Ethics in production, research, education, promotion and new technology of agricultural products in the Sistan region

The purpose of this study is to examine ethical issues in the areas of production, research, education, and promotion of the use of new technologies in agriculture in the Sistan region. The required data were collected by completing a questionnaire from 105 researchers, promoters, producers, consumers, government managers, experts, and operators in the 1402-1403 crop year and analyzed based on inferential and descriptive statistics methods using Eviews and Gray software. Based on the results, 44.4% of participants believed that farm structure and rural lifestyle were important aspects of agricultural ethics. Also, 55.5% of respondents considered attention to the rights and welfare of non-human living beings as an essential element in agricultural ethics. However, the findings indicate that the current status of these two indicators is not at a desirable level. In addition, 66.6% of participants emphasized the importance of environmental impacts in agricultural ethics issues and assessed that this indicator is in a relatively favorable state. According to the results of this study, only 7.7% of people believe that there is currently sufficient production and market for healthy products. In addition, 93% of respondents consider the lack of support for farmers producing healthy products as the most important limiting factor in this area.

Also, 96% of the participants believe that the existence of a coherent communication network between farmers and researchers plays an effective role in producing healthy products and market prosperity. According to the results obtained, 84.4% of the participants pointed out that observing ethical principles in agriculture and also in agricultural extension activities is of great importance. In the current context, the lack of sustainability in production and the threat to food security stemming from the neglect of ethical aspects in production are the result of unsustainable agricultural methods that have been developed solely to increase production. Bioethical aspects in sustainable agriculture are not only not in conflict with production, but are also seen as prerequisites for achieving food security. Therefore, in the Sistan region, it is essential for policymakers in their annual policymaking to focus on comprehensive education and awareness-raising with a participatory approach through training farmers with a focus on ethics in the use of water, inputs, social relations, and the production of healthy and quality products.