Clarification of the Relationship between
Diversification of Economic Activities and
Sustainable Rural Development
Case Study: Mashhad Township
Maryam
Ghasemi
Assistant Prof. of Geography and Rural Planning, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
author
Jafar
Javan
Prof. of Geography and Rural Planning, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
author
text
article
2014
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Extended AbstractIntroductionInvestigating the economic structure of rural areas of the country particularlyMashhad has revealed that agriculture is the main factor for making a living, andthat unfortunately in most of the development programs, it has been considered asthe only and the most important economic factor in rural areas. Although thisstructure, given the limited economy of rural areas and their specific features, couldwork in the past, considering the expansion of the markets and their undeniableeffect on rural spaces, and also considering many unsustainabilities in severalnatural, economic, and social dimensions, it can no longer guarantee sustainableresidences and occupations in rural areas. Most of the scholars in the area ofdevelopment have proposed the diversification approach within the framework ofsustainable rural development. Based on this theory, diversity is a necessary factorfor maintaining the sustainability of rural economy and development; it is suggestedthat following this approach will contribute to the stability sustainability ofeconomic structures. Based on this theory, sustainability is created and maintainedwhen a system has numerous and diverse elements; the more diverse a system is, themore ability it will have in reducing internal and external discrepancies. This will
* Responsible Author: magh30@um.ac.irRural Research Quarterly Vol. 5, No. 2, Summer 20144result in sustainability, dynamicity, and stability during long periods and in differentplaces not only against internal tensions but also when external challenges are faced.In addition to investigating level of sustainability in rural residences in Mashhad,this study aims to discover whether sustainable villages are the economically diverseones. It also aims to find out what relationship exists between levels of sustainabilityand diversity of economic activities. The significance of this study first lies in thefact that it uses cluster analysis which can provide a new model for investigation ofsustainability; second, it investigates sustainability in relation to diversification.MethodologyThe method of study is descriptive-analytic. The data needed in this study wascollected using survey (Village and Family Questionnaire) and library researchmethods. The population under investigation in this study included the ruralresidences in Mashhad, and the unit of analysis was village. The sample size wasdetermined in two levels for village and family using the Cochran formula. Thenumber of sample villages and families was determined to be 34 and 350respectively. The sample villages were chosen using the stratified sampling method.To ensure the content validity of the questionnaire, the opinions of the scholars inthe areas of geography and social sciences were used as the reference. In addition, tomeasure the reliability of the questionnaire, alpha Cronbach formula was used. Inthis study, the sustainability of rural residences was the dependent variable and thediversity of economic activities played the role of independent variable. To measuresustainability, several techniques exist which can be used differently based on thetype of study. In the present study, cluster analysis is used to quantify sustainabilityand classify residences. The collected data were analyzed and interpreted usingSPSS and Excel. Statistical tests used in the present study include cluster analysis,variance analysis with the Tukey test, and Pearson correlation.Data AnalysisIn the present study, to measure and assess sustainability, cluster analysis, which isstatistical method to determine homogeneous clusters, was used. The createdRural Research Quarterly Vol. 5, No. 2, Summer 20145clusters were labeled sustainable, semi-sustainable, and unsustainable based on thevalue of the sustainability index. The results of cluster analysis revealed that 9% ofthe villages under investigation were sustainable in economic, social, andenvironmental dimensions; 44% were semi-sustainable, and 47.1% wereunsustainable. In fact, 91.2% of the sample villages were unsustainable or semisustainable.To compare the mean of the diversity of economic activities insustainable, semi-sustainable, and unsustainable groups, Fischer method was usedfor conducting a unilateral variance analysis (F test). Since the level of significancefor this test was less than 0.05, one can say that the mean of the diversity ofeconomic activities for the three groups was not the same; in other words, there wasa significant difference between the mean of the diversity of economic activitiesamong these three groups. According to the results of HSD test, the mean of thediversity of economic activities in the unsustainable, semi-sustainable, andsustainable was 27.5, 30.7, and 38.6 respectively. These results determine theanswer for the first research question in this study. In fact, sustainable and stablevillages are those which enjoy higher levels of the diversity of economic activities.To investigate the relationship between levels of sustainability and diversification,Pearson correlation was used. The correlation coefficient found between the abovementionedvariables (0.77) shows that there is a positive and direct relationshipbetween them. In fact, the increase in the level of sustainability is accompanied byan increase in the diversity of economic activities. This shows that the sustainabilityof rural residences is deeply affected by the diversity of economic activities in anarea. Therefore, the answer to the second research question is clear: more diversityin economic activities results in more sustainability in rural residences.ConclusionThe results of the survey and theoretical investigations done in the present studyshow that the diversity of economic activities in rural areas meaningfully contributesto the sustainability of these areas. The results of the present study are consistentwith those of the studies conducted in South Asia (Feldman, 1999), West Africa(Ackah & Medvedev, 2010), and China (Liu et al., 2003). It can be argued that aRural Research Quarterly Vol. 5, No. 2, Summer 20146society with a diverse economy is more likely to become stable and sustainable. Thisissue has been considered by international organizations, developed countries, andsome of the developing countries (China, India, Malaysia); and it is necessary toinclude this in the formulation of policies which are developed for rural areas in thecountry because simply continuing the current trend without any reforms andwithout paying attention to diversification will certainly result in the increase ofunsustainability in rural residences.
