 267/(1 + 267/622) = 187, so using this formula, the sample volume obtained was 187. In this study, the sampling used was a proportional stratified sampling method; therefore, according to the number of clinics, and in proportion to the population and sample within each clinic, samples were selected based on the number of farmers of those clinics. In the quantitative research, field study tools included a questionnaire. The content and face validity were established by a panel of experts comprising faculty members, and the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to measure the reliability of the questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was obtained for all parts of the questionnaires (0.704-0.982) and this was indicative of the reliability of the tool ( Table 1).
The dependent variable in this study was food security using the 23-items in four parts of availability (seven items), access (five items), utilization (six items), and stability (five items). The independent variables included the social dimension in two categories: capacity building (five items) and creating jobs (five items); the economic dimensions of organic farming in three categories: production optimization (four items), economic advantage (seven items), and income creation (seven items); and environmental aspects of organic farming in three categories: technical (six items), protection (12 items), and health and safety (seven items). In this study, after collection and classification of data, data analysis was conducted in two parts, descriptive and inferential statistics. Criteria, such as the mean, median, and mode were used in the descriptive statistics of the research, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was used for the inferential statistics using the classical approach and, finally, the model was designed. SEM is a well-known technique for estimating, analyzing, and testing models. Figure 1 below illustrates the structure of the SEM. There are two kinds of variables, observed and latent variables (capacity building, creating jobs, production optimization, economic advantage, income creation, technical, protection, health and safety) in the model. In SEM, there are five steps. Step 1: model designing (done by drawing pictures using Amos software (IBM Corporation, Wexford, PA, USA) step 2: data collection for model testing (SPSS data file use); step 3: model estimation (this step is performed by Amos software); step 4: model assessment (fit statistics appear after the parameter estimates); and step 5: the final model presentation. The capability of organic farming in three dimensions of social, economic, and environmental in improving food security are prioritized based on the path coefficient estimate )estimate is one of the Amos's outputs that estimate the model's parameter and is equal to β in regression) of the final model is taken from Amos software. Each part is shown in separate tables with details until the final model can be better understood. Information processing and statistical analysis of throughout the study was done using SPSS V 20 (IBM Corporation, New York, NY, USA) and Amos V 23 software (IBM Corporation, Wexford, PA, USA). Sustainability 2017, 9,2086 4 of 12 (seven items); and environmental aspects of organic farming in three categories: technical (six items), protection (12 items), and health and safety (seven items). In this study, after collection and classification of data, data analysis was conducted in two parts, descriptive and inferential statistics. Criteria, such as the mean, median, and mode were used in the descriptive statistics of the research, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was used for the inferential statistics using the classical approach and, finally, the model was designed. SEM is a well-known technique for estimating, analyzing, and testing models. Figure 1 below illustrates the structure of the SEM. There are two kinds of variables, observed and latent variables (capacity building, creating jobs, production optimization, economic advantage, income creation, technical, protection, health and safety) in the model. In SEM, there are five steps. Step 1: model designing (done by drawing pictures using Amos software (IBM Corporation, Wexford, PA, USA) step 2: data collection for model testing (SPSS data file use); step 3: model estimation (this step is performed by Amos software); step 4: model assessment (fit statistics appear after the parameter estimates); and step 5: the final model presentation. The capability of organic farming in three dimensions of social, economic, and environmental in improving food security are prioritized based on the path coefficient estimate (estimate is one of the Amos's outputs that estimate the model's parameter and is equal to β in regression) of the final model is taken from Amos software. Each part is shown in separate tables with details until the final model can be better understood. Information processing and statistical analysis of throughout the study was done using SPSS V20 (IBM Corporation, New York, NY, USA) and Amos V23 software (IBM Corporation, Wexford, PA, USA).

Results
The youngest person in the population was 23 and the oldest was 71 years old, and the average age of the population was 48 years and the median was 49 years. A total of 182 farmers (97.3%) were male and five (2.7%) were female. Forty-eight (25.7%) of the respondents had diplomas and 45 (24.1%) had no formal education.
The dependent variable in this study was food security using the 23-items in four parts of availability (seven items), access (five items), utilization (six items), and stability (five items) which were assessed at the level of pseudo-distance with Likert's scale (very low: 1, low: 2, average: 3, high: 4, and very high: 5). All of these items were added and then re-coded together; the lowest and highest points for a responsive, respectively was 23 = (1 × 23) and 115 = (5 × 23). After re-coding, very low positions were allocated to the (23-40), low (41-59), medium (60-78), high (79-97), and very high (98-116). The research results revealed that the rate of food security from the perspective of the majority of respondents (45.5%) was at the medium level, and 36.4% at the low level. Other findings are observable in Table 2. One of the food security dimensions is food availability. There are seven items in food availability. Based on the collected information; Table 3 illustrates farmers' viewpoints on food availability items based on mean and S.E. Table 3. Frequency of distribution of farmers' viewpoints on food availability (n = 187).

Mean SE
Your organic agricultural production rate. 3.09 0.024 Your arable land under cultivation of organic products. 2.13 0.042 Your productivity in the production of organic products (the revenue than expenses) 3.29 0.020 Your usage rate of scientific principles in organic products (Using mulch, natural pesticides, green manure, compost, crop rotation) 3.47 0.026 Your participation rate in the courses of cultivation of organic products. 3.60 0.030 Your annual lose rate of organic products at planting, harvesting and processing stage (Due to pests and diseases, untimely rainfall, non-normative harvest) 2.66 0.031 Your annual lose rate of organic products in producing stage due to inadequate transport, non-normative relocation of products, etc.) 2.20 0.041 One of the food security dimension is food access. There are five items in food access. Based on the collected information, Table 4 illustrates farmers' viewpoints on food access items based on the mean and S.E. Table 4. Frequency of distribution of farmers' viewpoints on food access (n = 187).

Mean SE
Your income level of producing organic products 3.03 0.018 Your purchasing power rate in the result of producing organic products.
3.07 0.029 The transport system quality for your organic products transfer.
3.14 0.034 Credit facilities allocated to you for producing organic products.
2.90 0.040 Allocated subsidies to you for producing organic products.
2.48 0.042 One of the food security dimensions is food utilization. There are six items in food utilization. Based on the collected information, Table 5 shows farmers' viewpoints on food utilization items based on the mean and S.E.
One of the food security dimensions is food stability. There are five items in food stability. Based on the collected information, Table 6 illustrates farmers' viewpoints on food stability items based on the mean and S.E. Table 5. Frequency of distribution of farmers' viewpoints on food utilization (n = 187).

Mean SE
The use of organic products by yourself.
3.01 0.035 Reducing malnutrition rate by using your own organic products.
2.97 0.045 Your health status rate.
3.19 0.027 The quality of health and nutritional education services to your family.
2.94 0.032 The rate of intake of quality food by your family.
3.29 0.024 Food safety status in your family.

Mean SE
Damage rates which are caused by unstable climates. 3.03 0.025 The rate of incidence of pests and diseases to your organic products.
3.82 0.032 The rate of use of biological methods to sustain sources. In the social dimension of organic farming, there are two categories: capacity building (five items) and creating jobs (five items). Statistics path coefficient estimates (Estimate is one of the Amos outputs that estimates the model's parameter and is equal to β in regression) were used in order to prioritize the social dimension of capacity building and job creating capability in organic farming. Any item that has a higher path coefficient has a higher priority. In the capacity building capability of organic farming, the statement of valuing indigenous knowledge systems and traditional farming systems (Estimate = 0.91) and in the job creation capability of organic farming, the statement of improving employment opportunities, particularly in rural areas (Estimate = 0.83) have the highest priority among the items in order to improve food security (Table 7). In the economic dimensions of organic farming, there are three categories: production optimization (four items), economic advantage (seven items), and income creation (seven items). Statistics path coefficient estimates (Estimate) were used to prioritize these categories. Any item that has a higher path coefficient has a higher priority. In the production optimization capability of organic farming, the statement of an improving efficiency in areas with low inputs (Estimate = 0.82) and in the economic benefits capability of organic farming, the statements of satisfying farmers from an economic perspective (Estimate = 0.88), and in the income creation capability of organic farming, the statement of reducing the cost of purchased external inputs (Estimate = 0.97) have the highest priority among the items in order to improve food security (Table 8). In environmental aspects of organic farming, there are three categories: technical (six items), protection (12 items), and health and safety (seven items). Statistics path coefficient estimates (Estimate) were used to prioritize the environmental dimension of technical, protection, and health and safety capabilities in organic farming. Any item that has a higher path coefficient has a higher priority. In the technical capability of organic farming, the statements of reducing tillage operations (Estimate = 0.94) and using environmentally friendly production methods (Estimate = 0.84); in the protection capability of organic farming, the statements of maintaining soil fertility in the long-term (Estimate = 0.76) and improving soil structure (Estimate = 0.75); and in the health and safety capability of organic farming, the statements of producing food without chemicals (Estimate = 0.85) have the highest priority among the items in order to improve food security (Table 9). Table 9. Prioritizing technical, protection, health and safety capability of organic farming to improve food security according to path coefficient estimates.