Journal of Rural Research
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dx.doi.org/10.22059/jrur.2014.52470
Analysis of Inhibiting Factors in Tendency to
Rural Youths to Self-Employment
Case study: Rural Areas of Hamedan City
Somaye
Latifi
Ph.D. Candidate in Agricultural Development, Faculty of Agriculture,
Tabriz University
author
Seyedeh Sara
Mosavi Matlob
M.Sc. in Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, Razi University
author
Mousa
Azami
Assistant Prof., Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan
author
text
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Extended AbstractIntroductionToday, traditional activities in rural areas are not effective to creating new jobopportunities, so governments need to new strategies for creating employment inrural areas. Developing entrepreneurship and self- employment in rural areas is animportant strategy for improving job opportunities in this area. In recent years, aspecial attention is paid to entrepreneurship and entrepreneur in different countriesand most scholars believe that entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs have aconsiderable role in economic growth and development especially in developingcountries (Rahmati & et al, 2010). Entrepreneurship plays also an important role insocial development of different societies. From the economic viewpoint,entrepreneurship referred to the production factors that assists the economic growththrough discovering and creating new opportunities and from social viewpoint,contributes the improvement of social situations through increasing job oremployment chances (Mohapatra & et al, 2007). In rural area, entrepreneurshipconsidered as a complimentary section in economy and job-creating activities due toresponse or react to the stagnancy and problems available in agricultural sector andalso as a survival strategy for rural families (Petrin, 1994, Smits, 2004). Therefore,
the development of entrepreneurship in rural area can act as a crucial force for thedevelopment of this area. In general, entrepreneurship is a powerful tool foridentifying opportunities, acquiring benefits, and removing such problems asunemployment, the lack of dynamic human resources, low efficiency, qualityreduction of products and services, and economic stagnancy (Maclin & Richard,2004). Thus creating employment in rural area through entrepreneurship and selfemploymentshould be planned as a strategic policy by the planners and policymakers. Accordingly, this study was an attempt to investigate the inhibiting factorsin tendency to rural youths to self-employment.MethodologyPresent study aimed at to investigate the inhibiting factors in tendency to ruralyouths to self-employment through using a surveying methodology. In this methodby sampling and studying selected samples from the target community, thedistribution, frequencies and the relationship between variables have been studied.In this regard, the most common method for data collection is questionnaire. Theaccuracy of indices and variables in the questionnaire or face validity has beenconfirmed by a group of experts. In order to determine the reliability of thequestionnaire, a pre-test process was used through filling the questionnaires by 25rural youth and a Cronbach's Alpha test was used through SPSS software and it was85% which shows an acceptable rate. The statistical population of this study wasrural youth of the county. The samples were 184 that were calculated by theCochran formula and the data was chosen through the Cluster sampling. In thisresearch both descriptive and analytic methods were used. In descriptive part, todescribe the variables, such statistics as frequency, percentage, standard deviation,and mean were used. In analysis section, factor analysis was used to accessinhibiting factors in tendency to rural youths to self-employment.ResultsAs mentioned later, a factor analysis method was used in order to classify factorsinhibiting the self-employment among rural youth. To determine whether or not the
variables are usable for factor analysis, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) and Bartlett’stests is usually used. In this study, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value (KMO=0.731)indicated an adequate sampling for the factor analysis and the result of Bartlett’s testof Sphericity was significant (p<0.1). In the first round of the factor analysis, sixfactors were extracted. These extracted factors had the highest amount of overlap (interms of calculated variance). This means these factors can explain more than54.84% of the total discrepancy among the variables. The first category of thefactors was labeled as infrastructural factor. This factor has the greatest effect andimportance in expressing variables and in general, accounts for 10.60 Percent oftotal variance of variables. Educational factor was expressing 9.74 Percent of totalvariance of variables. The third factor was the personality factor that explained 9.05Percent of total variance of variables. The fourth factor was the economic factor thatexplained 8.61 Percent of total variance of variables. The fifth factor was thesupportive factor that explained 8.52 Percent of total variance of variables and thesixth factor was the cultural factor.ConclusionUnemployment in rural area has become as one of the basic challenges and thisproblem has engaged the policymakers and all stakeholders' organizations in orderto find proper solutions in this regard. In this regard, entrepreneurship is consideredas one of the most important solutions that can be as an appropriate attempt to createnew employments and therefore this troubleshoot must be as the highest priority inthe governmental policies. In this study, the impeding factors self-employmentamong rural youth was analyzed. The results of this analysis showed that, six factorsinclude infrastructure, educational, personality, economic, supportive and culturalfactors were identified as the most inhibiting factors the development of selfemploymentamong rural youth. Thus, it is recommended that easy access to credits,granting low-interest loans to the rural youth are of priority in government policiesin order to accelerate and develop entrepreneurship in rural area.