Priorities
Technical Estimate

Fitness of the Model
As the characteristics of fitness show in Table 10, the ratio of chi-square to degrees of freedom CMIN/DF was 1.102 and smaller than 2. P CMIN was 0.118 and greater than 0.05. Additionally, the estimated root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) was 0.023, and smaller than 0.05, confirming the fitness of the model and representing the best fit to the model. Another way to fit this model is to calculate the approximate high goodness of fit index (GFI) and improve adjusted goodness of fit index (AGFI). The proximity of the amount to 0.95 is another confirmation to the fit of the model.
The parameters of the route are presented in Table 11, along with the significance level. It became obvious that technical pathways, health and safety, production optimization, income creation, protection, creating jobs, capacity building, and economic advantages are significant at 99%. Directions standardized regression coefficients estimates are given in the table. As it is shown, a technical capability of 0.747, with the highest effect, followed by health and safety with 0.735, and the optimization of production with 0.628 create the greatest impact on improving food security.   Food security in four parts of availability, access, utilization, stability, and organic farming was measured in three dimensions of social (capacity building, creating jobs), economic (production optimization, economic advantage, income creation), and environmental (technical, protection, health and safety) aspects from the farmers' perspective in order to achieve the final model of organic farming in improving food security in Fars province. Figure 2. Food security in four parts of availability, access, utilization, stability, and organic farming was measured in three dimensions of social (capacity building, creating jobs), economic (production optimization, economic advantage, income creation), and environmental (technical, protection, health and safety) aspects from the farmers' perspective in order to achieve the final model of organic farming in improving food security in Fars province.

Discussion and Conclusions
The direct answer or simple solution on how to solve food insecurity through organic farming is very difficult and it is impossible to make simple statements. The acceptance level in order to improve the quantity and quality of food should be increased through organic agriculture. In this study, farmers' comments regarding the role of organic farming were studied in social, economic, and environmental dimensions for improving food security. The results indicated that the level of food security from the perspective of the majority of respondents (45.5%) was at a medium level. From the perspective of farmers in the social dimension of organic farming, the standardized regression coefficient of the two capabilities of capacity building and job creation was 0.51 and 0.47, respectively. According to the results of SEM, in the capacity building, the statement of valuing indigenous knowledge systems (0.88) and also in creating job capability, the statements of improving employment opportunities, especially in rural areas (0.83), have been the highest priority in improving food security. We conclude that, in the social dimension, paying attention to traditional knowledge in line with organic farming, which is based on the experience often tested over years of usage and adapted to the local culture and environment, is a very important item in improving food security. In addition, from the opinion of Fars farmers, since cultivating methods in organic farming are different from what is common in conventional agriculture, it makes use of more and new labor and involves farmers in agricultural activities. Supply of products to the market also leads to the creation of new employment opportunities, which will empower farmers and increase food security. The results are in agreement with the findings of [10,[12][13][14][15].
With regard to economic dimension of the three capabilities of production optimization (0.628), economic benefits (0.403), and income creation (0.574) based on the results of SEM, improvement efficiency in areas with low inputs (0.82) is the most important result of production optimization capability. Satisfaction of farmers (0.88) is the most important result of economic benefits capability and reducing the costs of purchased external inputs (0.97) is the most important result of income creation capability of organic farming. Therefore, based on the Fars farmers viewpoint in the economic dimension, organic farming reduces the cost of purchasing external inputs, as well as improving the production of a higher-value economic product with a more marketable export value, thus satisfying farmers economically. It improves their income and is heading towards improved food security in the long-term. The results are in agreement with the findings of [12,[15][16][17][18][19][21][22][23][24]30].
The three technical, protection, and health and safety capabilities of the environmental dimension of organic farming standardized regression coefficient were 0.747, 0.543, and 0.735, respectively. Based on the results of SEM in terms of technical ability in organic farming, the statements of reduced tillage operation (0.94) and the use of environmentally-friendly production methods (0.84), in terms of protection capability, the statements of maintaining soil fertility in the long-term (0.76) and improving soil structure (0.75), and in terms of health and safety capability, food production items without any chemicals (0.85) have the highest priority in improving food security. Thus, in the environmental dimension, Fars farmers believed that organic farming improves soil the fertility process due to the use of green manure and reduced tillage operation and avoiding fertilizers and chemical pesticides, by the advantage of the nutritional value of organic products, improves food security in the long-term. The results are consistent with the findings of [10,13,20,22,24,[26][27][28]31]. The direction of the standardized regression coefficient estimates showed that, from the perspective of farmers, a technical capability of 0.747, with the highest effect, followed by health and safety of 0.735, and the optimization of production of 0.628 in organic farming, create the greatest impact on improving food security. According to the findings of this study, we conclude that organic farming is one of the suitable methods to improve food security. From the farmers' perspective, the most effective capabilities in improving food security were technical, health and safety, and the optimization of production, respectively. These results show that farmers believed that the use of appropriate techniques of organic farming leads to the optimization of production and improves the health and safety of persons which, in the long-term, promotes food security.
It should be considered that we cannot use the global version for all cultivation in order to improve food security, but organic agriculture emphasis should be placed on the use of management operations because each ecosystem requires a particular management approach based on the environmental, social, and economic conditions. Author Contributions: This manuscript was a part of Laleh Morshedi's Ph.D. thesis. Farhad lashgarara was the supervisor and also Seyed Jamal Farajollah Hosseini and Maryam Omidi Najafabadi were the advisors of the thesis. Laleh Morshedi wrote the manuscript, collected information, analyzed the data, interpreted the results and finalized the manuscript.

Conflicts of Interest:
The authors declare no conflict of interest.