Journal of Rural Research
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dx.doi.org/10.22059/jrur.2014.52471
A Study of Barriers and Suitable Solution in
Development of Rural Household Jobs from the
Perspective of Rural Women and Expert
in the City of West Islamabad
Masoumeh
Taghibaygi
M.A., Agricultural Extension and Education, College of Agriculture, Extension and
Rural Development Department, Razi University, Kermanshah
author
Hossian
Agahi
Associate Prof. and Member of Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture,
Extension and Rural, Development Dep., Razi University, Kermanshah
author
Ali Asghar
Mirakzadeh
Assistant Prof. and Member of Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture,
Extension and Rural Development Dep., Razi University, Kermanshah
author
text
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2014
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Extended AbstractIntroductionSome visulizers believed that, home business opportunities, caused selfemployment, thought removing deficiency and fulfillment of local requirement in anEconomic and remove difficulties for perdurable development. These jobsconsidered as Essential and vital Economic activities in developing countries andfrom making job opportunity and renovation in the field of products and services,lead to diversity and change ability in every countries society and Economy andcombine with two specific characteristics include, low percapita cost and immediateyield could utilize as sufficient alternative to reduce unemployment and for youth,Accommodate point to start up individual jobs, because starting it up compare toother businesses, because of Diversity in products and services distribution ordiversity implaces and moments of distribution, have lost of adherent and bignumber of governments tried to expand and start up it, among diversity of peoplespecially women, because in recent world, intend to women role in economic and
social development process in unavoidable able in each society and global arena,making job opportunity by furnishing employment for manpower specially womenare the most essential program. Since proportion of villager population comparewhole countries population are reduced in most of world countries in mostdeveloping countries, this rate is under 10 percent. Despite to subjects related tourbanism nature development in whole worlds, the main cause of this reduction isrestriction the capacity of villager area productivity (specially in agriculturaldomains). By industrialization and scientific agriculture in countries villagerproduction advantage, increases, consequently, it required less number manpower,that automatically it results unemployment and reduces in villagers income. Activaterural, could help, social security and reduce big number of disagree able. Evengrowth reverse Emigration in Iran. Consequently, in rural area on of basicemployment strategies, movement toward nonagricultural industries specially housebusiness. Accommodate field to active women and girls are available by housebusiness. Because most deprived people are villagers if reducing program of povertywant to be successful, must focus on rural people.DiscussionIn one hand poverty has connection with sexuality and poverty is post rural one ofyesterday. They are deprived from all facilities, to improve mending situation fromquality and quantity. These rural female help in families subsistence, because inmost cases, husband income couldn't support life expenses and farming and retiaryincome which has been done by rural women, sometimes are more than theirhusbands. Accordingly, we should certainly planning manpower in Agriculture fieldspecifically rural women and female, in this case because businesses have highsituation, because this jobs have high information to our culture and based ondifferent reason, such as historical background of master- trainee activities, womenhigh portion in national economy and enhancing of production in this group ofsociety it seems that advocating this jobs could considerably impressionable andexpanding this job opportunities in rural area because of presence and social relation
and high cooperation attempt, responsibility, obligation and engagement toprogression in rural people, could be more successful from urban area.ConclusionThese type of businesses have significant role in wealth and economic growth anddevelopment of community’s social capital. There fore the purpose of this appliedresearch was to investigate rural women and expert's views on barriers and suitablesolution of developing household jobs with descriptive survey methodology in 2011.Statistical population was 15000 rural women and 50 experts of rural householdjobs. Sampling method was proportional stratified random sample and based onMorgan (n=375) rural women were selected and 50 expert selected based on casestudy. Validity of the instrument were measured (face validity) by a panel of expert,and reliability were measured by Cranach's alpha coefficient for each the obstaclesto development of household jobs such as: family, personal, economic,governmental and personality. Calculated respectively (0.87, 0.89, 0.76, 0.88, 0.87),which indicates the suitability of the instrument. Data analysis constructed by(SPSS) software showed that the most important barriers to the development ofhousehold jobs from the perspective of rural woman were: personal barriers,interpersonal, economical, family and governmental barriers, and from the experts’view the barriers were respectively: family, individual, personal, governmental andeconomical barriers. The correlation study showed positive and significantrelationship between membership in the organization and development of householdjobs, level of women education with an error probability of .01, and significantrelationship between families, personal, economic, governmental, personality anddevelopment of household jobs with an error probability of 0.1. While there were nosignificant correlation between age & marital status, having or not having a rolemodel, success or failure of role mole. Having personal experience in the field ofhousehold jobs and development of household jobs.
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dx.doi.org/10.22059/jrur.2014.52472
Analysis Situation Food Security and Factors
Affecting Thereon in the Rural Society City
of Divandarreh
Moslem
Savari
Ph.D. Candidate in Extension Agriculture, University of Tehran
author
Hoseyn
Shabanali Fami
Associated Prof. in Management and Extension Agriculture, University of Tehran
author
Zhila
Daneshvar Ameri
Assistant Prof. in Management and Extension Agriculture, University of Tehran
author
text
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2014
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Extended AbstractIntroductionFood insecurity has been and still is an important concern for many nations aroundthe world. In fact, ameliorating food insecurity and hunger is one of the eightMillennium Development Goals, which has been adopted by 189 States inSeptember 2000 Millions of dollars have been dispersed by governments, donors,international aid agencies, and multi-lateral development bodies in the developingcountries including Ethiopia to address the problem of food insecurity and hunger.Despite the many programs and projects on food security, there are still millions offood insecure people around the world with many of them living in developingcountries particularly in Africa. Cycles of food insecurity were common in Indiaprior to the green revolution era in the 1970s. The revolution laid the foundation forfood security in India through dramatic increases in food production. Reducing foodinsecurity continues to be a major public policy challenge in developing countries.MethodologyAccess to adequate food and nutrition and optimal health has been the main axes ofdevelopment also is considered as grounds of the country's future generation.Because in the recent decades the issue of nutritional has been dimension, with theincreasing population and the need for further expansion of communities due tohuman food supply has different approaches for the experts and scientists solve thisproblem. Without doubt, among the priorities of each country's development goals,
achieving food security is great importance. Therefore, investigation of factors thatimpact on food security is of particular importance. Analysis Situation food securityand factors affecting Thereon in the rural Society city Divandarreh. The statisticalpopulation of this research was consisted of all Married women in case study(N=15421). Using Cochran's sampling formula, 213 women were selected as asample (n=213). The main instrument in this study was questionnaire which itsvalidity was confirmed by the panel of food security experts and faculty members ofdepartment management and agricultural development in university of Tehran andits reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's Alpha coefficient and compositereliability. Data were analyzed by SPSSWin18 and LISREL8.54 software in twoparts of descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicate improper foodsecurity and nutritional status among rural households. Correlation analysis resultsshown that Food security significantly correlated with the Household income,member of family, number of employed household, Location Distance to city,amount of agricultural and horticultural land and Education of mother, Results of theregression analysis showed that three variables consisting Household income,Education of mother and Combined production system were explaining 62.1 percentof dependent variable (Food Security) variances changes.ResultsAlmost 1 billion people worldwide are undernourished, many more suffer frommicronutrient deficiencies, and the absolute numbers tend to increase further,especially in Sub-Saharan Africa Recent food price hikes have contributed to greaterpublic awareness of hunger related problems, also resulting in new internationalcommitments invest in developing country agriculture Obviously, agriculturaldevelopment is crucial for reducing hunger and poverty in rural areas, but nonagriculturalgrowth can be important as well Specifically for African countries, withstrong population growth and increasingly limited agricultural resources, thepotential role of the rural off-farm sector deserves particular consideration.Smallholder farm households usually maintain a portfolio of income sources, withoff-farm income being a major component but often a clear policy strategy topromote the off-farm sector is lacking. In the available literature, considerableattention has been given to the poverty implications of off-farm income indeveloping countries Nutrition impacts might be positive, because off-farm incomecontributes to higher household income and therefore better access to food. But theimpacts might also be negative, at least when controlling for total household income,as working off the farm could potentially reduce household food availability due tothe competition for family labor between farm and off-farm work. The success of
the green revolution technologies during the 1970s and 1980s is attributed to atechnology model together with adoption of concurrent micro and macro-economicsmodels. The micro or farm economics governed the use of inputs such as land,cultivars, labor, machinery, and chemicals, balanced against profits from cropyields. The macro-economics ensured better prices to farmers and access to inputsand markets. In addition to rising demand for food resulting from increasingpopulation and economic growth, increased risks of food insecurity are foreseenfrom: an estimated rising global energy demand of 50% to 2030.
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dx.doi.org/10.22059/jrur.2014.52473
Analysis of social factors effects on Rural
Production Cooperatives’ success
Case Study: Boyer-Ahmad County
Farzad
Karimi
M.Sc. Student of Rural Development, Yasouj University
author
Mehdi
Nooripoor
Assistant Prof. of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Yasouj University
author
Saeid
Hedayatinya
M.Sc. Student of Rural Development, Yasouj University
author
Zakaria
Mohammadi Tamari
M.Sc. Student of Rural Development, Yasouj University
author
text
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2014
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Extended AbstractIntroductionRural Production Cooperatives (RPCs) are one of different cooperative types thatplay a crucial role in the rural people’s lives. The aim of this research was to analyzesocial factors effects on RPCs’ success. Thus, a descriptive research based oncomparative view was used in this study. Research population consisted of themembers of Boyer-Ahmad County RPCs (N=1809) that about 317 ones of themwere selected as research sample based on random sampling table and stratifiedsampling technique. Data collecting tool was a researcher developed questionnairethat its validity was verified using Factor Analysis technique and its reliability wasalso verified using Cronbach’s Alpha internal consistency scales. The KMO scores(from 0.513 to 0.834) and Alpha Coefficient Scores (from 0.536 to 0.91) showproper optimality of the prepared questionnaire. Moreover, Fuzzy Sets Theory wasused to quantify qualitative data, which were measured by a 7 options spectrum.Finally, some statistical analysis techniques such as Pearson Correlation Coefficient,Analysis of Variances, and Path Analysis were used to analyze data. The results
showed that Boyer-Ahmad RPCs have not been very successful in reaching predeterminedgoals (score 0.389 in a range from .012 to .975). Of course, Kakan RPCshas a statistically significant difference in reaching the supposed goals comparingother RPCs. The Path Analysis Coefficients showed that members’ knowledge, theirattitudes towards team work, responsibility of directors, RPC’s relationships withrelated organizations, and members’ participation in RPC’s affairs have the most oftotal effect on RPC’s Success (0.439, 0.253, 0.224, 0.194, and 0.172 respectively).IntroductionAlmost half the world's population lives in rural areas of developing countries, whilethe majority of them are small farmers and their livelihood is through agriculture.With regard to low efficiency of their activities due to some reasons i.e. lack ofusing new technical knowledge and machines, cooperation and team work is veryuseful to enhance their efficiency and to improve their economic status. Thus, todayone of the most important strategies of different countries either developing ordeveloped is to establish cooperatives in agricultural production system. RuralProduction Cooperatives (RPCs) is one example of such cooperatives. Thus, the aimof this study was to analyze social factors influencing these cooperatives success inBoyer-Ahmad County, Southwestern of Iran. Also, the objectives of this study were:- To measure RPCs success in meeting predetermined goals;- Comparison of different RPCs based on their level of success;- To explain factors influencing these cooperatives success in the study area.MethodologyA survey research method was used in this study. Research population consisted ofthe members of RPCs in Boyer-Ahmad County (N=1809) that about 317 ones ofthem were selected as research sample based on random sample size table and alsowere studied based on stratified random sampling technique. A pre-structuredquestionnaire was designed including 9 parts of different questions with Likert typespectrum responses. Furthermore, the Fuzzy Sets Theory was used to quantifyqualitative data. Face validity technique was used using subject matter specialists'
opinions to ensure the validity of the questionnaire. Also, to a pilot study wasconducted to test the reliability of the research tool. The calculated Cronbach'sAlpha (0.54- 0.91) showed the acceptable reliance of the supposed questionnaire.Moreover, to evaluate the validity of the research concepts, construct validitytechnique was used using factor analysis procedure. The results of KMO test (0.513– 0.834) showed a proper construct validity of the questionnaire.FindingsOne of the goals of this study was to measure Boyer-Ahmad County RPCs' successin meeting predetermined goals. RPCs goals were characterized in four main groups:1. Providing agricultural inputs and production factors;2. Providing infra-structural services;3. Extension- education services;4. After production services.Research findings showed that the average success rate of RPCs in meetingpredetermined goals was in moderate to low range (0.389 in a range from 0.012 to0.975). Furthermore, RPCs were more successful in providing inputs and productionfactors, although there is no significant difference between their success rate inmeeting the above four main goals. Nevertheless, the supposed cooperatives are stillfar from the ideal situation. To identify determinants of the success of RPCs,Structural Equation Modeling was used using AMOSver.20 Software. Eightvariables (i.e. social capital, trust, communication, awareness towards principles ofcooperation, members' attitudes towards cooperation and team work, responsibility,performance and participation) entered the model, while all variables weresignificantly correlated with RPCs success. Overall, these dependent variables hadthe ability to explain about 83% of RPCs success variance. Direct and indirecteffects of independent variables on dependent variable were also analyzed. Theresults showed that "awareness towards principles of cooperation" has the greatesteffect on RPCs success (total effect=0.439), after that, other affect variables are"members' attitudes towards cooperation and team work", responsibility,participation, trust, performance and social capital respectively.
ConclusionResults of this study showed that the supposed cooperatives were not so successfulin meeting predetermined goals. Also, among a lot of variables, only eight variablesnamed awareness towards principles of cooperation, members' attitudes towardscooperation and team work, communication, responsibility, participation, trust,performance and social capital had significant effects on RPCs success. This resultsshowed that policy makers and planners should pay more attention to thesevariables, especially how to strengthen them.
Journal of Rural Research
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https://jrur.ut.ac.ir/article_52474_ec6e178407cd74ce2408c33099ba0769.pdf
dx.doi.org/10.22059/jrur.2014.52474
The Role of Cultural Factors in Supporting Policies to
Adapt to Climate Change by Farmers
Case Study: Babolsar city
Sadegh
Salehi
Assistant Prof. of Environmental Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social
Sciences, Mazandaran University
author
Zahra
Pazuki Nejad
The Lecture of Sociology, Payam Nour University, Qaemshahr
author
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Extended AbstractIntroductionClimate change is a phenomenon that rapidly occurring and the necessity to adapt itare crucial. Knowledge of climate change and the certainty of its occurrence arecritical to the empowerment of vulnerable groups towards its outcome. Taking ascientific and proper approach to deal with the issue of global climate change (GCG)requires awareness towards this phenomenon which helps to make a proper andapplicable policy. In other words, to address CC issues like environmental risks weneed to understand the causes, consequences and potential solutions to CC. Because,environmental issues of the early twenty first century are characterized by a highlevel of scientific and technical complexity, good citizens needs to be well informedand more accurate on decisions about scientific issues. Therefore, by arisingknowledge of CC, individual behavioral changes directed towards combating theproblem can be engendered. In recent years, many researchers have examined publicknowledge of the greenhouse effect and ozone depletion. This field of study seemsvery new and the CC issue seems under studied. This means public's understandingof CC has not been determined and there is no information about people attitudesand behavior toward CC issue. Iran is a signatory of the Kyoto Protocol andaccording to this treaty; she is obliged to implement mitigation and adaptation
policies to reduce greenhouse gas. Performance indicators reported by the GermanInstitute for Climate Watch in 2011 suggests that Iran was allocated rank 52 of the60 positions to its ranking which suggests that it dropped 14 steps lower than theprevious period based on the performance index of climate change. According toenactment the rules of procedure adopted Convention on Climate Change and theKyoto Protocol in July 2009 by cabinet and the National Climate Change Committeeand the Secretariat related it in Environmental Protection Agency’ Iran, it seems Irangets better grades in terms of reducing carbon emissions. The purpose of this studyis to analysis the role of knowledge and belief in forming farmers’ support towardsclimate change adaptation policies in agriculture.MethodologyThe present study utilized survey method and the main tool for data collection wasquestionnaire. Given that the main focus of study is assessing farmers’ knowledge,the unit of analysis in this study is farmers and level of analysis is micro. To thisend, total population was 7861 of farmers’ Babolsar that using multi-stage clustersampling, 140 were selected as samples. A total of 140 farmers were interviewedface to face, using questionnaires. The questionnaire consisted of 64 questions. Thequestions were either open ended or in multiple choice format. The rate of validity’questions were higher than 60 percent. 3 hypotheses were examined. Data entry,editating and final processing was performed by applying software SPSS. The initialanalysis showed that the dependent variable did have a normal distribution and weutilized parametric test (e.g. Pearson correlation coefficient, Regression model) forhypothesis testing accordingly.FindingsThe findings show that knowledge of climate change and belief in the occurrenceand level of supporting the policies is rather moderate, declined to high. Based onregression analysis, the average agricultural land and a belief in the occurrence ofclimate change, were the most important factors affecting policies supports. In
contrast, the age and knowledge of climate change showed no effect on supportingclimate change policies.DiscussionThe results of this study showed that knowledge does not necessarily lead tosupporting climate change policies. Belief in climate change played a major role increating incentives to tackle climate change. In fact, those villagers who believeclimate change is happening and that human activity is the main source of climatechange, they expressed greater willingness to undertake collective action to supportadaptation and mitigation policies. Based on the above results, the following can bepresented as research suggestions.• Improvement of extension services in the rural region, to improve knowledge andskills of farmers on climate change adaptation strategies and familiarizing them withthe basic elements of successful implementation of policies to tackle climate change.• Government agencies and non-governmental reports should be available toscholars in order to properly analyze the current situation. In addition, we needorganizations that are involved in climate change education and take responsibilityto provide the information about factors and consequences of climate change.• Projections of economic, social and cultural consequences of climate change forrural communities is needed and this needs to be done by experts so that they canrespond more effectively to global warming. In this context, one of the mostconsistent programs is sustainable agriculture that farmers should be given thenecessary training.• Providing mental and financial support and empowering farmers by the respectiveinstitutions makes farmers to have choices for changing product strategies andmanaging resources (water, soil and inputs) to tackle climate change.
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dx.doi.org/10.22059/jrur.2014.52475
Assessing the Role of Social Capital in
Agricultural Land Consolidation
Case study: Hesar e Valiasr County, Avaj Township
Jamshid
Einali
Assistant Prof. in Dep. of Geography, Zanjan University
author
text
article
2014
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Extended AbstractIntroductionFragmentation and distribution of agricultural lands is one of most importantstructural problems of the rural development process especially agriculturaldevelopment in the Iran. Consequently, the problem has lead to numerous otherserious problems such as inefficient use of modern technologies and new productionmethods, decrease in productivity, waste of soil and water resources, reduction ofincome level, insufficient of job opportunity and entrepreneurship activities and etc.which have been result in slowing the rate of rural development process. Meanwhile,land consolidation as a factor for successful development of agriculture has drawsattention of planners and policymakers in the both developed and developingcountries in the recent years. When applied as an instrument of rural development,land consolidation can improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of public andprivate investments in transportation and communication networks, utilities andirrigation systems. By facilitating renewal of communities, land consolidation canpromote social stability. Based on sustainable development approach, communityassets to improve the livelihood of the local community includes a broad range ofcapitals forms such as natural, physical, human, financial and social capitals.Therefore social capital as an intangible investment is a facilitator developmentresources management based on social relationships and the function of localnetworks in different levels of the individual and the family, group and community.
Thus, in the one hand, social capital dimensions (local network, participation, trustand social cohesion) in the field of land consolidation, can promote stability of thesocial and economic development, comprehensive planning of land management,effective rapid assessment of complex situations, develop common values, guaranteean equal distribution of resources and increase understanding of the stakeholders,and in the other hand, it paves the way for new opportunities to encourage localresidents invest in agricultural infrastructural such as water supply and transferring,packaging, trading and marketing, technical skills, communication etc that led toagricultural development. Now regarding the role of social capital in landconsolidation this study attempts to answer these questions: 1- Has social capitalhelped to land consolidation of scattered plots among small farmers in the studyregion? And what factors have the most influence in participatory land consolidationfrom the viewpoint of the beneficiaries?MethodologyThe research method of the current study in terms of the nature, rate and degree ofcontrol and method of data collection was quantitative, non-experimental and fieldresearch, respectively. The statistical population of the study consisted of 280farmers of the villages of Ardelan, Dashtak and Azanbar located in Hesar e ValiasrCounty (Avaj township- Qazvin province). To determine the sample size, based onthe Cochran formula, the 150 beneficiary was selected as a samples andquestionnaires were distributed randomly. To assess the role of social capitalindicators (cooperation and participation, social trust, local networks and groupcohesion) in land consolidation questionnaire was used. The validity of thequestionnaire was confirmed by a panel of experts. The reliability of the variables,using the preliminary questionnaire was calculated by the use of Cronbach's alphacoefficient of 0.937. For quantitative analysis of collected data statistical tests suchas one sample T test, Kruskal Wallis and Factor analysis were used.FindingTo assess the role of social capital in the farmers tendencies to make decisions
related to scattered land plot consolidation in the study area, one sample t test hasbeen used. The analysis show that, with the assumed test value of 3 (as a likerspectrum mean) there are significant differences between numerical means of socialcapital components in land consolidation from the beneficiaries' viewpoints. On theother hand, to assess the difference between the means of ranks of social capitalcomponents in sample villages, nonparametric Kruskal Wallis test was used; andthis showed that differences at the level of 95% are not significant. To assess theimportance of social capital variables in Land Consolidation from respondents'viewpoints in projects implemented in the study area, factor analysis was used. Theresult of reduction of 32 variables extracted from the questionnaire represents 6major factors that explain more than 70% of the total variance.ResultsThe results shows that social capital has had a positive effect on the success offarmers' fragmented lands consolidation projects in the study area trough theformation of local group. So that among social capital components such as trust,cooperation, social cohesion and local networks, the indicators of mutual trustbetween group members and participation and cooperation among within the groupas facilitating factors, have had the most effect on group formation and decisionmaking about land consolidation, from the viewpoints of respondents in the studyarea. The results of reduction are organized in six main factors that explain totally70.1% of the variance. Thus, among extracted factors of mutual trust betweenfarmers (with 19.39 percent), and collaboration and cooperation of group members(by 17.2 percent), and social cohesion and participatory management (with 11.56percent), which are closely related to social structure of rural regions, includeapproximately 50 percent of the total variance from perspective of beneficiarieseligible to implemented Land Consolidation projects and this indicates the effect ofsocial capital on farmers' fragmented and distributed land consolidation.
Journal of Rural Research
Owner & Primary Publisher: University of Tehran;
2008-7373
5
v.
2
no.
2014
375
396
https://jrur.ut.ac.ir/article_52476_3fe57a0d7faeffefd6121ff520159357.pdf
dx.doi.org/10.22059/jrur.2014.52476
Estimation of the Willingness to Pay of Citizens for
Agritourism Services
Case study of Qazvin
Hojjat
Varmazyari
Assistant Prof. of Agricultural Development, Dep. of Agricultural Management and
Development, Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Development, Tehran University
author
Ali
Asadi
Prof. of Agricultural Extension and Education, Dep. of Agricultural Management and
Development, Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Development, Tehran University
author
Khalil
Kalantari
Prof. of Dep. of Agricultural Management and Development, Faculty of Agricultural
Economics and Development, Agricultural and Natural Resources College,
Tehran University
author
Mohammad Reza
Rezvani
Prof. of Geography and Rural Planning and Member of Center of Excellence in
Rural Planning, Tehran University
author
text
article
2014
per
Extended AbstractIntroductionNowadays designing win-win strategies on the basis of multifunctional agriculture isone of the most important conditions for surviving of agricultural lands. Thesestrategies should design in such a way that could conserve agricultural land use,improve farmers’ income while provide environmental and social services throughfarming systems. One of the basic solutions may be considered in designing win-winstrategies is sustainable agritourism. Agritourism has long been considered a meansof accomplishing economic and social development. It has been promoted as aneffective source of income and employment. Global restructuring, includingimproved production methods and free trade, together with changing consumertrends, has led to profound changes in rural economies, particularly for smallfarmers. This new situation necessitates diversifying farming activities and providesa greater interest in new agricultural niche markets. Development of agritourism isrecognized as an internal element in the revitalization of rural areas through tourism.Agritourism is an entrepreneurial approach which would lead to positive impacts byappropriate management. Because of either the mood of pessimism about theexcessive, irregular, and continuous growth of urban areas or the desire to escape
from the stresses of everyday life or the noble allure of green space, suburbanspaces, or pristine and untouched areas, individuals communicate with nature as apart of their ordinary recreational cycle. According to the estimations, 77.5 percentof Iranian population would reside urban until 2032. This change could presentsuitable opportunity for agritourism development and creation of supplementaryincome for farmers and consequently for reduction of agricultural land use change.But lack of dynamic and learning agricultural management has increasedvulnerability of Iranian farmers and has declined their investment ability in order toimprove land productivity. Despite groundwork and many possibilities foragritourism development in Iran, no study has been done to estimate potentialdemand for agritourism services and effective factors on it.MethodologyThis study employed contingent valuation and double-bounded dichotomous choicemethod to estimate willingness to pay for agritourism services in Qazvin, Iran.Population of the study included Qazvin citizens over 18 years of age who hadvisited agricultural and rural areas at least on time in the last year. The sample sizeestimated 153 persons and a total of 180 questionnaires were completed via face toface interviews. One of the most widely used techniques for ecological valuation hasbeen the contingent valuation method (CVM). It involves asking people directlywhat value they would place on an amenity if a market existed for it. Also a LogitModel was estimated using Maximum Likelihood Approach in order to investigatethe effective factors on individual willingness to pay (WTP).ResultsInformation about respondents’ socioeconomic characteristics included their age,gender, residential area, marital status, education level, occupation, distance toagricultural and rural destination, family size, and income. The results indicated thatthe respondents’ ages ranged from 18 to 69 year old with an average age of 35.67.Findings showed that average of respondents’ family size was 4 person and theytravel to agricultural and rural areas at an average of 6.5 times annually. Number ofvisits from these destinations ranged from 1 to 30 times. The respondents preferred35.7 kilometer as maximum distance to agritourism destinations. The results of thisstudy provide some evidence that diversifying farms into tourism activities andconsequently developing a successful entrance fee program can provide additionalrevenue to alleviate the financial shortage faced by small farmers. The mean of WTPprojected 53400 rails per each visit and for using some agritourism services. As thisestimation was statistically significant and as about 80 percent of citizens accept oneof the suggested amounts, it would be concluded that there is appropriate potentialmarket for development of agritourism enterprises. Results showed that variables of“annual number of travel to rural-agricultural environments”, “family size” anddummy variables of “having car” and “place of born” had a significant effect on theanticipated willingness to pay of citizens.
ConclusionThe coefficient for annual number of travel to rural-agricultural environments wasnegative. It implies that the more travel to these areas annually, the less the numberof respondents who are willing to pay the suggested amount. So planners ofagritourism development should focus on citizens with lower times of visit fromrural-agricultural environments. Negative coefficient of family size indicated thatincrease of family members, decreases willingness to pay for agritourism amongrespondents. Thus new and young families should be first priority of marketingplans. Totally based on the findings, a fee-paying program could be developed thatis acceptable to visitors and helps to ensure high-quality recreational opportunities infarms. It seems reasonable for policy makers to at least consider an entrance fee asone of the funding alternatives for agritourism development.
Journal of Rural Research
Owner & Primary Publisher: University of Tehran;
2008-7373
5
v.
2
no.
2014
397
422
https://jrur.ut.ac.ir/article_52477_c45520c6973123926213f235929415b0.pdf
dx.doi.org/10.22059/jrur.2014.52477
The Role of Tourism on Rural Economy
Case Study: Banzarde Rural district in Dalaho city
Masoud
Safaeepour
Associate Prof., Dep. of Geography& Urban Planning, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz
author
Safieh
Damanbagh
M.A. of Geography & Urban Planning, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz
author
Hossin
Tahery
Graduate student of Geography and Rural Planning, shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz
author
Fatemeh
Razmgir
M.A Student of Geography and Rural Planning, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz
author
text
article
2014
per
Extended AbstractIntroductionTourism development is important for economic growth in rural areas because itconstitutes take into account a driving force for economic development. So in ruralareas that have potential to attract tourists can be helped to economic growththrough appropriate investment in tourism. Tourism development in rural areas canhave an important role in the diversification of the rural economy and can beunderlie the sustainable rural development. Thus, rural tourism can theempowerment of local people and human resource development, economicdiversification and growth, creating jobs, solving unemployment, raise livingstandards through the provision of social services and bridging the gap betweenurban and rural areas in different fields and should have a major role reduce ruralmigration to large cities. Banzarde rural as valuable tourism resources such asnatural, historical and pilgrimage can play important role in the economy. The aimof present study has been investigate the role of tourism activities on the economy ofthe Banzarde rural. This theoretical – practical research has been carried out with adescriptive-analytical method. In order to evaluate the role of tourism in theeconomy Banzarde views of residents in the study area has been used different
variables such as income, employment, land prices and the status of the investment.The information needed to conduct this research was collected by the application ofsurvey and library method. The survey was used questionnaire. The statisticalpopulation of research included residential of Banzarde and these cases wererandomly chosen among 13 rural. Random stratified sampling method has been usedin this study. Therefore, the sample size that calculated by using 'Cochran' formula is370 persons. Then, the number of questionnaires in each of the 13 rural under thestudy was distributed in proportion to population size.MethodologyIn order to investigate the validity were used tourism experts. The reliability of thepre-test was approved (completed preliminary questionnaire to 30 randomly betweenresidents and the alpha value of 0.93). The data and information were analyzed byusing SPSS and EXCEL. In this research in order to obtain and assess residents'attitudes toward the chosen criteria were used statistical tests such as meanresponses, One-sample T-test and coefficient Pearson.Discussion and ResultsThe findings showed that views of residents in the study area, tourism activities hasmore role in the components of income and employment and also economic status inBanzarde rural. For example variables such as the increase of average income ofresidents, use of luxury goods and reduce poverty feel in the region with tourists,above average and variable increase in purchasing power with the arrival of touristslower than average. Also have evaluated status indicators of employmentcomponents associated with higher than average. Survey responses indicate that theaverage variable increases in land prices and changes in land use is higher thanaverage. Also state variables related to the investment in the study area is suitable.So that the average obtained for the index has been above average. This indicatesthat the impact of tourism activities in the study area is attracting investment.Generally, The findings showed that tourism activities in the Banzarde rural fromthe perspective of the residents of the study area, is affected state of all variables
such as income, employment, land prices and investment status. In order to detectionand awareness of the relationship between selected indicators and the economicstatus of the study area were used coefficient Pearson. Findings showed thatindicators of income, employment and investment, has a positive and significantrelationship but variable of income has negative and significant relationship witheconomic status of the study area. Based on the results, Banzarde rural as well as avaluable tourism resources such as natural, historical and pilgrimage resources canincrease ability to attract tourists to the area through appropriate investment inbuilding facilities and equipment including sports tourism, infrastructure, hospitalityand transportation and has helped regional economic growth and development. It isalso provided possible to obtain additional revenues by providing jobs in othersectors such as building, repairs, supplies and car hire. Also by creating jobs andreducing ununemployment in the correct pattern and create sustainable employment capacity.
Journal of Rural Research
Owner & Primary Publisher: University of Tehran;
2008-7373
5
v.
2
no.
2014
423
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https://jrur.ut.ac.ir/article_52478_e82ab74e42188c6ae85f853d23d3136a.pdf
dx.doi.org/10.22059/jrur.2014.52478
Organizing the Rural Settlements of Damavand
Based on Regional Network Indicators
by Using TOPSIS Technique
Zahra Sadat
Saedeh Zarabadi
Assistant Prof., Dep. of Art and Architecture, Science and Research Branch, Islamic
Azad University, Tehran
author
Soudeh Sadat
Tabatabaei
M.A. in Regional Planning, Dep. of Art and Architecture, Science and Research
Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran
author
text
article
2014
per
Extended AbstractIntroductionIn the past decades, development policies in the country have caused negativeeffects on regions. These policies have caused the mass evacuation of ruralsettlement and the imbalance hierarchy of settlements. The reflect of these policiesare visible in the rapid and uneven growth of large cities and eliminate loops linkingbetween cities and rural settlements from the highest levels, to lower ones. Surveythe development on the rural community in past shows that the rural sectors facedwith the basic difficulty in the socio-economic and ecological aspects in national andlocal levels, so that the continuity of this situation confronts them with problemssuch as intensifying of regional in equalities, massive evacuation of human andfinancial resources in villages, declining in per capital food production and emergingfood crisis, accumulation of population in urban communities, extension ofmarginalization, unemployment and social damage. Present study with the purposesof 1) prevent the rising trend of rural migration and make order of settlement patternin activity and population, 2) creation and establishment hierarchy in the settlementof Damavand and 3) offer variety activities in rural settlements, consider thesequestions:
1- What factors are effective in the optimal distribution of population and activitiesin an area?2- What is the order of spatial distribution settlements and their functions in theDamavand district and which of Damavand settlements have the ability andcapability more for local and regional development?In the survey of the spatial organization of ecologic-environmental areas in districtand regional levels, there are different perspectives and theories In order to achievethe development of urban and rural settlements. These opinions have been entered insome practical and theoretical cases.MethodologyThis research is investigating on policies that have been proven throughout theworld such as regional network to provide better facilities and services in ruralsettlement of Damavand. These policies focus on using the present facilities and jointhem to new strategies of regional and national development. The analysis processof rural settlements and the importance of the proposed indicators are done by usingthe Topsis technique and the Principal Component Analysis. For this purpose,collecting information have done by attention to the national documents, and usingscientific articles, books, reports and available information in the organs andgovernment agencies. Other information is also provided by the processing of maps,photographs and slides. The statistical society of this study includes 83 permanentrural settlements of Damavand with more than3 families and 39 indicators accordingto the Dimensions of the regional networks approach.ResultsThe result of the study shows that Sarbandan, Vadan, Jaban, Marai, Sadat Mahaleh,Arou, Mosha, Mehrabad, Seyd Abad, Garmabsard, Islam Abad and Ahran villageswith a score higher than 0.4 have been in grades 1 to 13 and Shater M. Sofla, JafarAbad, Mendank, Ajan, Jozdar, Homand Kouhan, Shah Belaghi, Hossein Abad,Rostam Abad, Ozoun Dare, Saleh Abad, Gandak, Homnad Kylan and YalaqanDareh villages with scoreless than 0.15 are located in the lower echelons of the
rankings. According to the result of the ranking, some parts of the region that usednatural, economic, social and physical capabilities have more concentratedpopulation and boomed economic activities, which has been a high level ofdevelopment of settlements. However, the boom may be made by only one of thebasis strengths. For example in some parts, some rural such as Sarbandan and Jabanin Abarshive district, Vadan in Jamabroud and Sadat Mahale in Abali district arelocated adjacent to the communication paths. These villages, with use this featuresand create service centers, have reached to a higher level of development.On the other hand, some rural settlements are being evacuated by ignoring theirpositive features and capabilities. These settlements can be pointed by rural villagesin the south part of the Mehrabad and villages in the central part of the Abarshiveand Jamabroud district.ConclusionProper utilization of the natural, social, economic and physical factors has causedboom economic activity, attract population and prevent irregular migration. Theseconditions will make hierarchical order of rural settlements based on their power andcapabilities. Lack of proper communication between rural and urban settlements inDamavand district have caused poor performance and low-density of ruralsettlements. If good communication of manufacturing and service facilities existbetween adjacent settlements, it will help to link rural and urban settlements togetherto get the better performance. In addition to, the complementary relationshipbetween activities of agriculture, industry and services provide the grounds offurther development. Finally, according to descriptions provided in settlementsclassified; in order to access available services and facilities of rural settlements inthe district and promote the level of that, 4 System villages are suggested in thisessay.
Journal of Rural Research
Owner & Primary Publisher: University of Tehran;
2008-7373
5
v.
2
no.
2014
445
466
https://jrur.ut.ac.ir/article_52479_9bde0acf083562e62a4651d3e4a3cbd1.pdf
dx.doi.org/10.22059/jrur.2014.52479